Jocko Podcast 523: Honor, Commitment, Sacrifice, and Faith. What It Takes to Get Through Hell. With U.S. Marine, Landon Longgrear
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Jan 14, 2026 
Landon Longgrear, a former U.S. Marine and author, shares harrowing tales from the Battle for Sangin. He delves into his early life, shaped by family and faith, and recounts the intense training and camaraderie within the Marine Corps. Longgrear discusses the moral complexities of war, facing casualties, and the emotional burden that follows. He reflects on the lessons learned and the importance of honor, commitment, and sacrifice, culminating in a profound discussion on post-service identity and the journey of writing his memoir.
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Point Man Under Fire
- As point man moving across an open field, Landon was shot at and initially froze, then executed ad-rack and survived.
- He recited Psalm 27 to steel himself and relied on training to perform under fire.
Almost Shooting A Boy
- Landon nearly fired at what he thought was a combatant but was a small boy; he held fire and later engaged the real shooter.
- The near-miss haunted him and highlighted the moral burden of distinguishing civilians from fighters.
April 6: Friendly Fire Tragedy
- During an operation a Hellfire strike mistakenly hit Staff Sergeant Jeremy Smith and Corpsman Benjamin Rast, killing Smith and fatally wounding Rast.
- Landon describes the medevac, the body bag, and the raw grief from fellow Marines.
