1-36 Infantry in Ramadi & Sunni Triangle | Ranger | Infantry School | 2x Author Will Bardenwerper

Welcome to Combat Story. For the first time, I’m joined by my new co-host AJ Pasciuti as we sit down with Will Bardenwerper—former 1-36 Infantry and Civil Affairs Officer, Princeton grad, and acclaimed author.

Will shares his journey from a finance career in Manhattan, inspired to serve after 9/11 and the example set by Pat Tillman, to boots on the ground in the Sunni Triangle during a 13-month deployment in 2006. He opens up about the realities of war, the loss of close friends, and the challenges of Civil Affairs in Iraq.

After the Army, Will became a journalist and two-time author. His first book, The Prisoner in His Palace, offers a unique perspective on the American soldiers tasked with guarding Saddam Hussein. His latest, Homestand, explores the heart of small-town America through the loss of a minor league baseball team.

Will’s work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Harper’s, and more. I first met Will through Pat Fagan, a close friend from ROTC, and we touch on that connection in our conversation.

I’m also excited to welcome AJ as co-host—many of you will remember him from his standout guest episodes, where his firsthand experience in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other hotspots brought unique insight and energy to our conversations. Having AJ alongside me as a regular presence will add even more depth and connection to the stories we share on Combat Story.

Let’s dive in—here’s our conversation with Will Bardenwerper

The Prisoner in His Palace: Saddam Hussein, His American Guards, and What History Leaves Unsaid (https://www.amazon.com/Prisoner-His-Palace-Hussein-American/dp/1501117831)

Homestand: Small Town Baseball and the Fight for the Soul of America (https://www.amazon.com/Homestand-Small-Baseball-Fight-America/dp/0385549652/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.AcGCRhRl8NRmSeA_aMfn-OgmlGSwTaUAOpRP-ceKMBDGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.j9LdhKLXiU05C_CfiBFJIcS9hTX-AbfGE17VRDbDUvI&qid=1727296945&sr=8-2)

Will is a graduate of Princeton University, where he majored in English. His book The Prisoner in His Palace: Saddam Hussein, His American Guards, and What History Leaves Unsaid was published by Scribner in 2017. He has had Op Eds and feature articles published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Harper's, Outside, Newsweek, The Spectator, The Hill, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, The Denver Post, Huffington Post, The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and Task & Purpose.

Official website: ajpasciuti.com Instagram: @ajpasciuti Pre-Order AJ’s Book Darkhorse: Harnessing Hidden Potential in War and Life https://www.amazon.com/Darkhorse-Harnessing-Hidden-Potential-Life/dp/1400254973

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