59. Black Hawk Down Surgeon: 30+ Hours in Combat, Blood, and Battlefield Truth
About this episode
Dr. John Holcomb shares his experiences as a trauma surgeon during the Black Hawk Down mission and discusses his ongoing work in trauma care.
Dr. John Holcomb is one of the most legendary trauma surgeons alive. He shares untold details from Black Hawk Down , where he operated for over 30 hours straight during the infamous battle in Somalia in 1993. He opens up about the chaos, grit, and brutal realities of combat medicine — and how that moment shifted his mission for life. Now, he's focused on saving lives before patients even reach the hospital. From pioneering blood delivery systems to taking five trips to the frontlines of Ukraine, Dr. Holcomb’s work is reshaping modern trauma care. This is more than a war story — it’s a raw look at courage, purpose, humility and what it means to serve on the edge of life and death. 🔊 What You'll Learn: Behind-the-scenes of the Black Hawk Down mission How Holcomb handled nonstop surgery for 30+ hours The innovation driving pre-hospital blood care Why he keeps returning to Ukraine to help in war zones The mindset that sustains people in the world’s most high-stakes environments You can learn more about his work here: https://prehospitaltransfusion.org/ Follow Permission to Shine Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/permissiontoshine_/?hl=en Follow Andrew Namanny LinkedIn…
People in this episode
Host: Andrew Namanny
Guest: Dr. John Holcomb
Topics covered
- combat medicine
- trauma care
- Black Hawk Down
- surgery
- humanitarian work
- courage
- life-saving innovations
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: prehospitaltransfusion.org
Places: Somalia, Ukraine
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