Nov 9, 2026 · 30 min
A neurosurgeon confronts fear on his first night in Iraq
Your First Time at War (S15E27)
Warren’s combat story examines how surrendering the illusion of control can lead to wiser responses in personal crises.
- 1Warren’s first deployment combined combat fear with unresolved family and personal crises.
- 2A mortar attack exposed the limits of control while demanding calm, trained action.
- 3He reframes personal “wars” as situations where people can choose their responses, seek God, and act wisely.
Don't miss
Warren’s first night under mortar fire forces him to confront fear, shaken faith, and the limits of control.
The brief
Before boarding a C-130 for Iraq, Warren sits with body armor, fear, family troubles, and the surreal normality of eating enchiladas before combat.
Landing at Balad makes the war real, but Warren is already carrying losses and personal crises; there he meets Nate, a scrub technician who later becomes family.
A lesson from neurosurgeon Parviz Baghai helps Warren distinguish control from responsibility: emergencies still demand calm action, training, and persistence.
During his first night under mortar fire, Warren confronts the impossibility of controlling war, marriage, family, or the future, and prays through shaken faith.
Warren applies that experience to personal struggles, arguing that recognizing what cannot be controlled can redirect people toward God, wiser decisions, and better responses.
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