The Spear Contact, Contact, Contact!
Jan 15, 2020
Maj. John Spencer, a former platoon leader in Iraq, shares gripping tales from his 2003 deployment. He recounts the tension of setting a nighttime ambush to thwart arms theft, navigating intense gunfire, and leading his platoon through tactical maneuvers. John describes the evolving threat of IEDs and the stark realities of civilian casualties during engagements. His honest reflections on relationships with local police and lessons learned from action reviews offer deep insights into military operations and the human side of conflict.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Clearing Abandoned Artillery Fields
- John Spencer describes missions to collect and destroy abandoned Iraqi artillery and ammunition across the landscape.
- His platoon stacked 155 rounds for EOD to demolish, turning battlefield cleanup into recurring explosive operations.
IEDs Emerged From Loose Munitions
- The early IED threat grew from repurposed artillery and mortar rounds collected from unsecured fields.
- Easy access to these munitions made IEDs a predictable and escalating hazard for patrols.
Night Vehicle Ambush For Munition Thieves
- Spencer set a vehicle ambush to catch thieves taking 155 rounds at night using night-vision advantage.
- He left one squad holding a thermal sight while moving three vehicles toward tracks seen leading to the dumpsite.