Special Forces Green Beret (18E) | 3rd Special Forces Group

Special Forces Green Beret (18E) | 3rd Special Forces Group | Eric Neal

Рет қаралды 31,326

Күн бұрын

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Today we hear the Combat Story of former Special Forces Green Beret Eric Neal. In fact, you’ll hear many combat stories in this episode as Eric recounts his four deployments to Afghanistan in just four years from 2010 to 2014 in very kinetic environments, losing many friends and brothers in arms along the way and learning so much about himself.
Even Eric’s very first combat operation (which jump into in the first two minutes of this episode) was as chaotic as they get with multiple aircraft supporting his ODA going winchester (running out of ammo) trying to suppress the enemy. He would be involved in operations we’ve heard of previously - in one case carrying the bodies of the soldiers we lost in Extortion 17 - and many events we have not heard of, to include one of the largest VBIEDs in the post-9/11 era on the 10 year anniversary of 9/11, that wounded over 70 soldiers and local nationals.
Eric experienced so much of this combat and loss in his mid-20s and, as he mentions, some of these moments are still with him today. It’s hard to imagine one person could experience this much combat in one lifetime, let alone in just four years and I hope you enjoy this gauntlet of trial by fire, literally, and the combat operations and insights he shares, as much as I did.
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- Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle
Find Eric NealOnline:
- LinkedIn / eric-d-neal
- Gritr sports gritrsports.com/
- National Medal of Honor Museum mohmuseum.org/
Show Notes:
00:00 - Intro
01:01 - Guest Introduction (Eric Neal)
02:25 - Interview begins
02:48 - Background with Darrell Utt
04:24 - Medal of Honor recipients before award
06:17 - The importance of 3rd Group
07:55 - First mission outside the wire
21:27 - 4Patriots
24:29 - Childhood and joining the Army
30:00 - The Football Coach
34:54 - Path to Special Forces
39:42 - Combat Story Merch
39:58 - Gaining confidence
43:38 - The Q-course
49:34 - The drive for combat
50:58 - Hazing
56:13 - Loosing a team leader
59:01 - First deployment stories
01:03:14 - First deployment afterthoughts
01:04:49 - Second deployment
01:13:31 - Being on Comms during missions
01:15:16 - First mission back after IED
01:18:33 - A tragic situation
01:33:05 - Second deployment afterthoughts
01:36:47 - Third deployment
01:40:56 - Dealing with losing teammates
01:42:20 - Fourth deployment
02:02:57 - Courageous acts
02:06:56 - Sentimental Items
02:08:17 - Would you do it all again
02:09:28 - Final remarks
02:10:54 - Listener comments and shout outs

Пікірлер: 52

@germanstudent06 Жыл бұрын

"Guard guys will do anything." The ones on our deployment were always rarin' to go. I can just picture a CW5 pilot with a wad of snuff just saying "fk it, let's go." Cheers, Operator, and thank you for all of your hard work!

@MrCashewkitty Жыл бұрын

Ryan and Eric, I listen to all the SOF podcasts. Each and every one. I work alone, at night and podcasts keep me company. This was one of the best I've listened to. Full of action, humility, emotion, and history. Outstanding

@emmanuelawosusi2365 Жыл бұрын

Nice

@texastrojan3343 Жыл бұрын

Thank you

@nathanpratt140 Жыл бұрын

Completely agree. Listen to every episode and this was definitely one of the best. I work a normal job Brisbane Australia but sometimes wish I joined the military.

@emmanuelawosusi2365 Жыл бұрын

@@nathanpratt140 nice

@Mosey410 Жыл бұрын

Very well spoken Captivating and heavy.

@russellridge8623 Жыл бұрын

Eric is great guy. Good interview. 3rdSF group stood up 4th battalion in 2009. I was with them on first deployment in 2010-11. Civilian contractor. We were in Tarin Kowt at SOTF-SE Ripley. Eric’s bunch was further north. 2010-11 were hard on the men who “Do bad things to bad people”. 3rd Group 👍👍👍

@tomeickhorst6787 Жыл бұрын

His high school interaction with the seal is the same as mine except I had a ranger pushing me I did good enough on asvab and stuff I had a airborne billet then they sent me for further ear testing and that was all she wrote found out at 17 that I had major hearing lost and was no longer suitable for the military. That’s all I wanted in life was to be in the service. I ended up driving a truck for 22 years made a good living for my family but I still struggle not being able to serve my country. I’m now 44 and have 20 percent hearing left and can no longer pass dot or my private pilot physical. Thank you for both your service

@IuItim Жыл бұрын

Hearing aids

@tomeickhorst6787 Жыл бұрын

@@IuItim tried that still no go

@shawnp6653 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for your service Eric!

@bobleicht5295 Жыл бұрын

Excellent episode. Eric is centered, has a basic load of common sense, and is the model Quiet Professional. And kudos to Ryan for letting him tell his story. Press on, the both of you!

@CombatStory Жыл бұрын

I appreciate you sharing this Bob! I'm going to read this one out for an episode we just wrapped with Alec Bierbauer. Thanks for the support and being a subscriber!

@bobbo154 Жыл бұрын

Eric, thanks for dropping Robbie Miller’s name at the beginning of the interview. I grew up with Rob and competed with him in high school. We both took different paths in the Army and I still keep up with his team guys to this day. Great interview-

@MrBigwillie81 Ай бұрын

I did 6 years in 3rd group out of the q and 8 in 10th. Went to combat multiple times with both. I still consider myself a 3rd group guy.

@gillianfraser3040 Жыл бұрын

Another great interview! Its a privilege to hear 1st hand these warriors experiences. Thankyou!

@mattyfishes_5808 Жыл бұрын

Eric is my Godbrother, and this was amazing to watch

@a.n.7229 Жыл бұрын

Love these interviews. Great host, great guests. One suggestion -- can you recommend to your guests that they use a headset, Airpods, or something else with a higher-quality mic? I sometimes listen on iPhone's speakers, and for this episode, Eric was hard to understand at times because of the lower quality of his audio.

@JHillNC Жыл бұрын

Thank you, Eric and Ryan for a great episode! Very intense and enjoyable.

@CombatStory Жыл бұрын

Thanks for leaving this comment and I'm glad you enjoyed it! Appreciate you being a subscriber and taking the time to share!!

@emmanuelawosusi2365 Жыл бұрын

Great video

@emmanuelawosusi2365 Жыл бұрын

Love the channel

@scottsworld21 11 ай бұрын

Wow man incredible story! Thanks for sharing that Eric! Great channel Ryan, keep up the fantastic work!

@Prepper319 6 ай бұрын

another excellent video ! what an absolute bad ass !

@Jam-vj8ig Жыл бұрын

Thank You 🙏.

@dannycalder1638 Жыл бұрын

Another great podcast. Shame the audio is ringing. Maybe try a test run 1st. It's like his room has an echo. Still a great podcast. Much respect

@renegadearms Жыл бұрын

One of my biggest regrets of my 20 years is not enough photos and not marking down or remembering certain dates.

@CombatStory Жыл бұрын

THis is so true Eric! I wish I had those fancy iPhones when I was down range. It's hard to remember all the people and experiences now! I'm going to read this one out for an episode we just wrapped with Alec Bierbauer. Thanks for the support and being a subscriber!

@renegadearms Жыл бұрын

@@CombatStory absolutely love the channel but yeah I’m 6 months from terminal leave to retire and it really hit me like man I wish I would have took more pictures, at the time you know being young and dumb you’re too cool for pictures and don’t want to look lame but like the video said the truth is you should.

@Snickerszn 3 ай бұрын

In his first story all that air support apaches, hellfire missiles, AC-130 spectre gun ship, also whatever dropped that bomb. All because 1 sniper. They didn’t have any snipers to hide and keep eyes on that hole? I’m sure he could of canoes himself well enough especially if you had a sniper hidden on each side of school. I was there so not gonna be a computer general but crazy all because of sniper.

@austinschnell5602 Жыл бұрын

Heavy!

@renegadearms Жыл бұрын

Talking about the Extortion accident what he said is true sometimes it doesn’t matter how good you are if the enemy gets lucky.

@CombatStory Жыл бұрын

Roger that. Sad but true. I'm pretty sure any vet would say the same thing. Can't help it if the enemy gets lucky.

@renegadearms Жыл бұрын

@@CombatStory true and especially flying in a bird you don’t have the chance to get on the ground and show how good you are.

@riehle.j8561 Жыл бұрын

Ryan, Gary Ellis. 160th(H-60,) DevGru, ST-10, Avionics Tech Enlisted, Civilian ATP, before joining the Nav. Played piano at Jim Croce's club in San Diego, as well. Good guy.

@CombatStory Жыл бұрын

Love it. I'll check this out! Thanks for being a subscriber!

@tomeickhorst6787 Жыл бұрын

I still waist you would try to get Dick Elgin from Saint James Missouri on here. He wrote a book about his time in Vietnam as a loach pilot then later a Huey gun guy. Book nam is. I should of played the flute. Hell I’d send you my signed copy if you want

@tightspotpro6755 9 ай бұрын

Sounds like you had some very seasoned leaders when you got your dui. Then you listen to some great Rangers that get pushed out because of a similar situation. I watched the exact same thing happen to a buddy while on active duty. He was in a single car accident dui and command smoked him. But it was just fine to go to a bbq at the park and they supply multiple kegs and everyone drives home afterwards.

@dustyrhodes1655 Жыл бұрын

E17 was a National Guard bird that flight. Lost two childhood friends that day.

@MrCobb-rq8iv 9 ай бұрын

Always love your stuff but on this one the audio seems very bassey and hard to understand?

@ethanmaynard6118 4 ай бұрын

Can we get a SARC?

@emmanuelawosusi2365 Жыл бұрын

@user-rt8ik1ow4i 4 ай бұрын

Are Black berets a thing

@emmanuelawosusi2365 Жыл бұрын

😮😮😮😮😮😮

@ericgibson2079 Жыл бұрын

That sucks, sounds wasteful, thanks for telling your truth and truth... It sounds like we lost? E

@divinedamon921 Жыл бұрын

🤔😯

@bluecollar58 7 ай бұрын

Whats the point of 45 minute infomercials ??? I listen to these wile I work and by the time I get to my phone to skip it , I hate what ever it is they are trying to sell me. I have no problem with ad time but infomercials in the middle of documentary type videos seems like bad marketing to me.