Manny Gonzalez talks about his third deployment in 4 years. This time to Ramadi as a combat replacement. He went from advising a Marine Corps video game to landing in Ramadi and learning the Mark 19 overnight. The story moves through shifting IED tactics, hard losses, small wins, and the leaders who kept him steady.
• combat casualty replacement orders
• reflections as on the invasion as a mortarmen
• rapid shift to patrols, raids, overwatch and medevac
• evolving IED threats, pressure plates and trip beams
• arrival in Ramadi, early KIA and Fox wounded
• water tower blast, VBIED mass casualty and triage
• Mark 19 crash course with Ritchie and Coleman’s morale leadership
• door‑kicking failures, stealth OP exfil and restraint
• sniper ambush impact and rising tempo of attacks
• daily life notes, mortar fire on Hurricane Point
If you like what you've heard, this is a multi part episode. Make sure you listen to the rest of the story.
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If you are a member of Weapons Company or someone with a story about Weapons Company 2/4 in 2004, please come tell some stories with us - 20 mins or 20 hours! Help paint the canvas of an archival story for others to know what it was like. Contact us @ RamadiPodcast@gmail.com, or via the podcast website above.
All music used with permission by soundbay: https://www.youtube.com/@soundbay_RFM
