Great conversation with Dave Dobb, 1st Lieutenant in 2004 in charge of Rainmaker platoon.
Dave gives a raw account of how a massive 81 mm mortar platoon split into Rainmaker and Sledgehammer... then they all learned to fight and he learned to lead through the hardest weeks of 2004 in Ramadi. Dave paints the big picture with the choices, costs, and the thin line between plan and chaos.
• Why we divided 81s into Rainmaker and Sledgehammer
• Balancing personalities, skills, and admin control
• Training gaps, ad hoc urban ranges, Pat Rogers course
• Convoy north, first casualties, and mindset shift
• April 6 movement from Government Center to Route Nova
• April 7 ambush on Sunset and rapid counter-fire
• County fair cordons, field hospitals, and caches
• Lioness teams’ role and performance under fire
• Interpreter shortages, vetting failures, and a mosque incident
• Night IED near Snake Pit and vehicle recovery
• Command at the truck, comms constraints, and control
• Writing to families, loss, and responsibility
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
