Combat Story

Inside the Classified B-52 Strike That Started Desert Storm | Operation Senior Surprise

Operation Senior Surprise

Before the first bombs hit Iraq in 1991, seven B-52s quietly lifted off from Louisiana on a mission so classified most of the crews didn’t even know it existed months earlier. On this episode of Combat Story, AJ Pasciuti sits down with Trey Morris, retired U.S. Air Force Colonel and former B-52 Electronic Warfare Officer, to break down Operation Senior Surprise, better known as Secret Squirrel, the 35-hour, 14,000-mile round trip strike that helped launch Operation Desert Storm. This wasn’t just another strike. It was the first combat use of GPS-guided cruise missiles, the longest combat mission in history at the time, and a test of endurance, trust, and leadership under pressure. We cover: - What it felt like to be awakened at 0300 knowing you’re about to start a war - The moment a B-52 lost an engine just minutes after takeoff - Flying radio silent across the Atlantic and through Egyptian airspace - Near mid-air collisions during night aerial refueling - Running dangerously low on fuel over the Mediterranean - Launching 35 precision cruise missiles that changed modern warfare - The brotherhood behind Doom 34—and honoring those who have “gone west” Col. Morris later captured the mission in his book Doom 34, a firsthand account of the classified strike that redefined how America projects power. This episode isn’t just about aviation or technology. It’s about solving problem after problem, earning the right to come home, and what happens when a team trains for years… and finally gets the call. If you’re interested in: B-52 bombers, Desert Storm history, military aviation, long-range strike, Air Force culture, leadership under stress, or the evolution of precision warfare—this one’s for you. 🎙️ Guest Information — Trey Morriss | DOOM 34 Trey Morriss is a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel and former B-52 Electronic Warfare Officer who flew one of the longest combat missions in history during the opening hours of Desert Storm. As part of Operation Senior Surprise, he helped execute a 35-hour, 14,000-mile strike that changed the future of long-range warfare. In his book DOOM 34, Trey captures the crew culture, leadership under pressure, and relentless problem-solving required to launch a war from the air...and make it home. 🔗 Find Trey Online: 📕 Book: DOOM 34 (Available globally — search “DOOM 34”) 🛒 Amazon: https://a.co/d/aR2IujP 📘 Personal Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trey.morriss/ 📘 DOOM 34 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581295749907 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/treymorriss/?hl=en 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/treymorriss/ 🎙️ Host Information — AJ Pasciuti | Combat Story AJ Pasciuti is a retired Marine Force Recon Scout Sniper and Infantry Weapons Officer (Marine Gunner), author of Darkhorse: Harnessing Hidden Potential in War and Life, and host of the Combat Story Podcast, where veterans share honest, unfiltered stories of service, leadership, and life after combat. 🔗 Find AJ Online: 📕 Book (Darkhorse): https://www.amazon.com/Darkhorse-Harnessing-Hidden-Potential-Life/dp/1400254973 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajpasciuti/ 📘 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelo-pasciuti/ 🔗 Website: https://www.ajpasciuti.com/ 🎧 Featured Combat Story Episodes with AJ 👉 Combat Story Podcast – Part 1 (USMC Sniper & Force Recon) - Battle of Fallujah | Shooting w/ Chris Kyle | American Sniper | AJ Pasciuti https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4QI-5sNeCs 👉 Combat Story Podcast – Part 2 (Sniper vs Sniper Battle) - Killing the Enemy’s Most Lethal Sniper | Force Recon | AJ Pasciuti https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5Ggly1TGAU 📺 Additional Features & Media 👉 Urban Valor Podcast Feature: https://urbanvalor.com/episode/marine-snipers-eliminate-enemy-sniper-reclaim-stolen-us-sniper-rifle/ 👉 DVIDS – Infantry Marine Course Feature: https://www.nationalguard.mil/Leadership/Joint-Staff/Comptroller/Innovation/?dvpTag=imc&videoid=790758 Live Better Longer with BUBS Naturals. For A limited time get 20% Off your entire order with code COMBAT at https://www.bubsnaturals.com/

Dauntless Courage: Fallujah II (Profanity Free)

This is a repost of our documentary with all profanity removed to make it accessible to a broader audience. The Second Battle of Fallujah — also known as Operation Phantom Fury — was one of the most intense urban combat engagements fought by U.S. forces since Vietnam. In this gripping documentary, real Marines, soldiers, and corpsmen recount the chaos, courage, and sacrifice that defined Fallujah, Iraq, in November 2004. This is not a scripted Hollywood war story. These are the firsthand voices of men who fought house to house, clearing buildings block by block in what became a defining moment of the Iraq War. Through raw interviews and authentic battlefield audio, this film captures the human side of modern warfare — the camaraderie, the fear, the humor, and the heartbreak that only those who lived it can truly describe. At its core, Battle of Fallujah II is a story of brotherhood under fire. The Marines of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines (India Company) and their brothers from 1/8 and other units share what it was like to face an enemy that called Fallujah home — an insurgent stronghold fortified by foreign fighters, Al-Qaeda extremists, and jihadists determined to die there. From the first breach through the city’s northern berm to the final house cleared along the Euphrates River, the battle tested every ounce of discipline, endurance, and faith these men had. You’ll hear the personal accounts of hospital corpsmen risking everything to save wounded Marines, snipers like Tony Scardino and Chris Kyle trading shots in the same building, and infantrymen recounting split-second decisions that meant life or death. The film also revisits the leadership and sacrifice of officers and NCOs who never came home — men like Maj. Sean Sims, Capt. Ed Iwan, and Sgt. Maj. Cavaiani, whose courage inspired those still fighting. Each memory in this documentary is seared with authenticity: The claustrophobic streets filled with traps and ambushes. The roar of tanks and AAVs breaching into the city. The eerie quiet before dawn as Marines wrote what they called “death letters” to their families. The moment when a platoon found itself isolated and surrounded, fighting for survival until air support could reach them. Battle of Fallujah II goes beyond tactics and timelines. It’s about what happens after — how these veterans carried the memories of their fallen brothers, how they grappled with loss, and how they continue to honor those who never made it home. This film also examines the broader historical context: the political timing after the 2004 U.S. presidential election, the symbolism of reclaiming Fallujah from Al-Qaeda in Iraq, and the strategic shift toward large-scale urban warfare. For many who served, Fallujah became their generation’s Normandy — a defining battle that shaped the course of their lives and the legacy of the Marine Corps. Throughout the documentary, voices like Elliot Ackerman, Travis Greenwood, and Justin Oliver bring depth to the narrative — reflecting on leadership, moral complexity, and what it means to serve in a fight where the lines between survival and sacrifice blur. The film does not glorify war. It reveals it. From the grit of medevac missions and sniper overwatch to the quiet moments of remembrance years later, this is the raw, unfiltered story of those who stood shoulder to shoulder in one of the fiercest battles of the modern era. 🎖️ Featuring: Medal of Honor recipient US Army Staff Sergeant David Bellevia | Elliot Ackerman | Travis Greenwood | Tony Scardino | Scott Prill | Justin Oliver | Christian Holloway | and the Marines of 3/5 India Company 📅 Timeline: November 2004 – Operation Phantom Fury 📍 Location: Fallujah, Al Anbar Province, Iraq 💬 Themes: Urban warfare and military brotherhood Sacrifice and survival in modern combat PTSD, resilience, and life after war Firsthand veteran testimony and oral history The human cost of the Iraq War Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to joindeleteme.com/ COMBAT and use promo code COMBAT at checkout.

Marine Sniper: The Moment Incoming Artillery Changed Everything

“That’s when I realized this isn’t a children’s game. People get hurt.” In this episode of Combat Story, AJ sits down with former Marine Scout Sniper Alexander Lemons, a Bronze Star recipient who deployed during the Iraq War and later co-authored War Body: A Marine Sniper and the Hidden Violence of Modern Warfare. This conversation explores what combat really feels like for young Marines entering the war in Iraq — the chaos, the uncertainty, and the moment when the reality of war hits. But it also goes deeper, looking at the long-term consequences of modern warfare, from toxic exposure and burn pits to the physical and psychological toll that often appears years later. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation with Alex Lemons. In this episode we cover his path into the Marine Corps, the early Iraq experience, and the foundation of the story behind War Body. In Part 2, we dive deeper into his time as a sniper and the long fight after coming home. Note: This episode was filmed in December and plays out as a true conversation between AJ and Alex rather than a traditional interview, which gives it a more reflective tone than typical Combat Story episodes. This conversation goes far beyond typical war stories. Alex describes: • The moment incoming artillery made him realize war was real • What the Iraq invasion actually felt like on the ground • The chaos and confusion young Marines faced during the push to Baghdad • Why many veterans struggle with toxic exposure, PTSD, and long-term illness after war • The deeper responsibility veterans carry long after the fighting ends 🎙️ Guest Information — Alexander Lemons Alexander Lemons is a former U.S. Marine Scout Sniper and Bronze Star recipient who served multiple combat deployments during the Iraq War, including Nasiriyah and Fallujah. He is the co-author of War Body: A Marine Sniper and the Hidden Violence of Modern Warfare, a powerful look at the hidden physical and psychological costs of combat and what war leaves behind long after the shooting stops. 📖 War Body: https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324066330 📰 Featured Article: https://www.hcn.org/issues/57-2/a-veteran-transforms-a-legacy-of-violence-into-a-campaign-for-restoration/ 🎙️ Host Information — AJ Pasciuti AJ Pasciuti is a retired Marine Force Recon Scout Sniper and Infantry Weapons Officer (Marine Gunner), author of Darkhorse: Harnessing Hidden Potential in War and Life, and host of the Combat Story Podcast, where veterans share honest, unfiltered stories of service, leadership, and life after combat. 🔗 Find AJ Online: 📕 Book (Darkhorse): https://www.amazon.com/Darkhorse-Harnessing-Hidden-Potential-Life/dp/1400254973 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajpasciuti/ 📘 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelo-pasciuti/ 🔗 Website: https://www.ajpasciuti.com/ 🎧 Featured Combat Story Episodes with AJ 👉 Combat Story Podcast – Part 1 (USMC Sniper & Force Recon) - Battle of Fallujah | Shooting w/ Chris Kyle | American Sniper | AJ Pasciuti https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4QI-5sNeCs 👉 Combat Story Podcast – Part 2 (Sniper vs Sniper Battle) - Killing the Enemy’s Most Lethal Sniper | Force Recon | AJ Pasciuti https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5Ggly1TGAU 📺 Additional Features & Media 👉 Urban Valor Podcast Feature: https://urbanvalor.com/episode/marine-snipers-eliminate-enemy-sniper-reclaim-stolen-us-sniper-rifle/ 👉 DVIDS – Infantry Marine Course Feature: https://www.nationalguard.mil/Leadership/Joint-Staff/Comptroller/Innovation/?dvpTag=imc&videoid=790758 Chapters 00:00 Incoming artillery in Iraq 02:40 Introducing Marine Sniper Alexander Lemons 07:15 Joining the Marines after 9/11 18:30 Iraq invasion and early combat experiences 32:40 Lessons from combat leadership 51:00 The hidden physical cost of war 1:20:00 The chaos of modern warfare 2:09:00 War Body and life after the Marine Corps Subscribe for more veteran stories and leadership lessons Combat Story explores the real experiences of warriors and how combat shapes leadership, resilience, and life after service.

From Iraq to Antarctica: What Combat Prepared Him For

In this episode of Combat Story, we sit down with Matt Cavanaugh, a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, combat veteran, two Bronze Star recipient, strategist, endurance athlete, and living kidney donor, for a conversation about service beyond the battlefield and what it really means to choose the hard path when no one is watching. Matt is the author of Best Scar Wins: How You Can Be More Than You Were Before, a deeply personal book that traces his journey from West Point to Iraq, through grief, endurance racing, and ultimately a life-altering decision to donate a kidney to a stranger. The conversation begins with Matt’s experience in combat and leadership under pressure, but it quickly expands into something much deeper: - What service looks like after the uniform comes off - How grief, loss, and responsibility shape who we become - Why discomfort is often the clearest teacher - And how giving part of yourself, literally, can redefine purpose Matt shares the story of becoming a living kidney donor, donating to a stranger and kickstarting a donor chain that saved eight lives, including a fellow service member. Not long after surgery, he took on an extraordinary endurance challenge: 1K4D — One Kidney, Four Deserts — racing nearly 1,000 kilometers across Namibia, Georgia, Chile, and Antarctica, including temperatures reaching 131°F, self-supported, carrying everything on his back. This episode isn’t about bravado or highlight reels. It’s about, quiet decisions made, leadership measured in follow-through, the mental toll of endurance, grief, and responsibility, and how scars, physical and emotional, can become sources of strength. If you’re interested in combat leadership, post-traumatic growth, endurance mindset, service after war, or what real sacrifice looks like, this is a conversation that stays with you. 🎙️ Guest Information — Matt Cavanaugh | Best Scar Wins Matt Cavanaugh, PhD, is a West Point graduate and retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel/Strategist who deployed to Iraq with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, earning two Bronze Stars and the Combat Action Badge. After the military, he became a living kidney donor who sparked an eight-life donor chain and has gone on to test his limits as an elite endurance athlete, including winning an ultramarathon across Antarctica. 🔗 Find Matt Online: 🐦 X (Twitter): https://x.com/mlcavanaugh 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mlcavanaugh1 📖 Book — Best Scar Wins: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Best-Scar-Wins/ML-Cavanaugh/9781637747742 🌐 Book Website: https://bestscarwins.com 🔗 Personal Website: https://mlcavanaugh.com 🎙️ Host Information — AJ Pasciuti | Combat Story | Darkhorse AJ Pasciuti is a retired Marine Force Recon Scout Sniper and Infantry Weapons Officer (Marine Gunner), author of Darkhorse: Harnessing Hidden Potential in War and Life, and host of the Combat Story Podcast, where veterans share honest, unfiltered stories of service, leadership, and life after combat. 🔗 Find AJ Online: 📕 Book (Darkhorse): https://www.amazon.com/Darkhorse-Harnessing-Hidden-Potential-Life/dp/1400254973 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajpasciuti/ 📘 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelo-pasciuti/ 🔗 Website: https://www.ajpasciuti.com/ 🎧 Featured Combat Story Episodes with AJ 👉 Combat Story Podcast – Part 1 (USMC Sniper & Force Recon) - Battle of Fallujah | Shooting w/ Chris Kyle | American Sniper | AJ Pasciuti https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4QI-5sNeCs 👉 Combat Story Podcast – Part 2 (Sniper vs Sniper Battle) - Killing the Enemy’s Most Lethal Sniper | Force Recon | AJ Pasciuti https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5Ggly1TGAU 📺 Additional Features & Media 👉 Urban Valor Podcast Feature: https://urbanvalor.com/episode/marine-snipers-eliminate-enemy-sniper-reclaim-stolen-us-sniper-rifle/ 👉 DVIDS – Infantry Marine Course Feature: https://www.nationalguard.mil/Leadership/Joint-Staff/Comptroller/Innovation/?dvpTag=imc&videoid=790758 Learn a new Language and get up to 55% off your subscription at www.Babbel.com/ COMBATSTORY

“A Shadow Dance”: A Marine Officer’s Story of Fallujah, War, and Understanding the Enemy

In this episode of Combat Story, we sit down with Elliot Ackerman—former Marine infantry officer, CIA paramilitary operations officer, journalist, and bestselling author. Elliot takes us inside some of the most intense moments of modern warfare, from the brutal urban combat of Fallujah in 2004 to special operations deployments in Afghanistan and later transitioning into the CIA. He walks us through a harrowing platoon-level fight where his unit was surrounded, badly wounded, and forced to blow their way out under fire—starting the day with 46 Marines and ending with just 21 combat effectives. But this conversation goes deeper than tactics and timelines. Elliot reflects on leadership under pressure, the mental toll of combat, and how war shapes identity long after the fighting ends. He also shares a remarkable story of sitting down years later with a former al-Qaeda in Iraq fighter—two men who once hunted each other, now trying to understand the same war from opposite sides. This is a powerful discussion about brotherhood, memory, storytelling, and why veterans become the custodians of history when wars end. If you’re interested in Marine infantry combat, Fallujah 2004, special operations, the CIA, or the deeper human meaning of war—this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Elliot's Latest Projects: Huge congrats to Elliot Ackerman on his latest novel, Sheepdogs! A sharp, timely story that digs into power, loyalty, and the moral gray zones of modern conflict—and it’s already being developed for TV at Apple by Playtone and Tom Hanks. Grab a copy here 👉 https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/775346/sheepdogs-by-elliot-ackerman/ Also, Big news from Elliot Ackerman and James Stavridis Their new novel 2084 drops this May—the final chapter in the 20xx series that began with 2034 (now being adapted into a film by Sony). A sharp, unsettling look at future geopolitics and a war set just around the corner. We’ll be having them on in the future to talk about the book—and the entire 20xx project. Check it out here 👉 https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/696978/2084-by-elliot-ackerman-and-admiral-james-stavridis/ Elliot's Socials: 📸 Instagram: elliot.ackerman 🐦 X: @elliotackerman

Ryan Fugit - The Story Behind Combat Story

In this episode, we sit down with Ryan Fugit — former Army attack helicopter pilot, CIA Directorate of Operations officer, and host of Combat Story and Restricted Handling — for an inside look at a life spent on the front lines of America’s wars and intelligence operations. Ryan shares raw and insightful stories from his time flying AH-64 Apache helicopters in Afghanistan and from his years conducting global operations with the CIA’s Directorate of Operations. From the intensity of combat to the complexity of modern intelligence work, Ryan reflects on the lessons, challenges, and defining moments that shaped his approach to leadership, resilience, and purpose. We also discuss his transition from public service to leading trust and safety investigations in Silicon Valley, and how his experiences inform his mission to protect people from harm in the digital age. Ryan has now created the Restricted Handling podcast featuring daily, curated insights and news on Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, the Middle East and more with weekly deep dives with Ryan and former CIA legends about what's going on in the world of geopolitics, international security, and military and intelligence operations. Subscribe for FREE daily insights at www.restrictedhandling.com. 🎙️ About Ryan Fugit: Ryan is the creator and host of Combat Story, a podcast that captures the firsthand accounts of combat veterans, and Restricted Handling, which explores authoritarian activity and international security through conversations with world-class experts. Check out the Retricted Handling podcast at www.restrictedhandling.com 🔔 Subscribe for more interviews with military veterans, intelligence professionals, and leaders shaping the future of national security. Find AJ Online: 📸Instagram:   / ajpasciuti https://www.instagram.com/ajpasciuti/ 📘 LinkedIn:   / angelo-pasciuti https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelo-pasciuti/ 🔗Personal Website & Book Pre-Order (“Darkhorse”): https://www.ajpasciuti.com/ 👉Combat Story Podcast (Part 1 – USMC Sniper & Force Recon in Fallujah):  https://open.spotify.com/episode/4aqnKAUUOCDmJZPWrMf9NZ 👉Combat Story Podcast (Part 2 – Sniper vs Sniper Battle): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sniper-vs-sniper-battle-killing-the-enemys-most/id1537933985?i=1000633686192 👉Urban Valor Facebook Feature: https://www.facebook.com/UrbanValor/posts/retired-marine-chief-warrant-officer-3-aj-pasciuti-recounts-being-in-the-middle-/602000529075284/ 👉DVIDS Video on Infantry Marine Course: https://www.nationalguard.mil/Leadership/Joint-Staff/Comptroller/Innovation/?dvpTag=imc&videoid=790758 Find Ryan Online: 🎙️ Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory 🔗Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats 🛒 Email ryan@combatstory.com 📸 Instagram @combatstory   / combatstory   📘 Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial Check out the Retricted Handling podcast at www.restrictedhandling.com 📖 Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial ✔ Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus 🎵 Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Chapters: 0:00 Intro 01:53 Introduction 08:12 The Impact of 9/11 17:04 Choosing the Aviation Path 26:37 The Competitive World of Aviation 30:02 Imposter Syndrome and Military Service 37:05 Pop Culture Influences 44:22 First Unit Assignment 44:56 Early Days in the Cavalry Unit 46:09 The Battle of March 23, 2003 48:00 Life in Germany and the Desire to Deploy 50:01 First Deployment to Afghanistan 54:25 Challenges of Command and Crew Rest 59:00 Navigating Leadership and Combat Decisions 01:23:26 Reflecting on a Tragic Incident 01:24:40 Sponsor Message: Protect Your Privacy with Delete Me 01:26:07 Making Tough Decisions in the Military 01:28:44 Transitioning to Civilian Life and the CIA 01:34:38 Starting a Podcast: Inspiration and Challenges 01:52:13 Highs, Lows, and Laughs of Podcasting 02:03:01 Future Plans and New Ventures