Ep 215: Ryan McDermott on Invading Iraq in 2003
Jul 18, 2025•38 min
Listen to this episode in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more
Episode description
Ryan McDermott, Army veteran of the 2003 invasion of Iraq and author of Downriver: Memoir of a Warrior Poet, joins the show to talk about his combat experiences.
▪️
Times
• 01:13 Introduction
• 01:55 Seeking purpose
• 04:11 West Point
• 06:48 9/11
• 08:41 3rd Infantry Division
• 10:12 Platoon tactics
• 14:51 “Crossing tonight”
• 18:08 Preparing for combat
• 23:40 Tired
• 29:37 Baghdad
• 35:51 Thunder Runs
Follow along on Instagram, X @schoolofwarpod, and YouTube @SchoolofWarPodcast
Find a transcript of today’s episode on our School of War Substack
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android