Killing 3 Enemy Tanks in 10 Seconds | Gen. HR McMaster | Battle of 73 Easting | Army Hero

About This Episode
Today is an amazing Combat Story as we sit down with the legendary retired three star General HR McMaster whose 34 years of service included everything from spearheading the last great tank-on-tank engagement in the famous Battle of 73 Easting to serving as President Trump’s National Security Advisor.
Check out our Combat Story Newsletter at www.combatstory.com/newsletter
McMaster has been a dream interview for our program for years and it does not disappoint. We cover so much in this episode from exactly what it felt like in the tanks on that fateful day taking on and destroying the Tawalkana Division of the Iraqi Republican Guard in minutes to leading a Cavalry Regiment that successfully and overwhelmingly destroyed Al Qaida in Tal Afar in Iraq in 2006 (it’s an amazing description of combined arms warfare) to chance encounters with world leaders like Henry Kissinger. We spend some time discussing the General’s most recent book, At War With Ourselves about his time in Trump’s White House. It’s an amazing look inside what the West Wing is really like and the decisions that have to be made and personalities that need to be managed. Fans of this show will love this book.
We get McMaster’s perspective from the Battle of 73 Easting but if you want an even more detailed description of that battle, check out our interview with McMaster’s Platoon Leader Tim Gauthier who was a part of that fight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O10yS95ak5M
I sincerely hope you enjoy this glimpse into one of our country’s greatest and most selfless leaders as much as I did.
Army Hero
Chapters
- 00:00Introduction
- 00:42Introduction to Combat Story
- 01:01Interview with General H. R. McMaster Begins
- 02:34Discussing Competitiveness and Sports
- 05:25McMaster's Military Background and Family Influence
- 07:02Love for History and Reading Habits
- 11:20Training and Leadership in the Military
- 23:03Path to Becoming an Armor Officer
- 30:15Preparation for the Battle of 73 Easting
- 36:22Frustration and Anticipation on the Battlefield
- 37:22Encountering the Enemy: First Skirmishes
- 38:18Rain, Fog, and Sandstorm: The Challenges of Movement
- 39:59Engaging the Enemy: The Battle Begins
- 40:49Tactical Maneuvers and Repairs
- 42:19The Heat of Battle: Tank Engagements
- 49:24Operation Restoring Rights: A New Challenge
- 51:23The Strategy and Execution of Operation Restoring Rights
- 01:03:19Reflecting on Leadership and Service
- 01:13:57Closing Thoughts and Reflections


