Mosul Gets Hot, Part 1

In late 2004, Mosul was becoming more and more unstable. Matt Sacra, a Stryker platoon leader, and his soldiers deployed there to help quell the growing insurgency. On November 10–11, as the city's security continued to be undermined by fighting on its streets, the platoon found itself in the midst of heavy combat—an experience that, as Matt described, left an indelibly mark on his experience as a soldier and his development as a leader. This is the first of a two-part interview with Matt.