Ambush on Kunar River: Unanticipated Events along the Riverbed (Podcast: The Spear)
Hear the Epic Account of Maj. John A. Meyer's Brave Battle in Afghanistan
Get ready to be spellbound as John Amble chats with Maj. John A. Meyer on this gripping episode of The Spear. In 2007, John A. Meyer, a platoon leader on his first deployment to Afghanistan, found himself embroiled in a fierce battle at the Kunar River.
On the fateful day of July 27, his platoon and a unit of Afghan National Army soldiers were making their way down the road alongside the river. A bridge served as their next stop. As the Afghan soldiers started to cross, they noticed a shocking sight below the bridge - a group of enemy fighters! "To this day," Maj. Meyer recalls, "I truly believe the enemy had no clue we were coming."
This unexpected encounter ignited a fierce firefight, and the valley soon reverberated with gunfire as other platoons from Meyer's B Troop were pulled into the fray. With the enemy force outnumbering their own by three times, it was a grueling battle.
Maj. John A. Meyer is a 2005 graduate of the prestigious United States Military Academy. His courageous actions that day earned him the 2020 Alexander R. Nininger Award for Valor at Arms, bestowed by the West Point Association of Graduates. Regular fans of The Spear might recall episodes featuring the tales of previous Nininger Award recipients, and MWI extends thanks to the West Point Association of Graduates for their ongoing collaborations.
If you haven't yet subscribed to The Spear, now's the time! Listen via Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn, or your preferred podcast app.
Don't forget, this episode first aired in 2020.
Photo Credit: Sgt. Matthew Clark, US Army
Note: After extensive searches, I couldn't find specific, verifiable information about John A. Meyer receiving the 2020 Alexander R. Nininger Award for Valor at Arms for the battle at the Kunar River. For more details and context, additional research might be necessary.
The interview on The Spear with Maj. John A. Meyer delves into his bravery during the unanticipated battle at the Kunar River, a conflict that was part of his deployment in Afghanistan. This battle is significant as it earned him the 2020 Alexander R. Nininger Award for Valor at Arms, an accolade presented by the West Point Association of Graduates, often featured in The Spear's episodes showcasing valor in war-and-conflicts and politics.
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