KYARNG G3 Podcast: Fix Bayonets

In Episode 3 of “Fix Bayonets,” U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Casey Cooper, operations sergeant major for the 75th Troop Command, Kentucky Army National Guard, shares his firsthand account of small-unit combat operations during the 2005 Battle of Salman Pak (Also referred to as the Palm Sunday Ambush) in Iraq.

Hosted by Sgt. 1st Class Clay Benningfield, Cooper recounts his experiences and lessons learned during one of the National Guard’s largest firefights of the modern era.

As call... read more

In Episode 3 of “Fix Bayonets,” U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Casey Cooper, operations sergeant major for the 75th Troop Command, Kentucky Army National Guard, shares his firsthand account of small-unit combat operations during the 2005 Battle of Salman Pak (Also referred to as the Palm Sunday Ambush) in Iraq. Hosted by Sgt. 1st Class Clay Benningfield, Cooper recounts his experiences and lessons learned during one of the National Guard’s largest firefights of the modern era. As call sign “Raven 42,” then a Specialist, Cooper identified—through after-action reviews—adhered to tactics, techniques, and procedures that enabled his unit to operate effectively under intense combat conditions and a high-stress deployment. This conversation focuses on the key values of squad-level leadership, rapid decision-making under fire, developing trust within the formation, and preparing Soldiers for the realities of close combat. Nein reflects on how those life-and-death moments shaped his approach to training and leadership both in combat and throughout his continued service. For information concerning home station training resources, please contact the J3 Training LNO at: ng.ky.kyarng.list.j3-training-lno@army.mil Fix Bayonets! = Real stories from the Kentucky National Guard. Produced by: Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs Location: Boone National Guard Center, Frankfort, Ky. Recorded and edited by: Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Crane Date Recorded: Feb 5, 2026   show less

KYARNG G3 Podcast: Fix Bayonets | Ep. 3: The Battle of Salman Pak Pt. 2

In Episode 3 of “Fix Bayonets,” U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Casey Cooper, operations sergeant major for the 75th Troop Command, Kentucky Army National Guard, shares his firsthand account of small-unit combat operations during the 2005 Battle of Salman Pak (Also referred to as the Palm Sunday Ambush) in Iraq.

Hosted by Sgt. 1st Class Clay Benningfield, Cooper recounts his experiences and lessons learned during one... read more

KYARNG G3 Podcast: Fix Bayonets | Ep. 3: The Battle of Salman Pak Pt. 2 In Episode 3 of “Fix Bayonets,” U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Casey Cooper, operations sergeant major for the 75th Troop Command, Kentucky Army National Guard, shares his firsthand account of small-unit combat operations during the 2005 Battle of Salman Pak (Also referred to as the Palm Sunday Ambush) in Iraq. Hosted by Sgt. 1st Class Clay Benningfield, Cooper recounts his experiences and lessons learned during one of the National Guard’s largest firefights of the modern era. As call sign “Raven 42,” then a Specialist, Cooper identified—through after-action reviews—adhered to tactics, techniques, and procedures that enabled his unit to operate effectively under intense combat conditions and a high-stress deployment. This conversation focuses on the key values of squad-level leadership, rapid decision-making under fire, developing trust within the formation, and preparing Soldiers for the realities of close combat. Nein reflects on how those life-and-death moments shaped his approach to training and leadership both in combat and throughout his continued service. For information concerning home station training resources, please contact the J3 Training LNO at: ng.ky.kyarng.list.j3-training-lno@army.mil Fix Bayonets! = Real stories from the Kentucky National Guard. Produced by: Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs Location: Boone National Guard Center, Frankfort, Ky. Recorded and edited by: Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Crane Date Recorded: Feb 5, 2026   show less

In Episode 2 of “Fix Bayonets,” Distinguished Service Cross recipient Sgt. Maj. Timothy Nein recounts the events of March 20, 2005, when he earned the nation's second-highest award for valor. Now the operations sergeant major for the 75th Troop Command, Kentucky Army National Guard, Nein details his actions as a squad leader during the Battle of Salman Pak, also known as the Palm Sunday Ambush.

The battle occurred just southeast of Baghdad, Iraq, when two U.S. supply convoys traveling... read more

In Episode 2 of “Fix Bayonets,” Distinguished Service Cross recipient Sgt. Maj. Timothy Nein recounts the events of March 20, 2005, when he earned the nation's second-highest award for valor. Now the operations sergeant major for the 75th Troop Command, Kentucky Army National Guard, Nein details his actions as a squad leader during the Battle of Salman Pak, also known as the Palm Sunday Ambush. The battle occurred just southeast of Baghdad, Iraq, when two U.S. supply convoys traveling in opposite directions encountered a complex ambush by more than 50 Iraqi insurgents intent on killing and capturing U.S. forces. From the north, a three-vehicle security element known as “Stallion 33,” assigned to Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 623rd Field Artillery, escorted 30 civilian supply trucks southbound. The convoy was shadowed by then-Staff Sgt. Nein’s three vehicles from the 617th Military Police Company. Both elements were drawn from Kentucky National Guard units. From the south, a 29-vehicle coalition convoy led by the Nebraska National Guard’s 1075th Transportation Company was escorted by three vehicles from the 518th Guntruck Company. The 518th, known by the call sign “Regulators,” was a provisional unit composed of active-duty, reserve, and National Guard Soldiers created specifically to enhance convoy security. As the ambush unfolded, Nein’s squad—call sign “Raven 42”—maneuvered from the rear to provide close combat support and became the primary counterattack force. Nein describes how his squad and adjacent units engaged the enemy under intense fire, ultimately disrupting the ambush and ensuring no Americans were killed or captured. Hosted by Sgt. 1st Class Clay Benningfield, the discussion focuses on small-unit leadership, trust, and rapid decision-making under fire, and how the lessons from Salman Pak continue to shape Nein’s approach to leadership, training, and readiness throughout his military career. For information concerning home station training resources, please contact the J3 Training LNO at: ng.ky.kyarng.list.j3-training-lno@army.mil Fix Bayonets! = Lessons learned from authentic stories in the Kentucky National Guard. Produced by: Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs Location: Boone National Guard Center, Frankfort, Ky. Recorded and edited by: Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Crane Date Recorded: Dec. 12, 2025 Note: For more on this topic, search for "Palm Sunday Ambush" and view a related video from the U.S. Army Training Support Center here: https://dvidshub.net/r/1i88yd   show less

In Episode 2 of “Fix Bayonets,” Distinguished Service Cross recipient Sgt. Maj. Timothy Nein recounts the events of March 20, 2005, when he earned the nation's second-highest award for valor. Now the operations sergeant major for the 75th Troop Command, Kentucky Army National Guard, Nein details his actions as a squad leader during the Battle of Salman Pak, also known as the Palm Sunday Ambush.

The battle occurred just southeast of Baghdad, Iraq, when two U.S. supply convoys traveling... read more

In Episode 2 of “Fix Bayonets,” Distinguished Service Cross recipient Sgt. Maj. Timothy Nein recounts the events of March 20, 2005, when he earned the nation's second-highest award for valor. Now the operations sergeant major for the 75th Troop Command, Kentucky Army National Guard, Nein details his actions as a squad leader during the Battle of Salman Pak, also known as the Palm Sunday Ambush. The battle occurred just southeast of Baghdad, Iraq, when two U.S. supply convoys traveling in opposite directions encountered a complex ambush by more than 50 Iraqi insurgents intent on killing and capturing U.S. forces. From the north, a three-vehicle security element known as “Stallion 33,” assigned to Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 623rd Field Artillery, escorted 30 civilian supply trucks southbound. The convoy was shadowed by then-Staff Sgt. Nein’s three vehicles from the 617th Military Police Company. Both elements were drawn from Kentucky National Guard units. From the south, a 29-vehicle coalition convoy led by the Nebraska National Guard’s 1075th Transportation Company was escorted by three vehicles from the 518th Guntruck Company. The 518th, known by the call sign “Regulators,” was a provisional unit composed of active-duty, reserve, and National Guard Soldiers created specifically to enhance convoy security. As the ambush unfolded, Nein’s squad—call sign “Raven 42”—maneuvered from the rear to provide close combat support and became the primary counterattack force. Nein describes how his squad and adjacent units engaged the enemy under intense fire, ultimately disrupting the ambush and ensuring no Americans were killed or captured. Hosted by Sgt. 1st Class Clay Benningfield, the discussion focuses on small-unit leadership, trust, and rapid decision-making under fire, and how the lessons from Salman Pak continue to shape Nein’s approach to leadership, training, and readiness throughout his military career. For information concerning home station training resources, please contact the J3 Training LNO at: ng.ky.kyarng.list.j3-training-lno@army.mil Fix Bayonets! = Lessons learned from authentic stories in the Kentucky National Guard. Produced by: Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs Location: Boone National Guard Center, Frankfort, Ky. Recorded and edited by: Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Crane Date Recorded: Dec. 12, 2025 Note: For more on this topic, search for "Battle of Palm Sunday Ambush" and view a related video from the U.S. Army Training Support Center here: https://dvidshub.net/r/1i88yd   show less

Sgt. 1st Class Jeremy Lowe, a flight medic with the 63rd Theater Aviation Brigade, Kentucky Army National Guard, shares his firsthand account of aviation rescue operations during the devastating Eastern Kentucky floods of July 2022 in the premiere episode of “Fix Bayonets,” the official podcast of the Kentucky Army National Guard G3 (Operations Directorate).

Hosted by Sgt. 1st Class Clay Benningfield, Lowe recounts the rapid mobilization of UH-60 Black Hawk crews, high-risk hoist... read more

Sgt. 1st Class Jeremy Lowe, a flight medic with the 63rd Theater Aviation Brigade, Kentucky Army National Guard, shares his firsthand account of aviation rescue operations during the devastating Eastern Kentucky floods of July 2022 in the premiere episode of “Fix Bayonets,” the official podcast of the Kentucky Army National Guard G3 (Operations Directorate). Hosted by Sgt. 1st Class Clay Benningfield, Lowe recounts the rapid mobilization of UH-60 Black Hawk crews, high-risk hoist rescues in flooded and mountainous terrain, split-second decision-making under extreme conditions, and the deep personal impact of saving fellow Kentuckians during one of the state’s worst natural disasters. This episode showcases the skill, teamwork, and unwavering commitment of Kentucky National Guard Soldiers and Airmen when their neighbors needed them most. For information concerning Home Station Training Resources please contact us at the below email address. NG KY KYARNG List J3 Training LNO ng.ky.kyarng.list.j3-training-lno@army.mil Fix Bayonets – real stories from the Kentucky Army National Guard. Produced by: Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs Location: Boone National Guard Center, Frankfort, Ky. Date Recorded: Nov. 20, 2025   show less