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In this Urban Valor Podcast, former Army Sergeant First Class Vincent Morales shares his unbelievable journey from growing up around gang violence in Kansas City, Missouri, to fighting through some of the most dangerous experiences of the Iraq War, including the Battle of Mosul, the 2004 Mosul dining facility bombing, and devastating roadside IED explosions. Vincent opens up about losing fellow soldiers, surviving repeated combat blasts, struggling with severe physical and mental injuries, and the challenges of transitioning from military service to civilian life. After multiple deployments, his life spiraled into substance abuse, broken relationships, and a suicide attempt that nearly killed him. But that's not where his story ends. And THAT is what makes this interview so damn powerful. Vincent doesn't sugarcoat what combat did to him. He talks about the violence, the guilt, the anger, and the moments that still haunt him decades later. One of the most heartbreaking experiences came when an IED struck a vehicle carrying some of his closest brothers. Vincent rushed toward the burning wreckage, helped pull his friend from the vehicle, and stayed beside him as they fought to save his life. He also shares the devastating aftermath of the December 2004 Mosul chow hall bombing, the reality of repeated roadside bombs, and what happens when soldiers are forced to bury their emotions just to survive the next mission. And then there's the battle nobody prepared him for. Coming home. For Vincent, leaving the battlefield didn't mean leaving the war behind. Years of combat, traumatic brain injuries, chronic pain, sleep deprivation, and unresolved grief followed him into everyday life. His marriage collapsed. His addiction worsened. And in May 2013, he attempted to take his own life. He survived. What happened next completely changed the direction of his life. Through recovery, fatherhood, community, and serving other veterans, Vincent began rediscovering his purpose. He eventually helped co-found Veterans Community Project, an organization dedicated to supporting veterans facing homelessness and housing instability through tiny-home communities and individualized support services. **Learn more about Veterans Community Project:** https://www.veteranscommunityproject.org/ 👍 Like this video to support and show appreciation. 🗣️ Comment your support or ask any questions. Sometimes, our interviewees respond, and we at Urban Valor will do our best to respond as well! ✅ SUBSCRIBE to support Urban Valor and the courageous Veterans who tell their stories AND so you NEVER miss a weekly episode of our veteran stories. New stories every Sunday! Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories. Chapters:  00:00 Intense Combat Stories & The Battle After War 01:22 Meet Army Veteran Vincent Morales 03:00 Growing Up in a Military Family 07:08 Running Away from an Abusive Home 09:01 Gang Violence in Kansas City 14:37 Arrests, a Police Chase & a Turning Point 19:03 Becoming a Father at 17 21:49 How 9/11 Changed Everything 24:05 Joining the Army with His Brother 25:21 Army Combat Engineer Basic Training 37:47 First Assignment at Fort Lewis 38:55 The Mentor Who Prepared Him for War 49:54 First Iraq Deployment & Stryker Patrols 52:51 The Reality of Combat Sets In 55:10 First Ambush in Iraq 59:48 The Battle of Mosul 1:04:12 The Deadly 2004 Mosul Chow Hall Bombing 1:08:01 Fighting Through Tal Afar 1:11:50 The IED Attack That Killed His Brothers 1:19:11 The Heartbreaking Military Memorial 1:26:34 Another IED Blast & Saving Martinez 1:38:43 Honoring a Fallen Brother's Family 1:46:31 Preparing for a Second Iraq Deployment 1:57:03 How Route Clearance Changed 2:02:08 Clearing an Al-Qaeda Compound 2:12:52 Recognizing the Man Combat Had Created 2:15:49 The Moment Prince's Purple Rain Broke Him 2:21:06 Combat Operations in Sadr City 2:27:36 A Deadly Mission & Extreme Heat Casualties 2:32:57 Physical Injuries and the Cost of War 2:37:02 Coming Home and Losing Everything 2:47:20 Addiction, Anger & Personal Collapse 2:50:15 Volunteering for a Third Deployment 2:51:51 Afghanistan and Training Afghan Soldiers 3:03:47 Coming Home to a Broken Life 3:06:12 Surviving a Suicide Attempt 3:09:37 Learning to Walk and Live Again 3:10:10 Finding Purpose Helping Veterans 3:13:20 Founding Veterans Community Project 3:16:44 Housing the First 13 Veterans 3:17:47 How Veteran Tiny Home Communities Work 3:20:38 Building Veteran Support Services 3:25:11 Expanding Veteran Housing Across America 3:30:53 Learning to Control His Anger 3:34:34 The Lasting Effects of Brain Injuries 3:36:22 Getting Help and Beginning to Heal 3:38:05 Exploring New Paths to Recovery 3:41:38 What Is an Army Sapper? 3:42:40 Vincent's Final Message of Hope #IraqWar #VeteranStories #CombatPTSD

At just 18 years old, US Marine Corps veteran Manny De Anda witnessed the unimaginable during his deployment to Fallujah, Iraq. After a devastating explosion involving a 7-ton military truck carrying female Marines, Manny and his fellow Marines were among the first to arrive on scene. What he witnessed during that Iraq War deployment would stay with him for the rest of his life. In this episode of the Urban Valor Podcast, Manny shares his firsthand experiences serving as an 0311 infantry Marine during two deployments to Iraq, surviving the dangers of IED attacks, losing fellow Marines in combat, and struggling with the lasting psychological effects of war. But Manny's story goes FAR beyond the battlefield... Growing up in Orange County, California, as the son of Mexican immigrants, Manny wanted to make something of himself and give back to the country that gave his family opportunity. So, at just 17 years old, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. And he had absolutely no idea what he was walking into. From the chaos of Marine Corps boot camp to the brutal realities of combat in Iraq, Manny takes us through the experiences that shaped him, the Marines who changed his life, and the brothers he would never see again. One of the most difficult moments came when Manny responded to the aftermath of an explosion involving female Marines. He was only 18. He describes the destruction, the recovery of fallen service members, and the memories that still follow him today. And then there was December 21st. Just days before Christmas, another devastating IED attack killed Marines he'd served alongside since arriving at his unit. Imagine surviving one deployment, returning for another, and watching the people you trained with and cared about disappear one by one. It's hard to comprehend what that does to someone. But here's what makes Manny's story even more remarkable... When he returned home and eventually left the Marine Corps, his journey was FAR from over. He went to college, became a police officer, and encountered an entirely different kind of trauma while responding to emergencies, violence, and death in his own community. Eventually, he made the difficult decision to leave law enforcement. And then, in one of the most unexpected turns of his life, he moved to China to teach English. Yep. From combat in Iraq to teaching kindergarten in China. Quite the career change, huh? But it was there that Manny discovered something he'd been searching for since leaving the military. Purpose. Today, Manny works in higher education, helping veterans, adult learners, and students navigate their own paths forward. And through it all, the memory of the Marines he lost has never left him. Manny's willingness to share these experiences is a powerful reminder that the sacrifices of military service don't necessarily end when someone takes off the uniform. To Manny, thank you for trusting us with your story, brother. And thank you for your service. To everyone watching, if this story resonates with you, share it with someone who needs to hear it. And if you're a veteran, reach out to a brother or sister you haven't spoken to in a while. That simple conversation might mean more than you realize. 👍 Like this video to support and show appreciation. 🗣️ Comment your support or ask any questions. Sometimes, our interviewees respond, and we at Urban Valor will do our best to respond as well! ✅ SUBSCRIBE to support Urban Valor and the courageous Veterans who tell their stories AND so you NEVER miss a weekly episode of our veteran stories. New stories every Sunday! Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories. Chapters:  00:00 Marine Recalls the Horrors of Iraq 01:33 Growing Up in Orange County 10:06 Troubled Childhood and Finding Discipline 14:55 Why Manny Joined the Marine Corps 19:47 Marine Corps Boot Camp Stories 27:34 Preparing for War and Joining the Infantry 31:14 First Deployment to Fallujah, Iraq 33:50 Losing a Close Friend in Afghanistan 36:55 Responding to the Deadly Attack on Female Marines 41:38 The Emotional Aftermath of Combat 44:56 Preparing for a Second Iraq Deployment 49:32 Second Deployment Near the Syrian Border 53:05 Devastating IED Attack Before Christmas 55:57 Losing More Marines and Deployment Extension 1:00:02 Turning Down $40,000 for Another Deployment 1:01:26 Leaving the Marine Corps 1:03:10 Struggling to Adjust to College 1:08:49 From College Student to Police Recruit 1:13:55 The Reality of Working as a Police Officer 1:18:55 Leaving Law Enforcement Behind 1:21:30 Moving to China to Teach English 1:24:41 Finding Purpose Through Education 1:26:19 Losing a Fellow Marine to Addiction 1:29:33 The Importance of Checking on Veterans #MarineCorps #IraqWar #CombatVeteran

In today's Irban Valor Podcast, Octavio talks about combat in Iraq, repeated IED attacks, losing Marines in his unit, being engulfed in flames, the medevac and ICU experience, learning to walk again, adapting to life with severe burns and a hand amputation, and the impact his injuries had on his wife and children. Octavio also opens up about what happened after the uniform came off...struggling with alcohol and drugs, losing his sense of purpose, rebuilding his family life, returning to his faith, and eventually finding a new mission helping other veterans. Today, Octavio serves with Front Sight Military Outreach, where he helps veterans reconnect with faith, community, brotherhood, and purpose after military service. Chapters:  00:00 Marine Survives a Massive IED Attack 01:27 Growing Up in Fontana, California 03:03 Family Roots in Zacatecas, Mexico 04:25 Getting Pulled Into Gang Life 07:39 Expelled From High School 08:01 Getting Jumped Into a Gang 11:37 Sent to Mexico 13:57 Turning His Life Around 16:02 Dreaming About the Military 17:16 Meeting a Marine Corps Recruiter 19:44 Leaving for Marine Corps Boot Camp 24:14 Earning the Title Marine 26:00 Joining 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines 29:12 First Deployment to Okinawa 32:42 Training With Force Recon 33:34 Massive Fight Between Marines 37:24 Zodiac Training Off Australia 40:09 The Lesson He Never Forgot 44:32 Becoming a Marine Corps NCO 46:28 September 11th in Okinawa 49:02 Reenlisting in the Marines 50:25 Becoming a Marksmanship Instructor 55:21 Watching His Marines Go to War 58:08 Joining 1st Battalion, 5th Marines 1:01:46 Preparing for Iraq 1:03:56 Deploying to Ramadi, Iraq 1:07:54 IED Capital of Iraq 1:09:26 Running Quick Reaction Force Missions 1:12:18 The Reality of Combat 1:13:34 His First IED Explosion 1:17:34 Losing Marines in Ramadi 1:18:27 Looking for a Fight 1:20:20 Hunting for IEDs 1:23:54 June 16, 2005 1:25:20 The Mission That Changed Everything 1:28:44 The Roadside Bomb Explodes 1:29:09 Humvee Launched 40 Feet 1:30:39 Trapped Inside a Burning Vehicle 1:31:35 Escaping While on Fire 1:34:34 Medevac Under Fire 1:38:00 Fighting for His Life 1:39:57 Hallucinations in the ICU 1:45:24 Beginning the Recovery 1:46:50 Seeing His Daughter Again 1:48:49 Learning His Marines Had Died 1:50:22 Life Inside the Burn Center 1:53:52 How His Children Reacted 1:56:19 Becoming an Outpatient 1:58:29 Medical Retirement From the Marines 1:58:56 His Wife Never Left His Side 2:00:47 Life After the Marine Corps 2:02:18 Alcohol, Cocaine & Losing Direction 2:02:59 Finding Faith and Purpose 2:04:27 Finding His Veteran Brotherhood Again 2:06:17 The Struggle of Leaving the Military 2:07:42 Front Sight Military Outreach 2:09:13 Final Thoughts

Marine veteran Alex Hernandez survived an RPG blast while fighting in Fallujah, Iraq — an attack that severely wounded his tank commander and left Alex covered in shrapnel and blood. In this episode, Alex tells the story of going from a kid in East LA with no clear direction to joining the United States Marine Corps after 9/11, becoming an M1 Abrams tank mechanic, deploying to Iraq, and finding himself in some of the most intense fighting of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Alex remembers watching the aftermath of the Blackwater contractor killings before Marines were suddenly ordered outside the wire. What followed was hours of combat in Fallujah. Then, on April 7, everything changed. While moving through the city in an M1 Abrams, Alex spotted armed fighters appearing with RPGs and AK-47s. Moments later, an RPG struck the tank commander’s hatch. His tank commander lost his right eye. Alex was hit by shrapnel and badly wounded in both hands. But surviving the battlefield was only the beginning. Alex also opens up about returning home, losing the career and identity he thought he would have, struggling with his mental health years after the war, seeking help, and eventually trying to rediscover a sense of purpose through service and teaching others. This is a story about war, brotherhood, injury, identity, and what happens when the fighting stops but the battle isn’t necessarily over. CHAPTERS: 00:00 — The RPG Attack in Fallujah 01:10 — Growing Up in East LA 06:16 — His Grandfather Inspires Him to Serve 07:33 — 9/11 Changes Everything 09:24 — Proving He Could Become a Marine 11:12 — Injured During Boot Camp 13:27 — The Marine Who Never Made It Home 16:54 — Becoming an M1 Abrams Tank Mechanic 19:07 — Arriving at 29 Palms 22:21 — Preparing for War 25:23 — Heading to Iraq 28:42 — First Incoming Fire 30:04 — Life Inside an Abrams Tank 36:45 — Blackwater Killings and Fallujah 38:09 — The Battle Begins 40:46 — 13 Hours of Combat 44:50 — April 7th 45:30 — Watching an RPG Fly Toward the Tank 47:04 — Drawing Fire Away From the Marines 48:59 — RPG Strikes the Tank 49:21 — “I’m Pissing Out Blood” 50:47 — Escaping the Burning Tank 51:31 — Surgery and Recovery 53:57 — Returning to the Fight 57:43 — His Wife Deploys to Iraq 58:30 — Coming Home 1:02:12 — Losing His Sense of Purpose 1:04:29 — Mental Health Begins to Collapse 1:06:33 — Calling the Crisis Line 1:07:58 — Finally Finding the Right Help 1:09:46 — Learning How to Move Forward 1:11:27 — Finding Purpose Again 1:12:14 — “Pick Your Head Up and Continue to March”

Marine Staff Sergeant Tony Storey served 21 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, including combat deployments to Somalia and Iraq. At just 21 years old, he led Marines into Somalia during Operation Restore Hope, survived a bullet striking the sandbag beside his head, and later endured a monsoon that flooded his fighting position with human remains. In this episode, of Urban Valor, Tony shares what it was like entering Mogadishu, serving as an 0311 Rifleman, training Iraqi security forces, and carrying the memories of combat long after coming home.  👍 Like this video to support and show appreciation. 🗣️ Comment your support or ask any questions. Sometimes, our interviewees respond, and we at Urban Valor will do our best to respond as well! ✅ SUBSCRIBE to support Urban Valor and the courageous Veterans who tell their stories AND so you NEVER miss a weekly episode of our veteran stories. New stories every Sunday! Chapters:  00:00 Marine Still Has the Bullet That Almost Killed Him 01:15 Tony Storey — 21 Years in the Marine Corps 01:44 Childhood, Abandonment & Losing His Grandparents 06:56 Growing Up in the Shadow of His Marine Father 10:45 His Father’s Brutal Combat History in Vietnam 17:02 “He Was the Marine I Wanted to Be” 20:32 Deciding to Join the Marines 26:03 Arriving at Parris Island 31:08 The Recruit Named Batman 33:30 What Marine Boot Camp Taught Him About Himself 38:32 A Massive Recruit Brawl Breaks Out 45:59 Hurricane Hugo Changes His Graduation 49:14 The Moment He Finally Became a Marine 51:03 Early Marine Combat Training 58:20 Instructor Accidentally Shoots Two Marines 01:00:07 Marine Corps Security Forces 01:05:30 Suicide in the Barracks 01:16:06 Joining 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines 01:16:40 America Is Going Into Somalia 01:19:11 Preparing for Operation Restore Hope 01:21:00 First Wave Into Mogadishu 01:24:23 21 Years Old Leading Marines Into Somalia 01:27:36 They Were Digging Inside a Cemetery 01:30:35 The Bullet That Almost Killed Him 01:34:14 Entering Baidoa — “The City of Death” 01:34:43 The Monsoon That Flooded Their Fighting Holes 01:37:36 Human Remains Begin Floating Past Him 01:43:34 Christmas Day in Somalia 01:45:59 The Child Tony Couldn’t Save 01:51:28 Leaving Somalia 01:53:27 The Marine Who Stole a Lotus 02:00:40 Transitioning Back to Civilian Life 02:04:14 Recalled by Name and Sent to Iraq 02:05:43 Training Iraqi Security Forces 02:19:56 Working Alongside SEAL Team 10 02:28:00 Coming Home From Iraq 02:29:12 Fireworks, IED Memories & Combat Trauma 02:30:38 The Things Combat Veterans Can’t Explain 02:33:38 The Faces He Still Remembers 02:35:30 The Calls From Marines Who Are Struggling 02:37:03 “I Wouldn’t Trade a Damn Thing” 02:37:49 What Tony Lives for Today 02:40:45 Final Thoughts & Semper Fi

Army Major Mandy Feindt says Navy jet fuel contamination from the Red Hill water crisis poisoned her family — and when she spoke out, the military came after her. In this episode of Urban Valor, Mandy breaks down what happened after her family moved onto Ford Island in Hawaii, began getting severely sick, and later learned they had been exposed to contaminated water connected to the Red Hill fuel spill. She talks about her son’s health issues, more than 800 family medical appointments, confronting Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, filing for whistleblower protection, and the retaliation she says followed. Mandy also shares what happened years later when her son was mistreated at a military Child Development Center, the fight to obtain video and records, and why she believes military systems too often protect the institution before the family. This is a story about Red Hill, military toxic exposure, whistleblower retaliation, military families, institutional betrayal, and what happens when a career Army officer decides she can’t stay quiet. Mandy’s message: Take a mess and turn it into a message. If you or your family were impacted by Red Hill, military toxic exposure, or a similar situation while serving, share your story below. Subscribe to Urban Valor for more unfiltered veteran and military stories. Chapters: 0:00 Navy Jet Fuel Poisoned Our Family 1:29 Meet Army Major Mandy Feindt 2:43 Growing Up in a Military Family 4:00 How 9/11 Changed Her Life 6:17 Becoming an Army Officer 8:07 Afghanistan & Casualty Operations 12:48 Command, ROTC & Special Operations 16:25 Moving to Hawaii 18:50 The Dream House on Historic Ford Island 20:19 Her Family Suddenly Gets Sick 21:20 The Red Hill Fuel Spill 24:39 The Navy Said the Water Was Safe 27:54 Her Entire Family Ends Up in the Hospital 29:23 Fighting for Military Children 34:08 Speaking Out as an Active-Duty Officer 38:40 From Hospital Bed to Public Advocacy 41:06 Walking the Halls of Congress 42:45 When the Retaliation Escalated 44:55 Confronting the Secretary of the Navy 46:52 “Nothing in Life Is Pure” 48:31 Investigated After Confronting Navy Leadership 49:08 Filing for Whistleblower Protection 55:22 The Military's Flushing Operation 58:21 More Than 800 Medical Appointments 1:00:48 The Psychological Trauma of Contaminated Water 1:01:15 “An American Military Asset Poisoning Americans” 1:04:47 The Red Hill Lawsuit 1:06:51 Why Long-Term Medical Monitoring Matters 1:09:39 The VA Finally Recognizes Red Hill 1:11:20 “There's the Door” 1:12:39 Why She Refused to Stay Silent 1:14:46 Native Hawaiians & Military Families Unite 1:16:15 How Does This Happen in the U.S. Military? 1:20:26 Why Families Weren't Properly Tested 1:22:39 Institutional Betrayal 1:27:26 Trusting the Military Again 1:28:24 Her Son's Daycare Incident 1:30:00 Discovering the Abuse 1:34:34 The Army Promises to Handle It 1:37:08 The Same Teacher Comes Back 1:38:01 Fighting to Preserve the Evidence 1:41:48 The Military Says It Wasn't Abuse 1:44:03 Why the Secretary of the Army Wouldn't Meet Her 1:46:24 Parents Barred From the Hearing 1:47:16 The Video Evidence Disappears 1:49:39 What the Remaining Video Showed 1:51:28 Military Daycare Oversight 1:53:36 CPS Substantiates Child Abuse 1:56:30 The Teachers Returned to Work 1:59:02 The FOIA Records 2:00:18 “You Poisoned My Kids” 2:01:06 The Fight Is Still Ongoing 2:03:31 Retaliation Over Protecting Her Son 2:06:52 Why Speaking Up Comes With a Cost 2:07:12 Her Whistleblower Case Is Substantiated 2:09:43 Will Her Children Ever Serve? 2:12:36 The Military Recruiting Problem 2:14:14 What Military Families Need to Know 2:14:51 What's Next for Mandy 2:16:13 Turning a Mess Into a Message

Marine veteran Peter Caro joined the U.S. Marine Corps expecting to become a mechanic. Instead, he was sent to Iraq as a Motor Transport operator during a time when IEDs were killing drivers across the battlefield. In this Urban Valor interview, Peter shares what it was like serving in Fallujah, driving dangerous roads in Iraq, surviving IED attacks, taking enemy fire, and dealing with the PTSD and survivor’s guilt that followed him home. Peter served in the Marines from 2004 to 2013 and completed multiple deployments to Iraq. During his service, he transported personnel and equipment, trained Iraqi police and military forces, and operated outside the wire in some of the most dangerous conditions of the Iraq War. He also opens up about the moments that stayed with him most — seeing Marines he knew listed as killed in action, watching a vehicle in front of him hit an IED, and struggling with the belief that other Marines deserved to come home more than he did. After leaving active duty, Peter began dealing with hypervigilance, panic attacks, isolation, drinking, and survivor’s guilt. His path to understanding PTSD eventually led him back to school, where he studied psychology and social work. Today, Peter works as a therapist helping other veterans navigate trauma, PTSD, depression, and the difficult transition from military to civilian life. Chapters:  00:00 Marine Boot Camp & Surviving an IED Attack 01:00 Peter Caro’s Marine Corps Story 01:50 Growing Up in a Mexican-American Family 06:34 Why Pete Wanted to Become a Marine 08:34 Watching 9/11 Change Everything 11:31 Feeling Lost Before Joining the Marines 13:44 Walking Into the Marine Recruiter’s Office 16:33 The Reality of Marine Corps Boot Camp 18:32 Choosing to Push Through 19:01 A Recruit Tries to Escape Boot Camp 23:39 The Reality of the Boot Camp Bathroom 25:13 Pete’s Infamous Boot Camp Story 27:00 Marine Corps Graduation & His Father’s Reaction 31:51 Returning Home After Boot Camp 32:59 Getting in Trouble on Recruiting Duty 36:00 The Marine Corps Job He Didn’t Expect 37:30 Joining 9th Communication Battalion 40:02 When Pete’s Roommate Went UA 43:55 Preparing to Deploy to Iraq 45:31 “Dude, You’re Going to Die” 47:00 Training for His First Iraq Deployment 48:47 Accidentally Taking Night Vision Goggles Home 51:58 Deploying to Fallujah, Iraq 53:07 Training Marines & Iraqi Security Forces 54:04 Carrying Iraqi Money Into a Combat Zone 55:53 His First Experience Taking Enemy Fire 56:41 Tracer Fire Over a Marine Convoy 59:24 Becoming Desensitized to Combat 1:00:50 Seeing Marines He Knew on the KIA Wall 1:03:19 The Beginning of Survivor’s Guilt 1:04:28 Secretly Getting Married Before Deployment 1:08:55 Training Iraqi Police & Army 1:10:25 Ambushed During a Convoy Mission 1:15:43 Coming Home From Iraq 1:18:35 Pete’s Second Iraq Deployment 1:20:29 The “Code Brown” Convoy Story 1:24:32 Incoming Fire Nearly Kills Pete 1:28:12 The Mission That Changed Everything 1:31:24 The Truck in Front of Him Hits an IED 1:32:49 Thinking His Marines Were Dead 1:35:00 Guilt After the IED Explosion 1:36:45 Why Pete Decided to Leave Active Duty 1:40:48 Life in the Marine Corps Reserve 1:43:43 Being Reenlisted by R. Lee Ermey 1:45:21 Returning to College After the Marines 1:46:50 “I Hate the Fact That I Came Back Alive” 1:48:46 How Combat Changed Him at Home 1:50:54 Drinking, Isolation & Emotional Numbness 1:51:32 Learning About PTSD in Psychology Class 1:54:50 Refusing to Accept He Had PTSD 1:56:11 The Panic Attack That Changed Everything 1:57:44 His First Experience Seeking Help 1:58:53 The Vietnam Veteran Who Changed His Life 1:59:56 Finding a New Mission Through Social Work 2:00:49 Becoming a Therapist for Veterans 2:02:08 Why Transitioning Out Can Be So Difficult 2:03:18 Why Pete Almost Didn’t Tell His Story 2:05:54 What He Would Tell His Younger Self 2:06:43 “You Are Enough”

Navy SEAL Andrew Arrabito sits down to tell the REAL stories behind serving in United States Naval Special Warfare from 2002 to 2012, including time with SEAL Team 5 and SEAL Team 1. In this episode of Urban Valor, he breaks down what BUD/S was really like, the mindset required to survive SEAL training, life as a new guy in the teams, and what combat looked like during deployments overseas. He also tells the incredible story of a nighttime freefall jump where he lost access to his ripcord, began tumbling at low altitude, deployed his reserve chute, survived… and then got back in the aircraft and jumped again. Beyond the military stories, Andrew opens up about growing up in Northern California, losing his father and two older brothers in a plane crash at age seven, and later returning to the crash site in Alaska.👍 Like this video to support and show appreciation. 🗣️ Comment your support or ask any questions. Sometimes, our interviewees respond, and we at Urban Valor will do our best to respond as well! ✅ SUBSCRIBE to support Urban Valor and the courageous Veterans who tell their stories AND so you NEVER miss a weekly episode of our veteran stories. New stories every Sunday! Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories. Chapters:  0:00 “I Thought I Was Dead” – Parachute Malfunction 1:25 Meet Navy SEAL Andrew Arrabito 2:07 Growing Up in Northern California 5:20 Faith & Family 6:08 Why He Wanted to Become a Navy SEAL 7:11 Joining the Navy & Getting to BUD/S 14:50 How BUD/S Instructors Targeted Candidates 15:54 The Different Phases of SEAL Training 21:59 Deaths & Danger During SEAL Training 23:09 Joining SEAL Team 5 24:01 Life as the New Guy 25:34 Hazing & SEAL Team Culture 27:25 First Combat Deployment to Iraq 28:42 Combat Missions in Iraq 32:06 Hunting a Sniper in Tal Afar 33:46 Screening for DEVGRU 42:00 Fighting in Afghanistan 43:12 How Taliban Fighters Hid From Apache Helicopters 45:40 A Helicopter Crash That Nearly Included His Team 46:02 Did They Make a Difference in Afghanistan? 46:22 Training Other Navy SEALs 58:27 Losing His Father & Two Brothers 58:38 Returning to the Alaska Plane Crash Site 1:00:06 Losing His Family at Seven Years Old 1:01:08 Building His Business After the SEAL Teams ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ DISCLAIMER: The views and experiences shared in this interview are those of the individual and are recounted from personal memory. #UrbanValor #navyseal #podcast

Marine Corps Sergeant Major Jean-Paul Corville served 22 years in the United States Marine Corps from 1991 to 2013, earning the Bronze Star with Valor and rising to the rank of Sergeant Major. In this episode of Urban Valor, Corville shares Marine Corps boot camp stories, infantry life, combat in Iraq, leadership lessons, disaster response in Japan, and the decision that ultimately changed the course of his career. He talks about growing up shy and overweight in Louisiana, transforming himself through training, choosing the Marines, becoming an 0331 machine gunner, serving at 29 Palms, deploying to Okinawa, becoming a drill instructor, and eventually reaching the highest enlisted levels of Marine Corps leadership. Corville also opens up about combat, loss, mistakes, consequences, and what happened when one decision cost him more than he ever expected. From hilarious Marine Corps stories to some of the darkest moments of his life, this is an unfiltered look at a 22-year military career from someone who lived it at every level. 👍 Like this video to support and show appreciation. 🗣️ Comment your support or ask any questions. Sometimes, our interviewees respond, and we at Urban Valor will do our best to respond as well! ✅ SUBSCRIBE to support Urban Valor and the courageous Veterans who tell their stories AND so you NEVER miss a weekly episode of our veteran stories. New stories every Sunday! Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories. Chapters:  00:00 Preview 01:38 Growing Up Shy & Overweight in Louisiana 07:58 Why He Chose the Marine Corps 15:10 Marine Corps Boot Camp & Becoming a Machine Gunner 22:04 Life at 29 Palms & Early Infantry Stories 27:49 Deploying to Okinawa 46:04 Life as a Marine Corps Drill Instructor 1:24:43 Deploying to Kuwait Before the Iraq Invasion 1:33:59 Combat in Baghdad & Losing Marines 1:59:40 The Battle of Karma 2:32:46 The Career Decision That Changed Everything 2:34:34 Retiring as a Sergeant Major After 22 Years 2:43:28 Hiking the Appalachian Trail & Life After the Marines 2:53:19 Motivation, Inspiration & Final Advice ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ DISCLAIMER: The views and experiences shared in this interview are those of the individual and are recounted from personal memory. #UrbanValor #usarmy #podcast

Ronald Long is a United States Marine Corps veteran who served from 2009–2013, leaving the Marines as an E-4 Corporal. In this episode of Urban Valor, Ronald shares his incredible story of joining the U.S. Marines, experiencing combat, surviving an IED explosion, losing a fellow service member beside him, and confronting experiences that would follow him long after the battlefield. But Ronald’s story started LONG before the Marine Corps... He grew up in Northern California in a Puerto Rican family that endured financial hardship, his sister’s battle with cancer, his mother’s addiction, abuse inside the home, and eventually the breakup of his family. As a kid, Ronald learned pretty damn quickly how to survive. By his teenage years, that meant helping raise his sisters, trying to help keep his family financially afloat, getting involved in selling marijuana, witnessing violence around his friends, and reaching adulthood without much of a plan for what came next. Then life changed FAST. Ronald began a relationship, discovered he was about to become a father, and suddenly needed a way to provide for a family. Then, seemingly out of nowhere... A Marine Corps recruiter called. Ronald signed the paperwork, went to boot camp, and began a path that would eventually put him into situations very few people can truly understand. And somehow, even surrounded by some incredibly dark moments, Ronald’s Marine Corps stories can also be absolutely hilarious. From doing boot camp practically BLIND because nobody gave him his glasses... ...to Marines breaking into the WRONG barracks... ...to a drill instructor apparently studying World of Warcraft just so he could figure out new ways to destroy the recruits playing it.  But combat was different. Ronald describes transporting bodies, seeing horrific injuries become almost routine, and the moment a pressure plate detonated feet away from him. For a moment, his mind transported him somewhere completely different. Then Abdul came crashing back into his reality. And Ronald realized his friend was dead. Thank you to Ronald Long for trusting us with his story. 👍 Like this video to support and show appreciation. 🗣️ Comment your support or ask any questions. Sometimes, our interviewees respond, and we at Urban Valor will do our best to respond as well! ✅ SUBSCRIBE to support Urban Valor and the courageous Veterans who tell their stories AND so you NEVER miss a weekly episode of our veteran stories. New stories every Sunday! Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories. Chapters:  00:00 Preview 01:04 Meet Marine Veteran Ronald Long 02:17 His Sister’s Battle With Cancer 04:19 Addiction and Abuse at Home 10:15 His Family Nearly Loses Everything 12:30 Gang Violence and Losing a Friend 17:55 Life Before the Marine Corps 23:16 Finding Out He Was Going to Be a Father 23:55 The Marine Corps Recruiter Calls 25:50 Leaving for Boot Camp 26:50 Going Through Boot Camp Nearly Blind 28:26 Breaking Into the Wrong Barracks 32:34 World of Warcraft Meets Marine Boot Camp 37:02 Becoming a Squad Leader 39:18 MCT and Becoming a Radio Operator 44:42 Arriving in the Fleet 45:58 A Wild Night With His Corporals 50:53 Becoming a Field Radio Operator 52:10 Preparing for Afghanistan 59:19 Taking Over Communications in Afghanistan 1:00:07 Becoming Addicted to Combat Patrols 1:01:42 The Push Along Route 611 1:03:39 Abdul Steps on an IED 1:04:29 Realizing Abdul Is Dead 1:05:16 Surviving the Blast 1:06:52 Faith, Anger, and Wanting to Die 1:15:20 Returning to Afghanistan 1:15:39 Becoming Desensitized to Death 1:17:00 The True Cost of the Deployment 1:26:14 Surviving Another Major Battle 1:27:22 Coming Home From a Brutal Deployment 1:29:43 Trying to Become a Husband and Father 1:41:19 Getting Married Days After Coming Home 1:42:34 Discovering His Wife Was Unfaithful 1:45:24 Preparing for Another Deployment 1:52:40 Waking Up Injured in Thailand 1:54:19 His Unit Leaves Without Him 1:56:10 Stranded and Trying to Rejoin His Unit 2:00:04 Traveling Through the Middle East 2:06:53 Finally Rejoining His Marines 2:11:02 Deciding to Leave the Marine Corps 2:12:23 Transitioning to Civilian Life 2:13:53 Moving Millions on the Las Vegas Strip 2:24:14 A Fight Changes His Career 2:26:22 Becoming a Counterterrorism Instructor 2:27:04 Finding Purpose Again 2:31:06 Struggling With Suicidal Thoughts 2:31:55 Losing His Purpose Again 2:34:00 Sitting in a Parking Lot With a Gun 2:34:19 The Phone Call That Kept Him Alive 2:35:25 Losing Fellow Marines to Suicide 2:37:16 Finding a New Mission After the Military 2:37:56 Turning Veteran Trauma Into Comedy 2:42:15 Helping Veterans Find Purpose 2:43:02 Stories Over Stigma 2:43:39 Ronald’s Message to Other Veterans 2:44:33 Closing ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ DISCLAIMER: The views and experiences shared in this interview are those of the individual and are recounted from personal memory. #UrbanValor #usarmy #podcast

U.S. Army tanker Carlos Manjarrez served as an M1 Abrams armor crewman from 2012 to 2018. In this episode of the Urban Valor Podcast, Carlos shares the story of growing up in San Bernardino, joining the United States Army with a baby on the way, choosing a combat MOS, becoming an Army tanker, and experiencing the wild personalities, leadership, training, and brotherhood that came with life in an armor unit. Carlos didn’t grow up with some perfectly mapped-out plan to become an M1 Abrams tanker. After graduating high school in 2011, college wasn’t clicking. He had a child on the way, wasn’t sure what came next, and eventually walked into a military recruiting station looking for one thing: A combat job. He considered the Marines first, but the available jobs weren’t what he wanted. Then he walked into the Army recruiter’s office and was given several options—including cavalry scout, mortarman, and 19K M1 armor crewman. Carlos picked tanks. But this conversation goes WAY beyond the Army... Chapters: 00:00 Wild Army Tanker Stories 01:17 Growing Up in San Bernardino 03:01 Growing Up Without His Father 07:26 Taking a DNA Test to Find the Truth 10:30 Growing Up Around Gangs & Street Culture 15:35 The Police Encounter That Became a Wake-Up Call 19:35 Why He Wanted to Join the Military 22:45 Walking Into an Army Recruiting Office 24:06 A Baby on the Way Changes Everything 26:25 Choosing 19K Army Tanker 26:56 Basic Training Begins 31:45 Getting Smoked by the Drill Sergeants 36:13 What Army Basic Training Was Really Like 39:44 Questioning Whether He Made the Right Decision 40:17 His Son Is Born During Training 40:40 Getting Orders to Fort Stewart 46:16 Life in His First Army Unit 47:52 National Training Center at Fort Irwin 48:35 How an M1 Abrams Tank Crew Works 49:25 Becoming an M1 Abrams Gunner 49:45 Earning the Legendary Tanker Boots 51:01 Preparing to Fire the M1 Abrams 59:02 Getting “Killed” During an NTC Mission 1:00:14 Seeing a Soldier’s PTSD Triggered in Training 1:02:15 Live Mortar Rounds Land Next to Their Tank 1:06:01 Preparing for an Afghanistan Deployment 1:06:29 Orders Suddenly Change to Germany 1:06:45 Training With U.S. Allies in Germany 1:08:17 The Sketchy M1 Abrams River Crossing 1:15:28 Pranks Played on New Army Tankers 1:16:42 Tank Crew Traditions & Gunnery Pranks 1:20:09 What Firing an M1 Abrams Feels Like 1:21:15 Why Every Tank Crew Member Matters 1:32:06 Leaving the Army & Trying to Become a Cop 1:34:31 Losing a Close Army Friend 1:35:45 Finding a New Career Through Helmets to Hardhats 1:37:28 Becoming a Groundman & Working Toward Lineman 1:54:12 His Advice to Young Soldiers 1:55:07 Final Thoughts 👍 Like this video to support and show appreciation. 🗣️ Comment your support or ask any questions. Sometimes, our interviewees respond, and we at Urban Valor will do our best to respond as well! ✅ SUBSCRIBE to support Urban Valor and the courageous Veterans who tell their stories AND so you NEVER miss a weekly episode of our veteran stories. New stories every Sunday! Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ DISCLAIMER: The views and experiences shared in this interview are those of the individual and are recounted from personal memory. #UrbanValor #usarmy #podcast

Marcos Estrada went from surviving Chicago gang violence to becoming a United States Marine Master Sergeant—and fighting in Operation Phantom Fury. Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Marcos grew up surrounded by poverty, domestic violence, drugs, gangs, and crime. His father battled heroin addiction and spent much of Marcos’ childhood in prison. By 15, Marcos had already been shot at, stabbed, arrested for serious felonies, and pulled deeper into the gang lifestyle. Then the Marine Corps gave him another path. In today's Urban Valor interview, Marcos shares how he escaped Chicago gang life, joined the U.S. Marines, became an infantryman, and completed a 20-year military career that included multiple combat deployments. But whew… getting there was anything but simple. Marcos talks about watching his mother rebuild her life after suffering devastating injuries, the neighborhood Marine who unknowingly inspired his future, entering the Marine Corps with multiple waivers, and the drill instructors who saw potential in a broken kid before he could see it himself. He also recounts intense combat during Operation Phantom Fury in Fallujah—including RPG fire, ambushes, land mines, wounded Marines, and the moment he saw fellow Marine Stacey Green lying motionless after an explosion. This isn’t just a Marine Corps combat story. It’s a story about trauma. Brotherhood. Accountability. And what can happen when someone is finally given structure, responsibility, and a reason to believe they can become more than their environment. Marcos didn’t erase his past when he became a Marine… He transformed it into grit, leadership, and purpose. Watch the full interview to hear how a kid from Chicago’s South Side survived the streets, earned the title Marine, rose to Master Sergeant, and faced some of the most dangerous fighting of the Iraq War. Subscribe to Urban Valor for more uncensored military stories, veteran interviews, Marine Corps combat experiences, and firsthand accounts from the men and women who served. 👍 Like this video to support and show appreciation. 🗣️ Comment your support or ask any questions. Sometimes, our interviewees respond, and we at Urban Valor will do our best to respond as well! ✅ SUBSCRIBE to support Urban Valor and the courageous Veterans who tell their stories AND so you NEVER miss a weekly episode of our veteran stories. New stories every Sunday! Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ CHAPTERS 00:00 Operation Phantom Fury Ambush 01:37 Growing Up on Chicago’s South Side 03:08 Surrounded by Gangs and Crime 04:34 His Father’s Addiction and Violence 06:02 Forced to Grow Up at Seven Years Old 07:38 The House That Became a Safe Haven 08:48 The Marine Who Changed His Life 09:59 Waterboarded by a Marine as a Kid 12:26 Reuniting With His Childhood Hero 15:35 His Mother’s Incredible Recovery 16:39 Becoming Involved in Gang Violence 17:27 Shot At in a Chicago Alley 18:15 Retaliating Against a Rival Gang 19:54 Trapped Behind Enemy Lines 21:41 Realizing He Had Been Stabbed 24:21 Treating the Wound Without a Hospital 25:40 Secretly Visiting a Marine Recruiter 27:40 Returning to Enlist at 17 29:12 Joining the Delayed Entry Program 30:01 Felony Arrests and Military Waivers 31:09 Preparing for Marine Corps Boot Camp 32:19 Leaving His Old Life Behind 33:21 Becoming a Standout Recruit 34:45 The Drill Instructor Who Believed in Him 36:27 How Marine Boot Camp Was Structured 37:29 The Infamous Sugar Sandwich 41:16 Marine Combat Training 42:06 Choosing the Infantry ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ DISCLAIMER: The views and experiences shared in this interview are those of the individual and are recounted from personal memory. #UrbanValor #Marines #OperationPhantomFury

Marine Corps veteran Keith Johnson served as an electronics surveillance operator during the Vietnam era, intercepting Russian military communications from a highly classified communications center in Morocco. Assigned to 2nd Radio Battalion, Keith monitored the Russian Black Sea Fleet while working inside a facility containing sensitive military intelligence, classified messages, and enormous quantities of explosives. But Keith’s Marine Corps story didn’t begin at boot camp… It began with a brutal childhood in Chicago. At only six years old, Keith sat in a courtroom and testified against the stepfather who had violently beaten his mother. He grew up surrounded by alcoholism, abuse, street violence, broken trust, and moments that would remain burned into his memory for the rest of his life. And somehow… he refused to let any of it destroy what was good in him. In today's Urban Valor episode, Keith shares how he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, became a squad leader during boot camp, stood against violent “blanket parties,” and discovered that real leadership wasn’t always about using more force. Sometimes, strength meant protecting the person everyone else wanted to punish. Keith later became a Marine Corps electronics surveillance operator with a top-secret security clearance. While many of his friends received orders to Vietnam, Keith was sent to North Africa, where he helped process sensitive military communications and intercept activity from the Russian Black Sea Fleet during the Cold War. His stories range from the deadly serious… To a care package filled with popcorn and mold-covered pepperoni that somehow became a feast for an entire barracks. Yeah… this interview takes a few turns. Keith also opens up about heartbreak, anger, faith, suicidal thoughts, brotherhood, and the deeper reason he believes he was prevented from going to Vietnam. Today, he continues serving others through prison ministry, Bible studies, veteran organizations, scholarships, military funerals, and support for people who feel like society has left them behind. This isn’t simply a Marine Corps story. It’s a story about surviving violence without becoming consumed by it… Leading without abandoning people… Finding purpose after pain… And learning that sometimes the hardest person to save is yourself. 👍 Like this video to support and show appreciation. 🗣️ Comment your support or ask any questions. Sometimes, our interviewees respond, and we at Urban Valor will do our best to respond as well! ✅ SUBSCRIBE to support Urban Valor and the courageous Veterans who tell their stories AND so you NEVER miss a weekly episode of our veteran stories. New stories every Sunday! Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ CHAPTERS 00:00 Moldy Pepperoni in the Barracks 01:25 Meet Marine Veteran Keith Johnson 01:42 Growing Up in Chicago 05:17 His Mother’s Violent Marriage 06:06 Testifying in Court at Six Years Old 12:28 Growing Up Around the Police Station 17:00 Protecting His Family 25:21 His Grandmother’s Prediction 29:42 Enlisting in the Marine Corps 31:31 Arriving at Marine Corps Boot Camp 34:25 Becoming Fourth Squad Leader 40:34 Challenging a Golden Gloves Boxer 42:28 Stopping the Boot Camp Beatdowns 45:33 Motown in the Quonset Hut 48:29 Receiving a Dear John Letter 51:21 Why Everyone Wanted His Squad 57:14 Becoming a Signals Intelligence Marine 59:53 Trusting Marines Without Locks 1:00:58 Sent to North Africa Instead of Vietnam 1:01:22 Intercepting Russian Military Communications 1:12:13 The Pepperoni Care Package 1:17:26 Getting a Top-Secret Clearance 1:21:22 Leading Sergeants as a Corporal 1:23:27 The Mistake That Put Him on Guard Duty 1:34:39 Finding Faith and Healing 1:35:56 What He Misses About the Marine Corps 1:37:37 How Being a Veteran Opened Doors 1:44:47 Heartbreak, Anger and Losing Hope 1:46:31 The Bullet He Believes Was Meant for Him 1:47:07 Prison Ministry and Life After the Corps ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ DISCLAIMER: The views and experiences shared in this interview are those of the individual and are recounted from personal memory.

Marine Corps machine gunner Matthew Dolan survived a massive IED blast in Fallujah, Iraq and that was only one of several moments that nearly killed him. Today's Urban Valor podcast, Matthew shares what it was like serving as an 0331 Marine machine gunner with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines. He discusses deploying to Fallujah, operating as part of a quick reaction force, being shot at by an enemy he could not see, surviving a double-stacked 155mm IED, and becoming trapped inside a military vehicle as it rolled into a river. Yeah… this one gets WILD. Matthew’s story isn’t only about explosions and close calls. It’s about growing up with a younger sister battling cystic fibrosis… Walking into a Marine Corps recruiting office after getting yelled at by his boss… Training under veterans of Operation Phantom Fury… And arriving in a completely blacked-out Fallujah as a 19-year-old kid from Kansas thinking, “What the hell did I get myself into?” Matthew describes the strange reality of fighting insurgents who rarely presented a clear target. One moment, he was searching vehicles and tracking high-value individuals. The next, he was taking sniper fire, responding to indirect fire or driving roads known for improvised explosive devices. Then came the blast. Matthew’s vehicle was the fourth to cross an IED buried beneath the road. The first three vehicles passed over it without detonating the device. His didn’t. The explosion cracked the vehicle’s axle, tore away part of the Humvee and knocked Matthew unconscious. His fellow Marines pulled him from the vehicle, strapped him to a stretcher and rushed him to medical treatment. What happened inside the medical bay somehow became one of the funniest...and most unfiltered...IED survival stories we’ve ever heard. 👍 Like this video to support and show appreciation. 🗣️ Comment your support or ask any questions. Sometimes, our interviewees respond, and we at Urban Valor will do our best to respond as well! ✅ SUBSCRIBE to support Urban Valor and the courageous Veterans who tell their stories AND so you NEVER miss a weekly episode of our veteran stories. New stories every Sunday! Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ CHAPTERS 00:00 Surviving an IED and a Sinking Vehicle 01:31 Meet Marine Machine Gunner Matt Dolan 02:02 Growing Up With a Sister Battling Cystic Fibrosis 08:43 The Family Legacy That Inspired Him to Serve 10:58 The Argument That Made Him Join the Marines 12:56 Telling His Family He Enlisted 15:02 Marine Corps Boot Camp 21:15 Becoming an 0331 Machine Gunner 23:51 Joining 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines 26:27 Arriving in Fallujah 28:49 Al-Qaeda Makes an Example of an Informant 30:13 The First Time He Was Shot At 32:03 Running Quick Reaction Force in Fallujah 36:15 Recovering a Fallen Marine’s Sniper Rifle 41:38 Fighting an Enemy He Couldn’t See 43:39 His Humvee Detonates a Massive IED 46:59 Rushed to the Medical Bay 51:22 Returning to Fallujah 56:02 A Four-Year-Old Girl Is Killed 1:00:00 The Reality of His Second Iraq Deployment 1:06:03 Marines Go Rooftop to Rooftop With Eggs 1:08:13 Surrounded by Iraqi Police 1:10:26 Sneaking Through an Iraqi Family’s House 1:28:51 A Marine’s Rifle Goes Missing 1:31:00 Japan, Korea and Australia 1:36:04 Losing the Combat Mindset 1:40:00 Preparing for Afghanistan 1:50:45 Remembering the Marines He Lost 1:55:08 Learning Matt Abate Was Killed 1:58:23 A Gunny Gives Him a Reality Check 2:11:26 Surviving the Vehicle Rollover 2:13:18 Watching a Massive Firefight 2:17:46 Pills, Alcohol and Returning to Afghanistan 2:18:09 His Fifth Combat Deployment 2:20:34 Completely Lost in His Own Head 2:21:31 A DUI and the Collapse of His Career 2:23:08 One Final Barracks Disaster ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ DISCLAIMER: The views and experiences shared in this interview are those of the individual and are recounted from personal memory.

Lito Villanueva went from a junior Air Force cyber specialist to a military contractor in Afghanistan, a special operations communications expert, and eventually a volunteer supporting teams near the front lines of the war in Ukraine. In this episode, of Urban Valor, Lito shares the uncensored story of leaving the U.S. Air Force after two years, landing a $164,500 Afghanistan contractor job at 21, surviving daily mortar attacks at FOB Shank—better known as “Rocket City”—and entering the hidden world of special operations, C4ISR, military communications, drones, intelligence, surveillance, and kinetic strike operations. He also opens up about the psychological cost of war, witnessing lethal operations, returning home disconnected from civilian life, battling depression, and finding a new sense of purpose through veteran suicide prevention and humanitarian work. Years later, after Russia invaded Ukraine, Lito entered the country alone with humanitarian aid and eventually joined a team that needed his expertise in tactical communications, blue-force tracking, intelligence organization, and battlefield command-and-control systems. 👍 Like this video to support and show appreciation. 🗣️ Comment your support or ask any questions. Sometimes, our interviewees respond, and we at Urban Valor will do our best to respond as well! ✅ SUBSCRIBE to support Urban Valor and the courageous Veterans who tell their stories AND so you NEVER miss a weekly episode of our veteran stories. New stories every Sunday! Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ CHAPTERS 00:00 The Reality of War Behind the Curtain 01:22 Meet Lito Villanueva 02:05 Growing Up in a Filipino Navy Family 09:33 Why Lito Joined the Air Force 15:52 Why Basic Training Felt Easy 22:50 His First Air Force Assignment 25:30 The Leader He Refused to Follow 30:34 Leave the Air Force or Stay? 32:23 Life After the Military 34:34 Finding an Afghanistan Contractor Job 36:57 A $164,500 Job Offer at 21 42:28 Realizing He Was Going to a War Zone 01:07:56 Why He Returned to Afghanistan 01:09:46 Assigned to “Rocket City” 01:17:15 The Network Problem That Changed Everything 01:23:28 How He Entered Special Operations 01:29:02 Behind the Curtain of U.S. Military Power 01:44:59 The Conversation That Helped Him Heal 01:45:30 Building Battle Buddy for Veterans 01:50:42 Russia Invades Ukraine 01:52:51 Crossing Into Ukraine Alone 01:56:55 His First Mission to Kharkiv 01:58:39 Delivering Aid Near the Front Line 02:02:33 Joining a Ukrainian Support Team 02:08:54 Inside the Kharkiv Counteroffensive ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ DISCLAIMER: The views and experiences shared in this interview are those of the individual and are recounted from personal memory.