Today we have a once in a lifetime interview with Medal of Honor recipient Ryan Pitts, who truly earned this prestigious award in the mountains of Afghanistan fighting off a very dedicated, organized, and determined enemy force. Ryan and I connected thanks to the National Medal of Honor Center for Leadership, a non-profit helping to share lessons of leadership from Medal of Honor recipients and the values they live by with people who lead at any level.

In this episode, we dive into Ryan's near death experiences (there are several) while downrange but we never venture far from what leadership is all about, from a private in the foxhole to a Colonel at the TOC. Ryan earned the Medal of Honor in the Battle of Wanat in Afghanistan in July 2008 when I was flying Apaches in eastern Afghanistan out of Khost. Ryan made sure some of the gun pilots from the 101st like Jimmy Morrow and John Gavreau were at his award ceremony at the White House because he felt they were a part of this effort as much as anyone (which you know this gun pilot loves to hear).

Ryan is incredibly humble for having earned this amazing award and I was fortunate enough to spend a weekend in Chicago with him, the Center for Leadership executive staff, and another Medal of Honor recipient Col. Harvey "Barney" Barnum. They were treated like royalty at a Cubs game with everyone wanting a picture with these heroes. None of that has gone to his head, as you'll hear in this interview.

I'd also ask you to notice how he remembers the name of so many of the people he served with and how he speaks of this as a 'their' - collective - award and not his own. We need more leaders and people like Ryan out there and that's exactly what the Center is doing. Please have a look for a Center for Leadership event or course near you by going to mohcenterforleadership.org.

Special thanks to Andy, Elise, Tom, Forrest, John, and all the other folks who made this event possible. With that, please enjoy a detailed description of some of the most intense combat and true heroism from living Medal of Honor recipient, Ryan Pitts.

The National Medal of Honor Center for Leadership exists to inspire, develop and empower leaders through the values of courage, sacrifice, citizenship, integrity, commitment and patriotism. Through fellowship programs, onsite training and a nationwide digital platform, we're helping Americans of all ages learn what it means to lead with honor. Learn more at www.mohcenterforleadership.org and follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn at National Medal of Honor Center for Leadership, and on Instagram at @medalofhonorcfl and X at @MedalofHonorCFL.

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Find Ryan Pitts Online:

🥉The National Medal of Honor Center for Leadership mohcenterforleadership.org

and https://mohcenterforleadership.org/exclusive-qa-with-the-nmohlec-education-director/

📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/medalofhonorcfl/

📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MedalofHonorCenterforLeadership/

💡 X https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-medal-of-honor-center-for-leadership

Find Ryan Online:

🎙️ Connect with Ryan & Combat Story:

🔗 Ryan's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/combatstory

🛒 Merch Store: https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats

📸 Instagram: @combatstory / combatstory

📘 Facebook: @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial

📖 Learn more about Ryan: https://www.combatstory.com/aboutus

🎵 Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

00:49 Introduction 01:09 Medal of Honor: Ryan Pitts' Heroic Actions 01:31 Leadership and Humility: Lessons from the Battlefield 03:25 Early Life and Military Aspirations 04:16 First Deployment: Hard Landings and Combat Experiences 06:38 Joining the Military: Motivations and Family Reactions 14:10 Training and Preparation: From Basic to Airborne 22:22 First Combat Experience: Chaos and Heroism 28:17 Cho's Heroic Actions and Silver Stars 28:49 Chaos and Close Calls 29:22 Integration into Infantry 30:17 Leadership from the Bottom 32:34 Reflecting on Deployment Experiences 34:00 Facing the Reality of Combat 34:53 Coping Mechanisms and Downtime 37:30 Preparing for the Second Deployment 39:33 The Battle of Bella and Leadership Lessons 42:15 The Medal of Honor Event 55:02 Hand Grenade Range and Intense Firefight 55:36 Struggling with Injuries and Malfunctions 57:12 Leadership and Reinforcements Arrive 58:11 Courage and Sacrifice in Battle 01:03:13 Desperate Measures and Radio Communication 01:10:00 Final Moments and Evacuation 01:15:10 Reflecting on the Battle and Its Aftermath 01:18:04 Sentimental Items and Final Thoughts 01:21:26 Conclusion and Appreciation