Combat Story (Ep 1): Elliot Ackerman Marine Platoon Leader in Fallujah | Special Operator | Author

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This is the Combat Story of Elliot Ackerman, a former Marine who served five tours in Iraq and Afghanistan as an infantry and special operations officer, for which he received the Silver Star, the Bronze Star for Valor, and the Purple Heart.
As a Marine, he led a platoon in Fallujah II during some of the most brutal fighting in the post-9/11 era.
His story will resonate to anyone who fought in urban combat and, in particular, the leadership challenges small unit leaders face, especially newly minted officers. His platoon’s experience in Fallujah II is exactly what you think about when you hear stories of this operation and included losing half his Marines in less than 24 hours. After his time in the Marine Corps, Elliot also served as a paramilitary officer in the CIA.
After his time in uniform, Elliot became a novelist and journalist. He has published five books and his fiction and essays have appeared in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The New Republic, The New York Times Magazine, Esquire, Ecotone and others. He is also a contributor to The Daily Beast.
His books include: Green on Blue: A Novel, Dark at the Crossing, Waiting for Eden, Places and Names: On War, Revolution, and Returning, Red Dress in Black & White.
#veteran #marines #specialoperations #marsoc #specops #cia
0:00 - Intro
9:39 - Never understood war until I had kids.
14:22 - Why the Marines?
20:57 - The best advice I never took.
23:47 - Discussion with Doug Zembiec, who was later killed in Iraq, for advice.
31:35 - SGT Bonatie pushing back on a young PL.
37:10 - Description of Dean Long and the GPWD (Great Patriotic War in the Desert).
42:53 - Phase Line Fran in Fallujah (battlefield map ; Marine Corps' battle).
48:35 - Sunny Risler led his mobile platoon through the battle to help MEDEVAC some of Elliot’s wounded out.
49:22 - Pushing back with leadership when your unit is exposed.
51:21 - Nearly hit by a PKM. “It’s suicide if we go out there.”
55:50 - Combat leadership sucker punch.
56:05 - Going from 46 to 21 combat effective Marines.
1:04:29 - The bravest thing I ever saw in Fallujah.
1:08:17 - One of the most challenging things: talking to a Marine who couldn’t go anymore.

[@matthewbrown8400]

Don’t know if people will see this but it’s wild. I’ve never heard the words directly from his mouth. I am that Machine Gunner that was hit. It’s wild to hear it. Semper Fi Gentleman

[@CombatStory]

Matt - thanks for sharing. Can you tell me what the time stamp was?

[@matthewbrown8400]

@@CombatStory min 47:00

[@Joe_Friday]

@@matthewbrown8400 That's crazy. I understand there was armor and what not helping you guys but what about assets such as rockets launchers and artillery pieces? What about aerial support such as cobras etc? That battle sounds like something from a war movie. I guess it may have been frowned upon but I'd rather carpet bomb or shell the city into oblivion before sending marines and soldiers to fight in the streets and clear buildings.

[@williamstokely9589]

@@Joe_Friday Us vets from the USA actually follow rules and it gets us screwed some times. But if you start destroying the city and killing innocent people you will then get put on their propaganda sights and marked as a "blue eyed devil" and they will use it to make everyone hate you.

[@Joe_Friday]

@@williamstokely9589 If I was in that city and it was not only full of insurgents bit also about to get attacked I'd try to leave unless the insurgents are shooting anything that moves in the street. Now I really wouldn't suggest carpet bombings. That was more of Half ass joke but I would not think twice about painting a building that was full of people that was shooting at me.

[@raymcpadden3542]

Elliott is legit. Great interview. First time in a while that I've been swept up in an interview

[@ericmitchell3326]

Man , like what!! Awesome !! So glad you told your story on here as well!! Thanks!!

[@jesse8600]

The only thing I can reply is emojis. I served with dude. He is a fake.

[@Bluepickles333]

Man, what a battle. I commend all the soldiers/marines who fought in fallujah/Ramadi.

[@OEFvet0311]

This dude was my buddy Adam's platoon commander in Fallujah.

[@indirapoitier338]

This is my second show. I started with 14. These episodes teach quite a bit about life, not just war. Thanks for the show

[@friscostreetstories5403]

Hes well educated, articulate. Good job bro. and ty for fighting.

[@BostonsF1nest]

Damn this was intense ... I wish it was longer

[@spiderdavis3296]

I was thinking about how I felt listening to Fallujah battle. Perfect word is intense.

[@WilsonCQB1911]

He was in my OTB. I always liked him. Brought a smile to my face hearing his voice again lol.

[@presentationsuperhero7730]

Great interview!

[@Bluepickles333]

It’s funny our LT tried having us read a book arriving in Iraq also. We all hated the idea and no one read it. You bond in combat, not by reading books. Wonder if this is taught in OCS or something? The book idea ..

[@Sleepy7666]

It's a way to drive downtime conversation especially when the only connection is the military service. Suddenly you all have something in common with 46 others that you didn't before that. Honestly a fun one to do if you don't know someone very well is ask them their opinion of To Kill a Mockingbird or The Great Gatsby. In a 5 minute conversation you've already connected with them on a different level. High end commercial kitchens are quite often sharing cookbooks, biographies, or cooking shows to drive a team effort and cohesion.

[@brendanhayes2752]

Great channel. Thank you .

[@jasonwatts6846]

Best thing I’ve subscribed to.

[@ericmitchell3326]

Agreed!!!

[@sloppyjoe400]

You'd never guess this guy was a gun slinger by looking at him

[@thewhistleblowingintern8844]

1/4 is the crest with the dragon. 1/4 2005-2009. Semper Fi Operation Phantom Fury Marines

[@brucedennison2636]

thank you .

[@teresamartin8344]

Deeply grateful for you and to, Elliott ❤

[@maccumhaill5534]

This channel needs more subs, excellent stuff.

[@CombatStory]

Much appreciated!

[@jesse8600]

😮😂😅❤😊❤😊❤😅🎉😮😢

[@jesse8600]

❤😂😮

[@jesse8600]

😅😮😂🎉😂😮😢🎉❤😅🎉😮😂😮❤😅❤😮😢🎉😂😅😊😢😂🎉😂😅😊❤❤😊❤wtf is wrong with this censorship. Only thing you can rely is emojI. $

[@KingAlobar21]

What a well spoken occifer 😎

[@Polkovic]

New subscriber. Really cool channel

[@jlee3453]

Aye ryan I saw this post and said to myself: "fugit, I'll give it a listen".

[@F3PIZZA]

F.U.G.I.T - Fucking Unbelievably Good Interview Technique

[@ericmitchell3326]

Man ....Thats it!!!!

[@ThePete2432]

I was in Iraq in 04. Thought we would be out by 05/06

[@outlawandoutdoorstv9901]

Had a squad leader in 2006 that was in the battle to retake Fallujah, wen was it 2005 ? Anyways he didnt say much but he did was it was tbe heaviest fighting he seen b4 and since and he has been on idnt even know how many deployments he got but he said that one was crazy !!

[@danielholman7225]

Sounds like Elliott was in the thick of it. Maybe one of his bks would be good. Enjoyed the interview.

[@paulhill7952]

Great leader

[@jkm253]

Semper Fi

[@kingquan2608]

WE NEED NICHOLAS IRVING AKA NICK THE REAPER ON HERE!!!

[@kimjongun5172]

No

[@By_the_gods]

Hey Ryan I have a suggestion for an episode. How about yourself? It would be cool.

[@sNiPeR95PwnZ]

Part 2 incoming?

[@CombatStory]

Roger that. We're working on Part 2 now actually...

[@konaboss83]

Great interview a buddy of mine was in the fallujah shit show

[@promokk]

Behind the line kitty

[@giuseppinavolpe2873]

Xstmas attitude is do🌲Michela

[@topgeardel]

I remember the build-up for the Fallujah battle. Problem for me is I'm a proud Vietnam/Draft resistor. It is painful and demoralizing for me to see that Iraq was just as much a waste as Vietnam. We REALLY didn't belong there anymore than we did Vietnam. The US had some very lame-ass excuse for being in Iraq as it did for Vietnam. The US was essentially invaders, occupiers and aggressors in both countries Then there's the war in Afghanistan. Sure...there was 9/11. BUT....that didn't justify the US being there for 20 F'ing years. During WW2 the US had "Pearl Harbor". But it took care of business around the entire world in 3 1/2 years. Afghanistan was a sh*thole south Asian landlocked country that didn't mean anything to the US.

[@annachristie377]

The last Legal war we were in was WW2... It kills me how the kids these days learned nothing from the Vietnam "Conflict"... Never declared war as the Constitution we expect these brave soldiers to protect, demands. If we gave a shit about our military we would make damn sure our nation declares it And... Puts their money where their mouths are! Thank you to all of you for protecting us when asked. Just so brave.

[@topgeardel]

@@annachristie377 I agree with you on some important points. We didn't learn a damn thing from Vietnam. That's unconscionable. It speaks volumes of who we are, politically and as a culture. If we cared about our military (which I do) we would be extremely careful how we utilize them. It goes much farther for me than simply "declaring war" since I don't trust the American system and the military/industrial complex. I believe the best offense is having the best defense. Lastly, I don't let Vietnam veterans themselves off the hook. They didn't do sh*t as a powerful collective lobby after their experiences in Vietnam to protect the future generations from being "used" and making the same mistakes.

[@cobbers1083]

British been satellite patrolling for decades in Northern Ireland.

[@CorePathway]

They should have gone home 100 years ago. Just sayin’

[@kimjongun5172]

Wasn’t that 40 years ago

[@YetiTurmoil]

Starship troopers huh? Not sure that an anti-imperialist political satire about a militaristic state that limits human rights unless they join the meat grinder to oppress those weaker for resources would resonate with jarheads xD. Interesting though, hopefully it did. What a fascinating man. Thanks for the interview!

[@darrinsutliff7871]

🫵🏻😎👍🏻

[@mahavakyas002]

your name is really "Fugit"? lmao

[@patboland1650]

Do the vets just look back on the war in Iraq and think it was h=just a big waste of time or do they think it was worth it.