Today we have our second account of the brutal fighting within the Arghandab Valley in Afghanistan from Will Yeske, a former 82nd Airborne RTO at the time. Will went on to write the book Damn the Valley: 1st Platoon, Bravo Company, 2/508 PIR, 82nd Airborne in the Arghandab River Valley Afghanistan.
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Will recounts his experiences fighting and surviving in this brutal location in Afghanistan which takes place at the same time (and just across the river) from the same experience faced by our former guest Andrew Bragg who was in Charlie Company. The IEDs, the suicide bombs, and more come to life in both this interview and the book.
Since leaving the service Will has gone on to write two books and, despite initially dropping out of college, now has an Ivy League degree. When many other kids in their mid-20s were partying and living it up, he elected to serve and, one year later, found himself fighting for his life. I’m sure you’re going to enjoy the multiple combat experience Will shares with us in this episode and, if you’re like me, will be getting your own copy of the book.
Find William Yeske Online:
Book: https://www.amazon.com/Damn-Valley-Airborne-Arghandab-Afghanistan/dp/1636243657
@damnthevalley on social
William Yeske on LinkedIN
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🎵 Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle
00:00 Intro
00:28 Introduction to Combat Story
00:47 Will Yeske’s Background and Book
02:09 Connecting with Andrew Bragg
02:42 Experiences in the Argandab Valley
04:10 Writing and Sharing War Stories
06:35 Memorable Artifacts and Stories
08:55 The Brutality of the Argandab Valley
15:03 Joining the Military: Will’s Journey
26:42 First Combat Experience
39:56 Mission Overview and Initial Challenges
40:29 Controversies and Unpublished Accounts
41:26 Hard Moments in Argandob
42:23 IED Incidents and Minefields
49:27 Command Changes and Midtour Leave
01:00:26 Courage and Bravery in Combat
01:03:59 Writing the Book: Challenges and Reflections
01:08:03 Sentimental Items and Lucky Charms
01:10:27 Final Thoughts and Future Projects
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Referencing to about the 48 minute mark yeah they were like deer hunters creating a funnel for the deer to go through, the path of least resistance and understanding your prey allows you to use that very effectively, the difference is they were hunting humans, military personnel specifically, they might be as some say living in the Stone Age but they learned quickly just by observation what and how you would react to in different situations and used it against you, its like a CIA targeter developing a pattern of life packet on an individual, and sadly those guys did exactly what the Talibs thought they would, may those KIA’d RIP, that’s difficult when you can’t find hardly any remains, one of the Paramedics I worked with was killed on 9/11 and it took 6 months before they found a chunk of flesh that was ID’ed as him by DNA and it could’ve fit in a cigar box, and that’s all they ever found of his remains, at least his wife and family had a little something to bury anyway, he was newly married and they were trying to have their first child when 9/11 happened, RIP FDNY Paramedic Carlos Lillo 😔🙏🏻.
We sent a young man off from our church into the Army in 07' and by 08' he was in the 82nd in the Stan' in combat. Only 3 months later he is home in a hospital missing an eye with a blown out ear from a RPG blast. He was a 60mm mortar man in a infantry company. Just like that he was 18 and a disabled veteran. Crazy…
Still has his Athletic Alcoholic patch.
Joining the Navy was the best thing I did for myself. Turning 21 in boot camp I grew up a lot. I knew I was not a college kid, it would just have a waste of money and time. After 21 years I retired and went civil service. Glad I did it that way. Thanks 👍
Another vet that hates the worn out "broken veteran" trope! I'm right there with you!
Operation Marauder Rapids. Marzak 2011.
Served in B co. 2/508th PIR from 2016-2021. Their memorials still hang on the wall. Gone but not forgotten.