“That’s when I realized this isn’t a children’s game. People get hurt.”

In this episode of Combat Story, AJ sits down with former Marine Scout Sniper Alexander Lemons, a Bronze Star recipient who deployed during the Iraq War and later co-authored War Body: A Marine Sniper and the Hidden Violence of Modern Warfare.

This conversation explores what combat really feels like for young Marines entering the war in Iraq — the chaos, the uncertainty, and the moment when the reality of war hits. But it also goes deeper, looking at the long-term consequences of modern warfare, from toxic exposure and burn pits to the physical and psychological toll that often appears years later.

This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation with Alex Lemons. In this episode we cover his path into the Marine Corps, the early Iraq experience, and the foundation of the story behind War Body. In Part 2, we dive deeper into his time as a sniper and the long fight after coming home.

Note: This episode was filmed in December and plays out as a true conversation between AJ and Alex rather than a traditional interview, which gives it a more reflective tone than typical Combat Story episodes.

This conversation goes far beyond typical war stories.

Alex describes:

• The moment incoming artillery made him realize war was real
• What the Iraq invasion actually felt like on the ground
• The chaos and confusion young Marines faced during the push to Baghdad
• Why many veterans struggle with toxic exposure, PTSD, and long-term illness after war
• The deeper responsibility veterans carry long after the fighting ends



🎙️ Guest Information — Alexander Lemons
Alexander Lemons is a former U.S. Marine Scout Sniper and Bronze Star recipient who served multiple combat deployments during the Iraq War, including Nasiriyah and Fallujah. He is the co-author of War Body: A Marine Sniper and the Hidden Violence of Modern Warfare, a powerful look at the hidden physical and psychological costs of combat and what war leaves behind long after the shooting stops.

📖 War Body:
https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324066330

📰 Featured Article:
https://www.hcn.org/issues/57-2/a-vet...


🎙️ Host Information — AJ Pasciuti

AJ Pasciuti is a retired Marine Force Recon Scout Sniper and Infantry Weapons Officer (Marine Gunner), author of Darkhorse: Harnessing Hidden Potential in War and Life, and host of the Combat Story Podcast, where veterans share honest, unfiltered stories of service, leadership, and life after combat.

🔗 Find AJ Online:

📕 Book (Darkhorse): https://www.amazon.com/Darkhorse-Harn...

📸 Instagram: Instagram: ajpasciuti
📘 LinkedIn: LinkedIn: angelo-pasciuti
🔗 Website: https://www.ajpasciuti.com/


🎧 Featured Combat Story Episodes with AJ


👉 Combat Story Podcast – Part 1 (USMC Sniper & Force Recon)
Battle of Fallujah | Shooting w/ Chris Kyle | American Sniper | AJ Pasciuti
USMC Sniper & Force Recon in Fallujah | Sh...


👉 Combat Story Podcast – Part 2 (Sniper vs Sniper Battle)
Killing the Enemy’s Most Lethal Sniper | Force Recon | AJ Pasciuti
Sniper vs Sniper Battle - Killing the Enem...


📺 Additional Features & Media


👉 Urban Valor Podcast Feature:
https://urbanvalor.com/episode/marine...


👉 DVIDS – Infantry Marine Course Feature:


https://www.nationalguard.mil/Leaders...




Chapters

00:00 Incoming artillery in Iraq
02:40 Introducing Marine Sniper Alexander Lemons
07:15 Joining the Marines after 9/11
18:30 Iraq invasion and early combat experiences
32:40 Lessons from combat leadership
51:00 The hidden physical cost of war
1:20:00 The chaos of modern warfare
2:09:00 War Body and life after the Marine Corps

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Combat Story explores the real experiences of warriors and how combat shapes leadership, resilience, and life after service.