The After-Action Report

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On March 4, 2002, deep in the snow-covered peaks of Afghanistan, Air Force Combat Controller John Chapman died in one of the most heroic actions of the war. Years later, a grainy, infrared video of his last stand—fighting alone against a superior enemy force—shocked the nation and earned him the Medal of Honor.But how that video came to light is a story few know.In this episode of The After Action Report, I speak with Frank Dailey, a former Air Force intelligence analyst who was on the inside from day one. Dailey walks us through the operation that led to Chapman’s death, the initial attempts to bury the video, and the internal resistance from SEALs who didn’t want the narrative to change. It’s a conversation about truth, power, and the quiet battle waged to honor a fallen hero the right way.If you care about accountability in elite military units, intelligence ethics, and what it really takes to speak truth to power in Washington, don’t miss this one.🎧 Listen now on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. 📌 Andrew Milani's paper on Takur Ghar: Pitfalls of Technology: A Case Study of the Battle on Takur Ghar Mountain, Afghanistan, available at: https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/ADA414541Theme music by Ryan HettenaTitle card by Dean LubenskyListen on Apple Podcasts:Listen on Spotify: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theiceman.substack.com/subscribe

Retired police officer Matt Cubbler opens up about his years-long quest to uncover the truth behind the suspicious death of Navy SEAL Commander Job Price, his high school classmate. Cubbler pulls no punches as he exposes glaring holes in the official investigation, explores the hidden pressures of elite military life, and shines a light on troubling patterns of secrecy and corruption within the SEAL community.#Jobprice #Mattcubbler #navyseals #sealteam6 #investigations #military #militarycorruption #suspiciousdeath #crimestory #crimesceneinvestigation #forensicanalysis #justice This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theiceman.substack.com/subscribe

Before dawn on March 4, 2002, a U.S. special operations team landed on an Afghan summit — and into an ambush. What followed was a brutal firefight, two Medals of Honor, and a decades-long battle over the truth. I’m joined by retired Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Rob Harrison and retired Navy SEAL Eric Deming, two veterans with firsthand knowledge of the fight and its impact on the special operations community, to break down what really happened on Takur Ghar.Email Eric Deming at e.d.215 (at) protonmail.comTheme music by Ryan HettenaListen on Apple Podcasts: Listen on Spotify: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theiceman.substack.com/subscribe

Why are we still talking about Takur Ghar, 23 years later?In this episode of The After-Action Report, I’m joined by Sean Naylor, a seasoned journalist and author who was embedded with the 101st Airborne during Operation Anaconda in 2002. For more than two decades, Naylor has been digging into the battle on Takur Ghar, uncovering the hard lessons and lingering controversies that still shape military thinking today.We dive into the operational missteps, the impact of command decisions, and the ongoing debates surrounding military honors—including the Medal of Honor awarded to John Chapman. Sean also shares his perspective on the challenges of reporting in military environments and offers insight into his latest work, covering the mysterious Havana Syndrome affecting diplomats and spies.* Buy Sean’s 2005 book, Not a Good Day to Die, on Amazon. * Read Sean’s 2016 interview with Britt Slabinski in The New York Times.* Sean’s explosive 2018 report in Newsweek.* His report this month is in Air & Space Forces magazine.* Don’t miss Sean’s explosive report on Havana Syndrome in The High Side.Credits: Theme music by Ryan HettenaDownload on Apple PodcastsOr Spotify This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theiceman.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of The After-Action Report, Air Force veteran Rob Harrison recounts his experiences during the 2002 battle of Takur Ghar in Afghanistan, where he witnessed the extraordinary heroism displayed by Air Force combat controller John Chapman. He sheds light on the controversy surrounding Chapman’s Medal of Honor, the complex upgrade process, and the Navy SEALs’ unprecedented efforts to challenge his recognition. Harrison offers a gripping firsthand account of the battle, the soldiers’ struggles, and the continuing fight to honor Chapman’s legacy.Download on Apple PodcastsOr Spotify This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theiceman.substack.com/subscribe

Retired Navy SEAL Eric Deming is back to tell all about Marcus Luttrell's training failures and the disastrous events of Operation Red Wings, which became widely known through the book and film Lone Survivor. If you want to watch the podcast check out the link below: Operation Red Wings has some eerie similarities to the subject of our last podcast, the Battle of Takur Ghar, better known as Roberts Ridge. Once again, a SEAL team was ambushed after landing a helicopter on a mountaintop in Afghanistan. And just as in Roberts Ridge, a rescue helicopter rushes to the scene and is shot down with even more lives lost. Was it just a coincidence? Did the SEALs fail to learn from their mistakes? Deming stresses the importance of accountability, leadership's impact on military operations, and the need for transparency within the SEAL community. He also highlights the emotional toll on SEALs and their families from false narratives, advocating for truth to honor fallen heroes' sacrifices.It’s also available on Apple Podcasts:And Spotify: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theiceman.substack.com/subscribe

Retired Navy SEAL Eric Deming joined me on the latest After-Action Report podcast to discuss what happened on March 4, 2002, on Takur Ghar mountain in Afghanistan—events that resulted in the deaths of seven service members and two Medals of Honor, one of which remains hotly contested.A video version of this podcast is available on YouTube:It’s also available on Apple Podcasts: And Spotify: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theiceman.substack.com/subscribe

Dr. Samantha Crompvoets, Ph.D is a sociologist with over 20 years of experience who has conducted extensive empirical research for Australia's Department of Veterans’ Affairs and Department of Defence.Read her 2016 paper that touched off the investigation of war crimes in Australia's Special Operations Command. Additional background on the Brereton Report.Dr. Crompvoets book, Blood Lust, Trust & Blame, is available on Amazon.For a good overview of the sensational libel of Australia's most-decorate soldier, check out the Guardian's podcast, Ben Roberts-Smith vs. The Media.Thanks to Ryan Hettena for the theme music and Erik Carstensen for help with production. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theiceman.substack.com/subscribe