# Jocko Podcast 518: Six Days in Hell and Why That Was Just Normal. With Army Ranger Crazy Joe Claburn Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f7NhUVjghI Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/5f7NhUVjghI Generated: 2025-12-10T10:02:52.717+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview Retired Major Joe Clayburn, nicknamed "Crazy Joe," detailed his intense combat experiences, particularly during the initial invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq in 2003, emphasizing the constant danger, the extreme conditions faced during operations like Operation Anaconda, and the leadership lessons learned from his early formative years in the National Guard. **Key Points:** - Then Captain Joe Clayburn described the extreme combat tempo in Ramadi, noting they received about four to five mortar attacks a week and had more enemy attacks in one day than other units saw in two weeks. - Clayburn recounted an Operation Anaconda air assault where he was nearly killed while retrieving a cargo net under enemy fire, an event that contributed to his "Crazy Joe" nickname. - Clayburn consciously chose the Army over the Air Force and Marines because the Army offered advanced college money leading to an officer path (Second Lieutenant at age 20) via the National Guard. - His formative years in the 4th Alabama National Guard instilled in him the obligation to "do the right thing and set the example at all times" by mirroring the soldiers' conditions, learning from Vietnam veterans like his First Sergeant. - Upon returning from initial deployment, Clayburn postponed his Captain's Course to rejoin the 101st Airborne for the initial 2003 Iraq invasion, participating in the drive from Kuwait to Baghdad. - When forming the new 4th Brigade, he received 'characters' from other units who were the bottom 10% of manpower, requiring him to 'clean house' and successfully train them in nine months before deployment, culminating in celebrating with a $500 bottle of Macallan's. - Clayburn graduated Ranger School as the top officer graduate and the distinguished honor graduate of his course, receiving his tab from Medal of Honor recipient Colonel Ralph Pucket. **Context:** Jocko Willink hosts retired Army Ranger Major Joe Clayburn ("Crazy Joe," Gunfighter 6) on Jocko Podcast 518 to discuss his combat leadership, particularly his service with Charlie Company, 1st of the 506th, alongside SEAL teams in Ramadi, Iraq. The discussion covers Clayburn's difficult upbringing in Maryland, his decision to join the Army, his early foundational leadership experiences in the National Guard, and his extensive combat deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq post-9/11. ## Detailed Analysis The interview begins by establishing the brutal reality of combat through Clayburn's recollections of Ramadi, where daily mortar attacks and high casualty rates were normalized, stating, "Welcome to war. Welcome to combat." Clayburn shared his challenging youth, being raised by a single mother and later moving to Alabama under his uncle's care, which solidified his desire to join the military; he eventually enlisted in the Army seeking educational benefits to become an officer. His time in the Alabama National Guard proved formative, where seasoned NCOs from Vietnam taught him crucial leadership principles about leading from the front. Transitioning to active duty in the 101st Airborne in 2000, he quickly adapted to post-9/11 operational shifts, participating in the initial air assaults into Afghanistan during Operation Anaconda, an operation for which they felt unprepared due to the drastic change from expected Russian doctrine fighting to high-altitude mountain warfare. During a medevac mission in Afghanistan, he was shot at while retrieving casualties and supplies, leading to the "Crazy Joe" moniker after he rushed out of the helicopter unsecured under fire. Following his experience in Afghanistan, he briefly deferred company command training to participate in the initial 2003 Iraq invasion, where he experienced the initial positive reception from locals before the insurgency began after the disbanding of the Iraqi military structure. After graduating Ranger School at the top of his class, he returned to the 101st to build the new 4th Brigade from scratch, managing to transform a unit composed of low-performing personnel and poorly maintained equipment into a cohesive fighting force in nine months, culminating in a shared celebration with his leadership team. ### Combat Conditions in Ramadi - Extreme operational tempo described with 4-5 mortar attacks weekly - 20% of his company wounded in combat eligible for Purple Heart - Locals supporting the coalition faced beheading. ### Early Life and Military Path - Raised by a single mother in Maryland, moved to Alabama at 13 under an uncle's care - Joined Army National Guard for college benefits, commissioned as a 2LT at 20 - Grandparents were WWII Marines, influencing his desire to serve. ### Formative Leadership in National Guard - Spent three years with the 4th Alabama, learning from Vietnam veterans - Emphasized leading by example: sleeping under the Bradley if the men did - NCOs instilled the obligation of an officer to do the right thing. ### Post-9/11 Operations in Afghanistan - Deployed with the 101st DRB, conducting 300-mile air assaults into the mountains - Operation Anaconda involved refueling helicopters mid-flight due to altitude and thin air - Experienced intense contact while retrieving casualties, leading to the "Crazy Joe" legend. ### Initial Iraq Invasion (2003) - Postponed Captain's Course to participate in the invasion, traveling by vehicle after launching aerosol missions - Witnessed initial positive local reception before the insurgency took hold after the Iraqi military was disbanded. ### Ranger School and Brigade Command - Graduated as the top officer in his Ranger class, receiving the tab from Ralph Pucket - Took command of the newly forming 4th Brigade, taking personnel who were the bottom 10% from other units. ### Building the 4th Brigade - Faced significant challenges including drug use and misconduct among new soldiers, requiring him to 'clean house' - Successfully trained the unit in nine months, culminating in a celebration with his leadership team over a bottle of Macallan's.