The RPG That Changed Everything – Ivan Ingraham’s Wildest Day in Combat | Marine Raider
About This Episode
Marine Raider LtCol Ivan Ingraham (USMC, Ret.) takes us deep inside one of the most intense firefights of the Afghanistan War — when his convoy rolled into the Green Zone and an RPG bounced off the hood of his Humvee before exploding behind him.
In this unforgettable episode of Combat Story, Ivan shares what it really feels like when all hell breaks loose. From the chaos of a full-blown ambush to the calm, deliberate decisions that saved his Marines’ lives, this story captures the courage, clarity, and leadership forged only through combat.
Ivan spent 24 years in the Marine Corps, serving as both a conventional infantry officer and later as a Special Operations Marine Raider with MARSOC. Across five combat deployments to Afghanistan, he led elite units under fire, trained the next generation of Recon Marines, and later turned his hard-won lessons into writing, speaking, and leadership coaching.
This is more than just a war story. It’s about courage under fire, the weight of command, and finding purpose after the battlefield.
Official Website: https://ivanfingraham.com Substack Newsletter – The Log Book https://ivanfingraham.substack.com Books by Ivan F. Ingraham Once We Pledged Forever: A Novel of Combat, Marines and the War Within Dream Job Athena: Bravery Knows No Gender 22: A Journey to The Edge of Darkness The Patrol: A Story of MARSOC at War https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/137341905-the-patrol-a-story-of-marsoc-at-war Amazon Author Page (Full Catalog): https://www.amazon.com/stores/Ivan-F.-Ingraham/author/B0BCL7NGS3 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IvanFIngraham Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifi_writer
CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS
ABOUT IVAN INGRAHAM
LtCol Ivan Ingraham, USMC (Ret.) is a former Marine Raider (MARSOC), combat veteran, and author. Over a 24-year career, he served in leadership roles across conventional and special operations units, deploying five times to Afghanistan and around the world.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE
How a Marine Raider leads through chaos when everything falls apart What it feels like to be ambushed by RPGs in Afghanistan The difference between leadership in combat vs. corporate life The emotional cost of war and how Ivan found meaning beyond the battlefield Lessons on humility, courage, and trust from 24 years of service
Marine Raider
Chapters
- 00:00Intro: RPG Ambush & Chaos in the Green Zone
- 03:15Ivan Ingraham’s background and upbringing in a military family
- 07:20Why he joined the Marines and the recruiting story that changed everything
- 12:10Lessons from OCS and The Basic School: what makes a Marine officer different
- 18:00Becoming an Infantry Officer and early deployments with 1/4
- 25:30Transition to Recon and the path toward Force Reconnaissance
- 34:00September 11th: where Ivan was when the towers fell
- 37:45Early years of the Global War on Terror and Recon’s evolving role
- 41:00The creation of MARSOC and Ivan’s move to Marine Special Operations
- 51:30Inside MARSOC’s first deployments: structure, culture, and combat readiness
- 1:07:00The firefight: RPG hits the convoy and “all hell breaks loose”
- 1:13:00What combat really sounds like and the chaos of leadership under fire
- 1:20:00Calling in air support and the A-10 Warthog strafing run
- 1:26:00The moment Ivan thought they wouldn’t make it out alive
- 1:31:00Aftermath: reflection, loss, and lessons in leadership
- 1:47:00Writing, healing, and building “The Log Book” newsletter
- 1:54:00Life after MARSOC: leadership, loss, and finding purpose again
- 2:10:00Ivan Ingraham’s advice on courage, humility, and leading through fear
