https://www.gregorymarston.com/home-1 daily 1.0 2022-02-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/1533819531101-ATQ7WZW34RQ4RL8WFN69/BIAP+169.jpg Home - GREGORY MARSTON is an author, military historian, and retired USAF/ANG Colonel who served for over 34 years as a pilot flying the A-10A “Warthog” and other Close Air Support aircraft. Besides being an A-10 Wing, Group, and Squadron Commander, he was the only USAF/ANG officer to command two major combat Air Bases & USAF Groups in the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). He served on four combat tours in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kuwait where he also flew 80 A-10A combat missions. He recently retired from a career with American Airlines where he served as a Captain on the Boeing 777,767,757,727 and the Airbus 300-600ER. Today, he is a disabled veteran (spinal injury in the Warthog) who spends most of his time writing and lecturing on leadership and aviation, as well as helping other vets in his local area. He lives near Doylestown, PA with his wife and Belgian Malinois. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/1497463541413-CM07FSUVGJN49OAN90TD/image-asset.jpeg Home A-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/1495726504298-WN6GXR0R4E4BV8W47R0W/image-asset.jpeg Home Chavis Turret https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/1495720892238-NN98HLD4QHS6KZT9EJ2C/image-asset.jpeg Home While this book focuses on leadership issues, its intent is to demonstrate that one person can make a difference, especially when the path of least resistance would have been to do only the minimum required to make it through the tour and be awarded a medal. Additionally, this book discusses how the “millennials” fared in the latest American conflicts and how they measure up against previous wartime generations. “Crisis in Baghdad” covers many aspects of the Iraq War, warts and all, and shows the right and wrong things a leader of a military unit or corporation can do while in charge of hundreds of personnel in a dangerous arena. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/1495718731495-YKNMYT8FH2UW3LOK3D4A/dad_front_a10_large.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/1495719159079-1PNN6ZYZ1XWLYFN80CYA/Baghdad+14a.jpg Home https://www.gregorymarston.com/about-me daily 0.75 2022-01-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/1534359482237-MEIJ53K4ABT4IUN8CS3E/bagram_401.jpg About Me https://www.gregorymarston.com/books/crisisinbaghdad daily 0.75 2022-02-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/b6386b55-1902-4501-9d6a-e9b5979d41ec/CRISIS+IN+BAGHDAD+A-10+1.jpg Crisis in Baghdad This book is about providing combat leadership in an environment of risk aversion, which characterized the atmosphere in Baghdad, Iraq in September 2006. This was a time of great adversity in Iraq and certainly was a tipping point for the war there. This is a primer on how to provide proper leadership when the stakes are high and the far easier path would be to maintain the status quo. It centers around an experienced, hard-charging, and hot-blooded commander who solved dangerous problems and brought the US closer to winning the war all the while protecting his people from harm and costing himself an upcoming promotion. This exciting and true tale is about making critical decisions that would reduce the potential for casualties or loss. These issues often had not been raised or addressed in over three and a half years of prior commanders. Situations existed there that could have caused harm or death to hundreds of Americans. The only reason that no American servicemen hadn’t been killed previously (due to these unidentified problems) was just blind luck and/or the grace of God. It’s a race against time to keep the enemy from discovering the weaknesses at this base and winning an easy propaganda victory that could turn the war. While this book focuses on combat leadership issues, its intent is to demonstrate that one person can make a difference, especially when the path of least resistance would have been to do only the minimum required to make it through the tour and get a medal. This book exposes many aspects of the Iraq War, warts and all, and shows the good and bad things a leader of a military unit or company can do while in charge of hundreds of personnel in a dangerous arena. https://www.gregorymarston.com/books/warthogs-unleashed daily 0.75 2018-08-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/1533932064796-EZHV8QVOGE3VAJ37OICN/a10_formation.jpg Warthogs Unleashed https://www.gregorymarston.com/new-page daily 0.75 2017-05-25 https://www.gregorymarston.com/about-me/gallery daily 0.75 2022-03-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/1497464923577-JEGIBU1SHMSGR17F5QKZ/BIAP+439.JPG Gallery Kid Rock visit to Sather AB - Iraq 2006 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/4c50d185-f16c-44f8-b125-77317696d7cb/Bagram+307.JPG Gallery - Make it stand out Talking to the Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force - Bagram AB, 2003 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/c2c8e35d-3039-4052-9df8-764a78c60bf7/DSCN0214.jpg Gallery - Make it stand out This was a representative section of the Bagram runway which showed how poorly constructed and maintained the runway was when the American military arrived in 2001. It was in horrible condition and was deteriorating rapidly due to overuse. It was definitely the worst runway used by U.S. aircraft in the world. - https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/1497656471446-0IYM3VJFPD482312NX24/image-asset.jpeg Gallery An Apache helicopter flying over the Iraq-Iran War memorial in 2006. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/8e46f045-3b97-4094-bed8-6bc7146e58f8/Bagram+90_2.JPG Gallery - Make it stand out Marston just before he flew an A-10A "Warthog" combat mission over Afghanistan (56 combat sorties there) - Bagram AB, Nov 2002 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/1497464833888-CTZRNG6GCSHH24B13229/BIAP+439.JPG Gallery Picture of Gregory Marston next to a Humwvee - Sather AB, Iraq 2006 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/7a8911bb-535d-4f63-96e1-6967888cceba/Bagram+401.jpg Gallery - Make it stand out "Meet the Warlords" - Marston in a meeting with warlords from five villages. This was his second "Adopt-a-Village" visit, where he and members of the 455th EOG presented food and packages raised from citizens in the United States to destitute Afghan villages (upcoming chapter in his memoir called: IN THE SHADOW OF THE HINDU KUSH) - Bagram AB, Afghanistan, Jan, 2003. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/93bf9d4f-24b1-4ab4-b78e-45a1605aea18/Bagram+303.JPG Gallery - Make it stand out Mission briefing to the U.S. Air Force Vice Chief of Staff - Bagram AB, 2003 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/2d281340-d267-4720-8cce-c05356536a40/Bagram+329.jpg Gallery - Make it stand out Marston with the Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff, Gen Myers, after he gave him a Bagram mission brief. Myers was the top general in the U.S. military at that time and Marston gave the only military briefing to him during his brief visit.- Bagram AB, Dec, 2002 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/1497465020707-WGA913KLHMFVJVJHXJ47/BIAP+501.JPG Gallery 447 AEG Headquarters Staff - Sather AB, Iraq 2007 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/f115a51b-10ab-401f-8ed6-2607beed44f2/Bagraqm+125.jpg Gallery - Make it stand out C-130 accident. Thankfully, there were no injuries in this Class A accident. Prevented TV Host David Letterman from arriving at Bagram and his planned filming of the 455th EOG personnel for a Christmas show. - Bagram AB, Afghanistan, Dec, 2002. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/1497464715897-Z0XNZ1FO9HTD0OW5XO23/BIAP+921.jpg Gallery Chavis Turret, version 2 - Sather AB, Iraq 2006 (Marston, far left), Lt Gen North (fourth from left) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/1497656437312-KVJF5JE0WQ89FSDOZUCB/image-asset.jpeg Gallery Commanders Call, Dec 2006. Marston gave a 45 minute safety and morale-boosting briefing to every member of his USAF Group in - Sather, late Dec, 2006 (Chap 12, CRISIS IN BAGHDAD) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/1497636089006-AS9S25AICCPB4BD26K7D/image-asset.jpeg Gallery Marston meeting the Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice - Sather AB, Iraq 2006 (Chapter 6, pg 72 - CRISIS IN BAGHDAD) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/93115acf-21df-4903-a2ff-14656141b69c/Bagram+204.jpg Gallery - Make it stand out Marston during the first "Adopt-a-Village" visit. This humanitarian program, started my Marston, grew to help six Afghan villages using donated items sent by American citizens (upcoming chapter: IN THE SHADOW OF THE HINDU KUSH) . - Bagram AB, January, 2003 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/fdf4063d-63a5-4639-b18a-08643e50163f/Bagram+91.JPG Gallery - Make it stand out War damage to a taxiway - Bagram AB, Nov, 2002 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/1497636066043-BWH61A1RIPDBP5T0Z70S/image-asset.jpeg Gallery Marston talking to Airmen upon the opening of the base’s first dining tent - Sather AB, Iraq 2006 (Chapter 5 - CRISIS IN BAGHDAD) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/da104d0a-8de4-44a3-93fd-2f320e0f9a52/Bagram+289+copy.jpg Gallery - Make it stand out Explosions were common during this time in the war. Note the Army helicopters in the foreground. - Bagram AB, April, 2003 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/1497636038047-PRY2VYEZW33AXC066CSK/image-asset.jpeg Gallery "Glass House" which was the headquarters to the 447th AEG - Sather AB, Iraq 2006 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/eef41b35-a994-4414-88c9-9a7db9d9809a/Greg+OV-10+%2781.jpeg Gallery - Make it stand out OV-10 "Bronco". An Forward Air Control (FAC) aircraft Marston flew in Korea early in his career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/f17f64aa-6e18-427a-90a7-b2755ac972a6/Bagram+139.JPG Gallery - Make it stand out Rescue of a Danish F-16 aircraft by a U.S. Army helicopter organized by Marston. The F-16 ran off the runway and into a mine field, which was why it could be retrieved only by helicopter (upcoming chapter in memoir: IN THE SHADOW OF THE HINDU KUSH). - Bagram AB, Dec 2002 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/1497636011115-ZWFEFF81BAL07L31LC6W/image-asset.jpeg Gallery Fire House Day - Sather AB, Iraq 2006 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/7d2d734e-a716-4776-96f1-13195886b774/Bagram+254.jpg Gallery - Make it stand out Marston in an A-10 - Bagram AB, 2002 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/b0136a59-b38b-4f95-806b-713e1a170aa6/A10+Kuwait.JPG Gallery - Make it stand out A-10s from Marston's unit over Kuwait City, Kuwait in 1995. Marston was the 103rd Fighter Squadron Operations Officer (Exec Officer in Navy terminology) for this 3-month deployment for Iraq missions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/1497636110462-XPUL89RS9SNXMXBHYDK4/image-asset.jpeg Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/1497465319994-5IMS6ZJXOGQVCNM9UIR9/a10_1.jpg Gallery Adopt-a-Village Program - Afghanistan 2003 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/1497636269155-RHDH3DWB3TBQSBJL0GUY/image-asset.jpeg Gallery Emergency combat First Aid practice at night - Sather AB, 2006 (Chap 6, CRISIS IN BAGHDAD) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/fafadb8b-d8d0-40b8-9bd7-bd9cc84620ca/Bagram+337.jpg Gallery - Make it stand out "Parting Gift" from the 455th EOG near the end of his tour at Bagram. This concrete slab eventually became part of a major GWOT memorial in Pennsylvania (upcoming chapter in his memoir: IN THE SHADOW OF THE HINDU KUSH) - Bagram AB, 2002 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/1497636134728-D97E776BJDTLONFDGWS1/image-asset.jpeg Gallery Iraq Campaign Medal Presentation with Certificate. The 447th AEg was the only unit in Iraq to present the medal with a certificate to all its personnel at the end of their tour - Sather AB, December 2006 (Chapter 11, CRISIS IN BAGHDAD) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/1497465349219-JU3LJZRIK6POAVKQ9JTK/image-asset.jpeg Gallery Airmen in bomb shelter during 4th Readiness Exercise - Sather AB, Iraq 2006 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/90c08141-1912-41ca-ad08-c9b2fe9d1a05/Bagram+334.jpg Gallery - Make it stand out Marston explaining the extremely serious Bagram runway problems to the U.S. Army commander of the Afghan War (Lt Gen McNeill) the day after he approved Marston's Five Year Building Plan. This $100 million construction program eventually transformed the base making it safer, more functional and livable - Bagram AB, May, 2003 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/1497464668572-H1X8J8Q0RWX0XOYYM5GG/BIAP+838a.jpg Gallery Senator McCain visit - Sather AB, Iraq 2006 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/1497656392098-BX3XTCBVZ05NAU6VUQ3A/image-asset.jpeg Gallery The deficient USAF gunnery turret that helped cause Airmen Chavis's death by a sniper in Baghdad in Oct 2006. This event propelled Marston to organize the effort within his unit to create a far safer and more functional gunnery turret. called the "Chavis Turret", which was eventually built and used through Air Force vehicles in Iraq and Afghanistan. - Sather AB, 2006 (Chapter 1, CRISIS IN BAGHDAD) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/1497464768375-USPQVC4VMHUAPJEXGSU5/BIAP+838a.jpg Gallery DFAC Opening, Christmas 2006 - Sather AB, 2006 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/4649c312-9d27-4d81-bdf0-431c37ff34ff/Bagram+322.JPG Gallery - Make it stand out Marston briefing his maintenance Airmen in the A-10 hangar. These outstanding mechanics performed the first phase inspections at that base. - Bagram AB, Afghanistan, April, 2003. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/1497656417898-QK71D84B41UVJL7Q6Y80/image-asset.jpeg Gallery "State Street" - an morale effort spearheaded by Marston to paint every state and territory flag on the giant shield barriers entering the base - (Chap 11, pg 114, CRISIS IN BAGHDAD) https://www.gregorymarston.com/contact daily 0.75 2022-02-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/1497635196730-MESOM0XGRDUEJ25ACYEY/BIAP+733.JPG Contact https://www.gregorymarston.com/hindu-kish daily 0.75 2018-08-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/1533936012259-VXBEAQM55CEO95F5C6QN/Bagram+289.jpg In the Shadow of the Hindu Kush https://www.gregorymarston.com/press daily 0.75 2022-02-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/788cec98-9441-4595-a30e-5e0f9ef6648c/davis-monthan-air-base.jpeg Press - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/64d77f27-c120-4bfa-8bd3-49e78696dab3/baghdad_dining_Facility.jpeg Press https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/aecfce92-acca-4d99-9be3-896a2a46e9a7/Bagram+AFMag+1A.jpg Press - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/73fbe9cf-f16f-4608-9ff4-67d62f60a868/A-10+Marston.JPG Press https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/bf216f5f-65a5-4102-863e-8cc86ca7345d/TURRET+6.JPG Press - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/04681606-66cb-4bc0-b851-70ba7799d8f9/BIAP+439.JPG Press - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/db443c70-5fae-479a-b718-3643562e16b2/BIAP+891a.jpg Press - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.gregorymarston.com/publications daily 0.75 2022-02-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/f10517d9-ea98-4274-82ee-560d59dbbcc1/Greg+Kuwait+%2785.jpeg Publications - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/490c7118-7f2b-4053-b876-69231b707248/f-84-thunderjet.jpeg Publications - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/5e8e7653-3527-4f5d-9ac3-5f6cdb2ba1b7/dad_front_a10.jpeg Publications https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/8b94ac98-31a4-4366-be6e-42a178bacae6/CSAR+WOF+A+.jpg Publications https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5926d6fb9de4bbba0f6ab734/dc07a181-e3a6-42d2-b1a5-9f48443b5103/WOFA10A.jpg Publications