Fallujah, War, and Understanding the Enemy
In this episode of Combat Story, Elliot Ackerman discusses Fallujah, special operations, the CIA, memory, storytelling, and the long afterlife of combat.
The conversation explores Ackerman’s experiences as a Marine infantry officer during the Second Battle of Fallujah, his later service in Marine special operations and intelligence, and the ways war continues to shape identity long after the fighting ends.
Combat, Brotherhood, and Memory
Ackerman reflects on leadership under pressure, the mental toll of combat, and the bonds formed among Marines during some of the most intense urban fighting of the Iraq War.
The interview also examines how veterans become custodians of memory after wars end, carrying stories that help societies understand what happened, what was lost, and what remains unresolved.
From War to Storytelling
The conversation moves beyond tactics and timelines to explore how war shapes writing, moral imagination, and the effort to understand former enemies.
Ackerman also discusses themes connected to his novel Sheepdogs, including loyalty, power, covert networks, and the moral gray zones of modern conflict.
Watch the Full Conversation
This episode originally appeared on Combat Story.