Navy Seal Veteran Zack Ferguson shares his story on this week's Urban Valor. From his upbringing in Orange County to his decision to enlist, Zack recounts his challenging journey through Navy Seal Training and Service. 

He discusses witnessing a teammate's death during training, losing friends when they took their own lives, and leaving his team to support his ill sister. 

After leaving the Navy, Zack explored psychedelic therapy, which helped him heal from trauma. He uses this experience to assist others, including his family, with their healing.

👍 Remember to LIKE this video if you found it informative, enjoyable, or just to show your support to Zach and/or us at Urban Valor.

🗣️ 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 take the share and tell their story, 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.

Video Chapters: 
07:18 Boot Camp
17:47 Hell Week
29:58 Earning the Trident 
36:50 Back to the Platoon
46:00 Sniper School
50:08 Family
1:14:18 The Future

#military #urbanvalor #warstories #usnavy  #armyveteran #usnavyseal

In this episode of Urban Valor, we sit down with retired Army Staff Sergeant Kyle Kelly, who has gone from a troubled childhood in Northeast Texas to the frontlines in Iraq.

Kyle shares his experiences as a Combat Engineer battling Al Qaeda in intense warfare. He remembers surviving a gunshot wound, barely escaping an RPG, and enduring a devastating blast that led to amputation. 

Kyle opens up about his struggles transitioning to civilian life, including time spent in jail for aggravated assault while still on active duty. Despite these challenges, Kyle found a new purpose in serving his fellow veterans.

Watch now to learn how Kyle turned his experiences into a force for good, founding the non-profit organization Open Water.

👍 Remember to LIKE this video if you found it informative, enjoyable, or just to show your support to Kyle and/or us at Urban Valor.

🗣️ 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 take the share and tell their story, 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.

Video Chapters: 
00:35 Early Life
11:23 Boot Camp 
15:03 Airborne School 
16:19 1st Cav
21:57 First Deployment 
34:57 Sadness & Anger
36:54 Back to the Field
43:12 Greater Loss
44:23 Bradly Gunner
49:17 Turn & Burn 
55:17 Counter Sniper
1:00:00 Invincible
1:15:00 Road to Recovery 
1:18:22 Scars
1:24:03 Red, White & Blue 
1:26:34 Crashing Down
 1:30:24 Open Waters 


#military #urbanvalor #warstories #usarmy #armyveteran

Mike Hanks and his sister Melissa grew up on a Michigan farm. Driven by patriotism, Mike enlisted in the United States Marines after high school. As Mike shipped off to serve, Melissa became his go to person, his trusted ear about things he needed to get off his chest – a terrorist attack in Kuwait, the invasion of Iraq, and impending battle that would ultimately claim his life in Fallujah on November 17, 2004.

In this Urban Valor episode, Gold Star sister Melissa honors her brother, Lance Corporal Michael W. Hanks. She shares his bravery that earned him the prestigious Silver Star medal:

Silver Star Citation: https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/204874

Through Melissa's words, we learn about Mike's strong courage as a Marine and the heavy cost he paid fighting for his country. His story reminds us of the debt we owe heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice.

👍 Remember to LIKE this video if you found it informative, enjoyable, or just to show your support to Henry and/or us at Urban Valor.

🗣️ 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 take the share and tell their story, 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.

#military #marines #urbanvalor #warstories #veteran #usmc #unitedstatesmarinecorps #combatveterans

This week’s Urban Valor episode features Cassandra Fuentes. Cassandra is the widow of Marine combat veteran, Steven Osborne, who unfortunately took his life on March 10, 2022. Cassandra details what it was like living with a veteran who struggled with PTSD. She walks us through what transpired the day Steven took his life. Cassandra also shares fond memories of Steven and how he was a great father to their son. 

Her courage and strength during this discussion are incredible and we truly hope you'll show her love, support, and appreciation in the comments. Her willingness to tell her story will help others and potentially save lives- we're so thankful for the opportunity to talk with such a strong and incredible person. 

Please contact Josh at josh@urbanvalor.com if you need someone to talk to privately if you or a loved one suffers from PTSD. We're building a platform to help as many veterans as possible. 

Veterans taking their life due to PTSD, depression, and mental illness is a serious problem, and we need to spread awareness. Please, talk to someone. There's absolutely NO SHAME in getting help and support. Some of the toughest men and women we've interviewed were huge advocates of support and treatment for mental illness. If you'd like our help to get you the help you need, again, please just reach out to Josh at josh@urbanvalor.com for a private discussion, help, or just if you're looking for a friend. 

You're important and as Cassandra said, YOU MATTER!  You're a brother or sister to your military family, beyond being a son, daughter, wife, husband, brother, sister, father,  mother, please reach out 🙏

This week’s Urban Valor episode features Army combat veteran, Humberto Navarez. Humberto spent 20 years in the Army as a Black Hawk Mechanic. He served 4 combat tours in Iraq and has witnessed multiple tragedies during his time in service from gunshot wound victims to unfortunate suicides while deployed overseas.

Navarez opens up during this interview and we're so thankful for his courage and willingness to share his incredible story! We're also appreciative, and think we can speak for the entire Urban Valor Nation when we say THANK YOU for your services across your 4 combat tours 🙏

Please "LIKE" this video to show support to Humberto! 

Please "COMMENT" to ask questions or show support! Our VETS appreciate and read them!

Lastly, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE so you NEVER miss an Urban Valor weekly episode! 

If you don't subscribe you'll likely not know when we upload again!

This week’s Urban Valor episode features Marine combat veteran, Jon Shower. Jon began his enlistment in a Marine Sniper platoon but voluntarily transferred to an infantry unit so he can deploy sooner. He served two combat tours in Iraq and was inside the first vehicle to ever get hit by a 57mm Chinese Rocket Propelled IED. Upon transitioning out of the Marine Corps, Jon slept in his car parked in front of LA Fitness for three days and eventually landed a job there.

To show love and support to Marine combat veteran, Jon Shower, please give this podcast a "LIKE"!!

If you want to cheer on or say thanks to Jon, just COMMENT below! We're sure he'll love reading your comments, and we'll answer asap as well!

And if you haven't yet, please SUBSCRIBE so you NEVER miss one of our weekly Urban Valor episodes!

This week’s Urban Valor episode features Marine combat veteran, Ryan Paulk. Ryan felt obligated to serve after the 9/11 attack on America. He enlisted in the Marine Corps as an Infantry Assaultman. Ryan conducted multiple combat deployments and shared with us the time he and his unit were hunting down an enemy sniper in Fallujah as a kid who was shot in the head by the Iraqi sniper while he was running up to Ryan. He also talks us through recovering a Marine killed in action from a canal in Iraq. And that is just a couple of stories Ryan shared with us from his time in service. 

Please show Ryan your love and support in the comments as he takes a seat with Urban Valor and shares his INCREDIBLE story! We're so appreciative of his time and openness and would really appreciate our community showing their appreciation as well!

This week’s Urban Valor episode features Aviation Mechanic Navy Veteran,  Cesar Gallegos.  Cesar grew up in a rough gang neighborhood in Pomona, CA. He’s a first-generation Mexican American and enlisted in the Navy to be able to provide for his family. He shares a story that impacted him on his first deployment about a pilot who saved his crew but was unable to save himself. Cesar had a successful transition out of the Navy landing a job with SpaceX and discusses the importance of being prepared to transition out of the military.

This veteran navy story from Josh Gutierrez is an amazing listen for any military supporter, veteran, active duty, or someone maybe inspiring to join the navy or military. 

If you enjoyed this episode of Urban Valor, do us a FAVOR and please like and subscribe so you never miss an episode!

This week’s Urban Valor episode features Army combat veteran & retired Lieutenant Colonel, Joyce Griggs.  Joyce has seen it all in the intelligence community. She was among the first females to pass jump school and earn her airborne wings. Joyce also received a Bronze Star for the numerous lives she and her team saved during combat operations overseas. She had a secret clearance that authorized her to see some of what the president saw and has served beside some of America’s top executives. Joyce is a ball of fire and passionate about giving back to the community.

Please show love and support to Joyce Griggs by LIKING and COMMENTING on the video!

Please SUBSCRIBE if you haven't yet! so you NEVER miss an episode of Urban Valor- we publish new episodes every week. 

This week’s Urban Valor episode features Army Vietnam veteran, Travis Mayfield. Travis served in Vietnam from 1967-1968. He was sent to the field to disarm booby traps before an enemy combatant detonated one as he was attempting to disarm it. Travis struggled with military transition back to civilian life, and things got hard, but he kept fighting, and in time, pulled himself out of the hardship! He became an entrepreneur running a gym called Next Level Fitness & Wellness Center in Irvine, CA.

If you struggle with military transition, PTSD, and/or depression, use Travis as inspiration. No matter how hard things get, you're a warrior, and you CAN and WILL beat it. Please reach out if you'd like a friend and/or support at team@urbanvalor.com.

We're so glad to be capturing Vietnam stories from these incredible veterans, and will continue to bring more Vietnam interviews in the future here at Urban Valor. 

Thank you for your service Travis, we really appreciate you. 

To show your support to Travis Mayfield, please:

👍 Click the "LIKE" BUTTON" on this podcast!

🗣 Comment to show your support! 

▶️ SUBSCRIBE so we NEVER miss an episode! 

Kyle went from Arabic Linguist to Signal Intelligence to becoming a reconnaissance Marine. He’s traveled the world by air, on land, and at sea and has been through some of the toughest schools the Marine Corps has to offer. Kyle had one hell of an adrenaline-packed enlistment. 
Upon transitioning out of the military he got involved with “The Human Baton”, an organization that gives people wild, adrenaline-packed experiences. You’re going to want to hear this.

Urban Valor is a platform built to capture, share, and celebrate the incredible stories of our military veterans! Every veteran's story is worth listening to, and Urban Valor is on a mission to collect and share as many stories as possible! 

But we don't stop there. As we're building an incredible community that celebrates our veterans, we're also taking the opportunity to educate about veteran transition, veteran homelessness, veteran mental health, and of course, veteran suicide. Our mission, here at Urban Valor, is to raise as much awareness as possible about these areas of need while also raising money to go directly to veterans or approved veteran organizations that help in these areas of focus.  More to come on our mission in the future, but for now, the BEST way to support us is:

Please LIKE this Podcast to show support to Kyle and Urban Valor. 
Please comment and show your love and support, or ask questions, we'll be sure to answer ASAP!
Lastly, be sure to SUBSCRIBE!!

We appreciate your support more than you'll likely ever know.  Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Raymond grew up in a gang neighborhood in Riverside, CA. He was kicked out of two high schools and ended up enlisting in the Army to serve in the Infantry. 
During a combat tour in Iraq, Raymond was shot by a sniper. He eventually recovered from his wound and got back in the fight. However, while recovering at home, Raymond discovered some horrific news about his fellow soldiers being killed in action before he had made it back.

Raymond's courage and will speak volumes in this episode, and truly show how tough U.S. Army Soldiers are.

🇺🇸 Give Raymond and a "LIKE" to show your support for our Veterans! 

🇺🇸 Be sure to subscribe to Urban Valor so you never miss an episode! 

🇺🇸 Comment and show your support for Raymond and the other Veterans sharing their stories on Urban Valor! 

This week’s Urban Valor episode features Army combat veteran, Kenny Evans. Kenny grew up rough and had turned to selling drugs to make money, but that life did not define him. 

His life changed when his former best friend ended up going to jail, as it put Kenny on a better path, which led to him enlisting in the Army. 

He served three Army combat tours, two to Iraq and once to Afghanistan, and lost one of his best friends during one of the deployments. Kenny now helps run a nonprofit called “Strike Team For Vets” and is a HUGE advocate for veteran suicide prevention.  

Listen as Kenny Evans shares combat stories, and life lessons, and talks about veteran suicide prevention, veteran transition, veteran support, the struggles of PTSD and importance of Veteran Mental Health, and so much more in this impactful episode you are not going to want to miss. 

Please be sure to rate and review Urban Valor: the podcast so we know how we're doing!  We appreciate your support!

U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Henry Garcia spent over twenty years in the military, serving as a Motor Transportation Gunnery Sergeant from 1991 to 2013.

In this episode of Urban Valor, Garcia doesn't hold back, describing his savagery as a Marine Corps Drill Instructor. Born in Tampa but moving frequently as an Air Force kid before settling in Sacramento, Garcia's Marine Corps career began after a fight with his father turned dangerous. 

Together with his three friends, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. 

Garcia details his first taste of combat - getting ambushed in Somalia in the 1990's. He also details his deployment for the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the combat he faced in Afghanistan in 2012.

Table of Contents:
00:01 Introduction
16:13 First of Many
32:03 Keeping Promises
40:32 Retrograde Out 
58:22 Life as DI
1:20:35 Retirement 
1:36:22 Looking Back

👍 Remember to LIKE this video if you found it informative, enjoyable, or just to show your support to Henry and/or us at Urban Valor.

🗣️ 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 take the share and tell their story, 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.

#military #marines #urbanvalor #warstories #veteran #usmc #unitedstatesmarinecorps #combatveterans

This week’s Urban Valor episode features Hannah McCoy, the wife of Marine combat veteran, Shane McCoy. Hannah describes in detail what it’s like being married to a combat veteran with PTSD. 

She goes above and beyond by educating herself on the things her husband deals with daily to learn how to support him the best she can. Hannah, like many other veteran spouses, plays a huge role in the veteran community by being the rock to one of America’s warriors.

During combat operations in Iraq, Daniel faced multiple occasions where an enemy sniper had shot and wounded a soldier who had just moved into the position Daniel was at just moments before the attack. 

He witnessed his best friend, James J. Coon, get shot and killed by an enemy sniper while in Iraq. Daniel talks about his struggle to transition back into the civilian world and leaves us with some solid advice for other veterans. This episode is dedicated to Daniel’s best friend, James J. Coon. 

Rest in Paradise, brother.

This Army Soldier experienced some pretty shocking experiences, and this is a SHOCKING Combat Veteran Story you don't want to miss.

We're so proud and honored for the opportunity to share Daniel Diaz's veteran story with you, and we're honored to also dedicate this episode in honor of his best friend, James J. Coon, for his ultimate sacrifice for our country 🇺🇸

Robert overdosed while experiencing drugs prior to the military, which helped to set him on the right path. He had no thoughts of going to war, but September 11th, 2001 would change everything. He talks about watching banana shows in Okinawa, going to jail for crimes he didn’t commit, and fighting for his reputation. This Marine Veteran overcame so much before, during, and after service, we're lucky to have the opportunity to listen as he shares his experiences with us!

Robert has been through many different transitions in life and has experienced so much as a Marine Veteran and as a person. 

Robert has become an advocate for veterans and wrote a book called “How To Grow A Beard”, which is a military transition guide back into civilian life.

If you haven't yet, please leave us a rating and review if you're enjoying the podcast! We love reading reviews and they help the different podcast platforms know that our content is helpful and enjoyable, and the may start sending them out to more people!

This week’s Urban Valor episode features Marine veteran Kiro Awad. Kiro migrated to the United States from Egypt. He was faced with many obstacles on his journey to becoming a Marine. One of these obstacles was the recruiter telling Kiro he had to divorce his wife if he wanted to enlist in the Marine Corps. Kiro would later find out from one of his drill instructors that the recruiter lied to him and that divorce wasn’t necessary to get into the Marine Corps.

If you enjoy our Veteran Stories here at Urban Valor, please give this video a LIKE!  

Comment if you have any questions of just want to show your support to our veterans, they and we both appreciate it greatly! 

And please, if you haven't yet, SUBSCRIBE  so you NEVER miss an episode of Urban Valor! 

 This week’s Urban Valor episode features Army combat veteran, Edgar Rios. Edgar served in the Army as an 11B Infantryman from 2008 to 2016 and got out as a Staff Sergeant. He walks us through being a brand-new soldier in Afghanistan and getting shot at for the very first time. The contact was coming from outside of Edgar’s sectors of fire, yet Edgar decided to shoot back anyways. In doing so he received a master class on sectors of fire along with his platoon’s first Combat Infantry Badge. Edgar leaves us with the changes he noticed in himself upon transitioning out of the military.

Urban Valor is growing!  We're so thankful for your incredible support! Please SUBSCRIBE so you never miss a video in the future! By subscribing, you're showing love and support to our Veterans and the Urban Valor mission, we really appreciate that! 

Please comment and show your appreciation with a 5 Star Review! We love reading your comments and will respond back!

Also- please share our podcast with friends and family you feel would enjoy listening! The best way to grow is through world of mouth!

We appreciate your support so much, thank you!

This week’s episode on Urban Valor features former spouse of a U.S. Marine Corps war veteran, Gissela Delery. Gissela met her former spouse while in high school. She speaks about the personality her ex-husband had before going to war and the changes she noticed upon him returning home from combat. Military spouses often go unnoticed yet end up having to navigate some heavy emotions from their significant others, which is clearly voiced in this interview.

Combat effects more than just the Veteran themself. Often spouses, kids, parents, friends, colleagues, and more see changes in the person they knew previous to war. In this episode of Urban Valor, Gissela speaks of the results of her husband's sacrifice and how it affected their relationship and future. We're so thankful Gissela took the time and had the willingness and courage to sit down with us and share her story! 

Please LIKE and COMMENT to show support to Gissela! And if you haven't yet, be sure to SUBSCRIBE so you NEVER miss an episode!

This week’s Urban Valor episode features U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Brendon Arbilon. Brendon grew up in the rough streets of the Philippines. He always had a security detail with him because of who his parents were. Brendon was shot at as a kid while driving in convoys and witnessed his security driver get executed as he was walking out of school towards his pickup vehicle. He eventually migrated to America from the Philippines and became a Marine. Brendon now trains people how to protect themselves by situational awareness and becoming proficient shooters.

Please show Brendon and all of our veterans we interview your support by LIKING their podcast! Your support goes a long way!

If you haven't yet, please click SUBSCRIBE so you NEVER miss a video in the future!

Thanks so much for your continued support, we appreciate you greatly.

#military #marine #urbanvalor #veteran #foxnews #cnn

This week’s Urban Valor episode features Marine combat veteran, Byron Rodgers. Byron served in the Marine Corps as an infantry assault man. He was blown up multiple times during his combat tour in Iraq. Byron talks 
about coming out of his body and seeing himself unconscious during one of 
these attacks. He describes the journey in detail and it’s an incredible story. Byron has stories that will blow your mind and you do not want to miss this. His energy and a positive mindset are likely to motivate the heck out of you.  

Please SUBSCRIBE to NEVER MISS an episode of Urban Valor! We put out new stories and content EVERY SINGLE WEEK! 

This week’s Urban Valor episode features retired Major- Black Hawk Pilot, Jennifer Fortenberry. Jennifer and her twin sister were inspired by their father to join the military. She talks about her father’s incredible accomplishments, surviving a helicopter crash in a combat zone, and struggling to deal with the loss of several crewmen during her three tours to Iraq and Afghanistan. Jennifer leaves us with her involvement in several veteran communities and how it helps her cope with everything she has been through.

Please click "LIKE" to support Jennifer and show appreciation for her incredible story! 

This week’s Urban Valor episode features U.S. Army Special Operations veteran, Chris O’Malley. Chris served in the Army for approximately 21 years and retired as a First Sergeant. During his time in service, Chris conducted 11 tours overseas not limited to Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Philippines. He tells an unfortunate story about a Chinook Helicopter crash while in the Philippines, that had 10 U.S. military personnel aboard with no survivors. Emotions flare understandably as Chris shares about his combat operations throughout his military career.

Chris is a true American Hero and an incredible Veteran and we were so very fortunate to have the opportunity to sit down with him.  

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE so you NEVER miss an episode of Urban Valor! We upload new episodes every week! 

Please click "Like" on each episode if you do enjoy these incredible veteran stories. This lets our incredible veterans who share their stories know of your appreciation.

And lastly, please comment and let our veterans know how much you appreciate their sacrifice for the USA. Nearly all of the Veterans we sit down with keep up with their videos comments and love to read of your gratitude!

In this powerful video, former U.S. Marine Austin Hancock shares a chilling tale from his boot camp, experiences with drill instructors, and much more. As an Anti-Tank Assaultman who served from 2006 to 2010, Austin witnessed a shocking moment when a recruit attempted to take his own life by jumping out of a third-story window. What followed was a reaction from a Drill Instructor that left Austin stunned.

Austin's story delves into the intense and often brutal reality of Marine Corps boot camp, where recruits are physically and mentally pushed to their limits. He describes the Drill Instructors as "salty bastards" who have been through the most demanding challenges the Marines have, including combat deployments and earning prestigious awards like the Purple Heart.
Through his gripping narrative, Austin sheds light on the extreme pressure and psychological toll that recruits face during their training, which can sometimes lead to drastic actions like the one he witnessed. His account also highlights the complex and often controversial role of Drill Instructors, who mold raw recruits into battle-ready Marines.

As you watch this eye-opening video, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and sacrifices that Marines like Austin endure during their service. His story is a testament to the resilience and fortitude required to make it through one of the world's most demanding military training programs.

Don't miss this incredible firsthand account from a Marine veteran who lived through the intensity of boot camp and emerged as a Lance Corporal. Subscribe to our channel for more powerful stories from those who have served, and join the conversation in the comments below.

Table of Contents:
00:01 Introduction
00:30 Early Life
06:03 Finding The Corps
22:04 School of Infantry
46:19 Finding a Place

#marines #military #urbanvalor #veteran #war #combatveteran #combat

This week’s Urban Valor episode features U.S. Army veteran, Phillip Williams. Phillip says he grew up in a rough neighborhood in Michigan and got into a  lot of fights because he was a white guy in a predominately black neighborhood. He had all his teeth knocked out throughout his street fighting career and shares a story about being humbled after being jumped while stationed in Germany.

Phillip says he would do the military all over again and is involved in several veteran organizations where he spends his time volunteering and giving back to the veteran community. 

Thanks for watching everyone!

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE IF YOU HAVEN'T YET- So you get NOTIFIED when our videos go LIVE every week!

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https://www.tiktok.com/@urbanvalortv
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This week’s Urban Valor episode features our first veteran spouse interview 
with Danielle Sanchez. Danielle was married to Marcos Sanchez, a Marine 
combat veteran who served with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special 
Operations Capable) during the invasion of Iraq. Danielle says Marcos wasn’t 
the same person upon returning home from war and speaks on the struggle 
of trying to navigate their marriage without leaving her husband behind. 
Unfortunately, Marco’s PTSD caught up with him and he took his life in 
October of 2018.

Danielle's story is open, honest, and so courageous. We thank her greatly for her strength in sharing Marcos story with us and the unfortunately reality of PTSD for Veterans, and what we're hoping with Urban Valor to combat against. 

Please show Danielle your thanks, love, and support in the comments on our YT video. Danielle, you know how much we appreciate you. 

This week’s Urban Valor episode features Army combat veteran Will Jones. 

Will served as an 11 Bravo infantryman in the Army from 2004 to 2008.

He did two combat tours overseas and talks about being blown up three times while conveying through the IED-infested roads of Iraq. Will is full of high energy and good vibes. He leaves us with how physical fitness impacts his life and keeps him with a strong mind.

Will Jones showed bravery in combat and also bravery sitting down and talking with us today, sharing his story. We thank him greatly for all of the bravery and sacrifice he's endured during and since his two combat tours.

Please SUBSCRIBE and click the BELL Notification once you Subscribe. This will ensure you're contacted every time our weekly episodes of Urban Valor, with incredible stories like Will, go LIVE on YouTube! 

Please like this video and comment below to thanks and show Will support! These incredible veterans read your comments and are so thankful for your support, as are we here at Urban Valor.

This week’s Urban Valor episode features U.S. Air Force and National Guard 
veteran, Samuel Currie. 

Sam enlisted into the Air Force in 1974 and retired out of the National Guard in 2013 as a Chief Master Sergeant after 38 years of service. During his time in service, Sam completed 9 tours overseas and has flown many missions as a Loadmaster. He spoke of his father actually being a World War 1 combat veteran along with incredible insights about the military, talks PTSD, and how he chose the Air Force and his job as a loadmaster. 

He leaves us with the importance of getting involved in veteran organizations after transitioning back into civilian life and having a purpose in life.

This week’s Urban Valor episode features U.S. Navy Seal veteran, Johnny
Sotello.

Johnny was a breacher and a point man in the Navy Seal Teams, which ended up taking a toll on his mental state. He tells a story about a moment of laughter he shared with his teammates as they attempted to outrun rockets launched by the enemy in Iraq. Johnny leaves us with a bucket full of effective treatments for veterans suffering from PTSD and TBI as he continues to give back by helping as many veterans as he can.

This is usually where we'd tell you all about Urban Valor and our mission to help share stories of all heroic Veterans, while raising awareness in the key areas of Veteran homelessness, Veteran Mental Health, and Veteran transition, or any Veteran in need.

But instead, we'd like to take the opportunity while sharing this incredibly powerful story and advice shared by Johnny Sotello, who is one of the toughest, and most incredible men I know, and just say, there's absolute STRENGTH and TOUGHNESS in getting help. There's power in recognizing you need help. We all need help.

One click, or one dial of your phone can change your life. We have no affiliation with Veterans Crisis Line, but believe what they're doing is incredible, as they offer a free and confidential support line to Veterans in need.

Please, if Johnny spoke to you, and you found yourself recognizing symptoms, or thinking about your own pain and struggle with mental health, reach out to Veterans Crisis Line and have a private conversation so you can be on the road to getting better. We appreciate you HERO, thank you for serving our country, now, you deserve all the help and support in the world.

Be strong, reach out, and get it here:

https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/

And as always, we're here for you, and always open to talking privately. We invite the conversation and would love to help in any way we can!

Just send us a DM on IG https://instagram.com/urbanvalortv or email me Josh directly at josh@urbanvalor.com - we're here for YOU!

This week’s Urban Valor episode features Navy and Army Veteran Kent Blackburn. Kent spent approximately 28 years in the service. From being a radioman in the Navy to an infantryman in the Army, Ken has been around the block and was highly experienced. A common denominator amongst America’s veterans is downplaying their service thinking it wasn’t significant. Pay close attention to Kent’s body language as he courageously shares his story and struggles to speak about his accomplishments.  He's an absolute hero, but is so humble and doesn't desire the attention or notoriety, that's what makes him, and many Veterans like him so special.

Serving for the Navy and Army throughout his career, Kent has an incredible perspective from a different lens of the military, and as a Desert Storm Veteran, he has plenty of incredible stories to share.

We are honored here at Urban Valor to present you with the story of Keny Blackburn, U.S.Navy and U.S. Army Veteran service his country between 1984 through 2017. 

Please SUBSCRIBE to Urban Valor so you never miss one of our weekly interviews!  Our Military Stories aren't just War Stories, they're VETERAN Stories, hearing from all different types of Veterans, from different times, periods, to services, to experience, to gender, if you are a Veteran, you have a story to tell!

This week’s Urban Valor episode features Army veteran James Evans. James enlisted into the Army and decided he wanted to be a Green Beret. He gave his all during Army Special Forces School. Out of approximately 450 candidates James was one of the 92 selected after passing the school. Unfortunately, he suffered severe injuries to his feet. Since transitioning out of the Army, James has embedded himself deep into the veteran community and has a lot to say about the organizations he’s involved in.  

Urban Valor is an organization that brings incredible veteran stories to the masses, so we can fully celebrate our Veteran heroes and their sacrifices. Our veteran interviews consist of combat veterans and veterans of all experiences levels. All Veterans played an important role in protecting our country and we're so very proud of them. 

This week’s Urban Valor episode features U.S. Army Black Hawk Crew Chief veteran Joe Higgins. In this episode, Joe talks about his admiration for his grandfather who inspired him to join the Army. After Joe talks about flying mission after mission during Operation Iraqi Freedom, he leaves us with the importance of getting involved in veteran organizations and the importance of having a purpose post service.  

Urban Valor shares the incredible stories of our Veterans. We don't look for particular stories, we look for any Veteran Story, combat or non-combat. If you're a Veteran, we'd love to hear YOUR story, and you'd be surprised with how many people your story will impact and help. 

As Urban Valor continues to grow our platform, we'll soon open our charity efforts to truly help change the lives of Veterans across our country. We are very excited to reveal more details as we continue to develop Urban Valor, and we can't thank you, the viewer, enough for your pioneering support of our new platform and brand. Your interest and support are the foundation to what we're building at Urban Valor and truly are what is making the future possible for us, we thank you. 

This week’s Urban Valor story features U.S. Navy Vietnam veteran O.C. Fowler, Jr.

O.C. was a Navy pilot during the Vietnam war and flew approximately 650 missions during his year-long combat tour. He was part of Helicopter Attack (Light) Squadron Three Seawolves, part of the brown water Navy Task Force 116. O.C. is heavily decorated and talks us through having to control his helicopter and land in a rice patty field after being shot down during one of his missions. It’s one of many stories O.C. tells during his interview. O.C. was voted unanimously 2021-2022 Veteran of the Year by the Veterans Council of Chatham County in addition to being inducted into the Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame.

This veteran interview is yet another example of why Urban Valor works to capture these incredible stories and honor these Veteran War Heroes.

This week’s Urban Valor episode features Air Force Veteran Megan Rodriguez.  Megan grew up with both sides of the tracks in her family. Her mother was part of the LA gang life while her father was a law enforcement officer. Megan speaks on joining the Air Force to build a family legacy and talks us through her admiration for one of her older brothers who was also part of the LA gang life. She relives a traumatic sexual attack during her time in service and leaves us with the importance of dealing with your mental state of mind. 

Megan showed incredible courage and openness during this discussion about sexual trauma, and we truly hope and request that our Urban Valor community embrace and show love to Megan. She's an incredible person who's story we're so proud to share with you. 

In the line of duty and at home, Staff Sergeant Devin Teeter's resilience has been put to the test time and again. Born and raised in Colorado, his passion for service was ignited by the iconic film "Top Gun." Enlisting as an Imagery Analysis Specialist, Devin's role was to gather intelligence and assist troops with accurate target acquisition, ensuring successful reconnaissance missions.

While the rewards of his job were immense, saving countless lives through precise intel, the psychological toll was immense. Watching imagery of troops falling victim to IEDs and other attacks was a harsh reality Devin had to confront.

Yet, the true test came when his wife gave birth to premature twins, their lives hanging in the balance. Devin opens up about the battles he faced, not on the frontlines but within the ranks of military leadership, fighting to be present for his family during their darkest hour.

Chapters:
00:20 Introduction
00:32 Early Life
19:30 Troops in Contact
23:51 Home Station Guilt
52:06 Growing Community

Prepare to be inspired by this Marine's unwavering strength as Devin Teeter shares his journey through adversity, both in service and as a father, reminding us that true valor extends far beyond the battlefield.

👍 Remember to LIKE this video if you found it informative, enjoyable, or just to show your support to Devin and/or us at Urban Valor.

🗣️ 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 take the share and tell their story, 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.

#military #navy #urbanvalor #warstories #veteran #usmc #unitedstatesmarinecorps #marines

This week’s Urban Valor episode features retired Army Special Forces Colonel Jim Vejar. 

Jim Vejar served 28 years in the military, survived two tours in Vietnam where he was shot. Jim details how he was nearly assassinated overseas as well, which is a shocking story where a phone call saves his life. You don’t want to miss this incredible Vietnam war story.  If you're looking for Vietnam interviews or Vietnam combat stories, you will really enjoy this! Jim leaves us with his thoughts on the importance of the younger veteran generation getting involved in veteran organizations and having a purpose after military service. 

As an Army Special Forces Colonel who survives two Vietnam tours,  Jim Vejar truly has seen it all and gives an incredibly vivid story that's fantastic. It was an honor to interview Jim and all of us here at Urban Valor really enjoyed his storytelling and Army stories! 

This week’s Urban Valor episode features former U.S. Special Forces Green Beret, Matt Pech. He’s the Founder of Ruck for Vets and Lead Advisor for Hard to Kill Fitness. Matt talked us through fond memories of his military service. 

From rocking out in Afghanistan to thriving off the adrenaline rush from conducting missions, to remembering a good friend and warrior he served with. Matt also speaks on how he continues to serve by giving back to the veteran community and how he keeps a strong mental state of mind. In this interview, you truly get a glimpse INSIDE the Green Berets and what incredible and heroic stories Matt shares with us! Not only will you hear some history of the Green Berets, but what it takes to become a Green Beret. Enjoy listening and watching as this Green Beret tells stories that are absolutely incredible to hear, as well as this may inspire those wishing to become a green beret! 

If you'd like to discover more about Urban Valor and our mission to share the heroic stories of our veterans, then please SUBSCRIBE and click the bell notification- we have weekly episodes! 

Want to listen on the go? All of our episodes are currently being uploaded to our podcast as well!  

Just search for URBAN VALOR on your favorite podcasting platform, you'll find us! 

Lastly, be sure to check out urbanvalor.com as we work to spread our veteran stories and military interviews with the masses!

This Urban Valor story features Retired Marine combat veteran GySgt Marc Cox. Marc served in the Marine Corps Security Force Battalion in an anti-terrorism unit. From there he went to the Fleet Marine Force to serve as part of 2nd Battalion 1st Marines located at Camp Pendleton, Ca. Lastly, Marc served as an Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operator and shares his struggles with having to helplessly watch enemy attacks from drones where the lag in communication came with the ultimate cost.

This is an emotional episode to listen to.  This Marine combat veteran truly represents our US Military so well. He's a hero and we appreciate him. 

Join the Urban Valor Mission for FREE and get access to our newest stories, content, and more here : https://urbanvalor.com

urbattos:11This week’s Urban Valor episode brings us Army Ranger veteran Paul Nguyen. Paul showed up to the Army recruiter’s office one day demanding to be placed in a position to see combat. Paul found himself in combat soon enough when deployed to war. After being shot by a 7.62 caliber round he was given just a 2% chance to survive. Paul miraculously recovered, showing his true will and ability to fight!  Paul received the Purple Heart for his heroic service and speaks in this interview to managing PTSD after transitioning out of the military.

If you're looking for veteran stories, war stories, combat stories, or veteran interviews, Paul's will likely be one that you really will appreciate, and that many people, even nonveterans can relate to. 

Urban Valor showcases incredible veteran stories shared by the veteran or loved ones.  You'll discover incredible war stories, combat and non-combat veteran stories, and some of the most incredible veteran interviews you'll find on the internet today. 

If you enjoy our interviews, please help us grow our audience by clicking the SUBSCRIBE Button and tapping the "Bell Notification" so you'll be notified each episode! We have videos releasing every week! 

#veteran #combat #war #warstory #veteranstory #combatveteran #army #armyranger #foxnews #cnn

ttCombat Veteran Rolland Fayssoux left for Marine Corps boot camp at seventeen and later served in an anti-terrorism security force unit at Bangor, WA.  From there he was assigned to 2nd Battalion 2nd Marines and was part of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) during the invasion of Iraq in 2003. In this episode of Urban Valor Rolland talks us through his experience touring the Middle East and what it was like returning home.  He explaines his experience in the War in Iraq and the invasion of Iraq in detail speaking of the misery of war he faced.  Rolland is honest, raw, and open during the conversation and he shows incredible courage as he shares his story. 

We appreciate you Rolland and thank you so much! 

Urban Valor brings us Marine Corps combat veteran Shane McCoy. Shane served in the infantry for approximately 10 years. He walks us through having to eliminate a threat amid family in combat and facing a Deja vu scenario as a law enforcement officer. Shane describes the life-threatening decision as being easy, however, the aftermath not so much. 

Lastly, Shane explains why having a new mission is important to keep a healthy mental state of mind amongst managing PTSD.111Urban Valor brings us Marine Corps combat veteran Shane McCoy. Shane served in the infantry for approximately 10 years. He walks us through having to eliminate a threat amid family in combat and facing a Deja vu scenario as a law enforcement officer. Shane describes the life-threatening decision as being easy, however, the aftermath is not so much. 

Lastly, Shane explains why having a new mission is important to keep a healthy mental state of mind amongst managing PTSD.

This week’s Urban Valor episode features Army veteran Scott Dotson. Scott 
signed up to be a cook but found himself in an 11-month, intense battle in what was called “The Devil’s Playground” of Afghanistan. 

Upon arriving, Scott and his unit were met with an intense two-day battle with the Taliban followed up with 11 months of intense fighting. Scott’s took on the mottos “Everybody’s a Soldier first" first hand! He speaks on the struggle to manage PTSD and get help upon returning home. 

Scott's courage to sit in the chair and share his story openly was so incredible and this is simply an interview you do NOT WANT TO MISS!

This week’s Urban Valor episode features Marine Corps Vietnam veteran 
Richard Rivera. Richard was nearly killed after tripping a landmine while on patrol in the jungles of Vietnam. He talks us through both terrifying and happy times amid combat operations. 
Richard shares the change he noticed within himself upon being discharged from the Marine Corps and returning home. 

Even after nearly losing his life in war some of his darkest days were back home on the land he was fighting for. This Marine veteran and Vietnam Veteran story is unbelievably incredible. 

There's discussion of Vietnam Veterans history and how they were treated as well as how surviving Vietnam affected his life. This veteran fought in Vietnam, risking his life, and his story is incredible. Enjoy! 

Be sure to Subscribe to our channel below (and click the 🔔) so you never miss a new story from Urban Valor!  We put out new episodes every week!

Watch the full episode on video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2WB1AIH_w0

Today’s Urban Valor story brings us Marine Corps veteran Corporal Paul 
Parkhurst in this veteran interview.  

Paul takes us through his life before joining the Marines, while in 
the Marines, and the struggle of transitioning out of the military after 
witnessing traumatic experiences. 

Paul recalls a war story where he was shipped off to Kuwait in 2003 in 
preparation for the Invasion of Iraq, just 2 months after joining his fleet. 

As part of Task Force Tarawa, Paul battled the mental strain of sleep exhaustion and stressors of war intensified by the reminders of the price of battle as his convoy drove past 
dead bodies along the roads. 

He shares with us the psychological effects of leaving for a second 
deployment immediately following the first and highlighting the impact of 
being subjected to horrific circumstances. Paul's war story also reminds the audience 
that leaving the service -- which for him happened 9 days after returning 
home from Afghanistan -- does not mean leaving the stress and anxiety 
behind. 

Paul courageously speaks about the consequences of war and the necessity 
of seeking assistance regarding mental health, which could manifest into 
physical ailments. 

To those watching, this episode will be a reminder of the impact war has on 
combat veterans while in combat and even more so after coming home from 
combat. 

About Urban Valor:

Welcome to Urban Valor, where we hear the stories of our veteran heroes in 
their own words. Within these vet interviews, you'll hear everything from 
combat stories, life stories pre/post military, military transition, and 
everything in between.  

Our interviews aren't just war interviews or combat veteran interviews, but 
interviews from any military veteran willing to share. Our hope is to educate 
the masses with what our military veterans went through while serving their 
country and how life has been since their military transition back to civilian 
life. 

Today's story on Urban Valor brings us Sergeant E-5, Michael Delery from the United States Marine Corps.  Mike shares his story about what led him to the military,  his combat stories, and how his military transition has been since serving. 

Mike's story is unbelievable, and his storytelling will make you feel like you were there!

Please give Mike words of encouragement, ask questions, and give your thoughts on Urban Valor in the comments so we can adapt our content to best serve YOU, the viewer, and (hopefully) our newest subscriber!

Please Subscribe AND Click the BELL Notification if you'd like to subscribe to our channel!  Subscribing and clicking the bell let's YouTube know that you want to be notified each time our videos go live, which is EVERY WEEK!

About Urban Valor:

Welcome to Urban Valor, where we hear the stories of our veteran heroes in their own words. Within these vet interviews, you'll hear everything from combat stories, life stories pre/post military, military transition, and everything in between. 

Our interviews aren't just war interviews or combat veteran interviews, but interviews from any military veteran willing to share. Our hope is to education the masses with what our military veterans went through while serving their country and how life has been since their military transition back to civilian life.

Join our cause, online community, and show your support for Urban Valor at https://urbanvalor.com 

This week’s Urban Valor episode features Navy SEAL veteran, Mike O’Dowd. Mike was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. He was inspired to be a Navy SEAL after watching a documentary on the Discovery channel about them.  When the 9/11 attack occurred, Mike felt an even greater calling to go fight for America and enlisted into the Navy to become a Navy SEAL. 

In this episode, he talks about his combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan assigned to SEAL Team 7, doing covert operations to capture targets while they slept, and working with locals who were police allies by day and enemy by night. Mike leaves us with the hardship of lost brothers and the impact transitioning back into the civilian world had on his mental health.

👍 Remember to LIKE this video if you found it informative, enjoyable, or just to show your support to Mike and/or us at Urban Valor.

🗣️ 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 take the share and tell their story, 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.

#military #navy #urbanvalor #warstories #veteran #seals #navyseals

Urban Valor features Army veteran Arry Weeks as he talks us through his vivid memory of enlisting in the military. Arry didn't know what to expect when going into the Army, but he was in for the unexpected surprise of the 9/11 planes hitting America’s twin towers while still in Bootcamp. 

As Arry becomes acclimated to military life his thoughts of the unknown quickly turn into appreciation as he experiences different cultures around the world. It’s an emotional rollercoaster as Arry leaves us with transitioning out of the military and what it was life has been like for him since. 

Please click "Subscribe" and the BELL Notification if you haven't subscribed yet so you never miss a weekly veteran story and/or war story.  Our veteran interviews are incredible, impactful, and humbling as we look into the lives of the heroes walking amongst us every day. 
31Urban Valor features Army veteran Arry Weeks as he talks us through his vivid memory of enlisting in the military. Arry didn't know what to expect when going into the Army, but he was in for the unexpected surprise of the 9/11 planes hitting America’s twin towers while still in Bootcamp. 

As Arry becomes acclimated to military life his thoughts of the unknown quickly turn into appreciation as he experiences different cultures around the world. It’s an emotional rollercoaster as Arry leaves us with transitioning out of the military and what it was life has been like for him since. 

Please click "Subscribe" and the BELL Notification if you haven't subscribed yet so you never miss a weekly veteran story and/or war story.  Our veteran interviews are incredible, impactful, and humbling as we look into the lives of the heroes walking amongst us every day. 

In this introduction, Urban Valor's co-founder and CEO, Josh Gutierrez shares what Urban Valor is all about and what you can expect from the Urban Valor podcast!  

There are some fantastic military and military support podcasts but we found an incredible opportunity to just focus on documenting the incredible stories of veterans and veteran supporters directly from their point of view. 

Our veterans are heroes walking among us, and have so much value, history, and incredible feats of courage to share with you. We hope you enjoy Urban Valor: the podcast and these incredible stories. 

It takes incredible courage to sit across from us and share your story as a veteran.  Stories that you may haven't discussed in quite some time, and in some cases, EVER before. So please show your support for our veterans and the Urban Valor podcast by giving us a rating if you enjoy- and leave comments to show our vets support! 

You can find us on all major social media platforms as well as on YouTube to get the full in video stories before anyone else! 

You can also show your support and be notified when new episodes go out at https://urbanvalor.com 

This week's episode of Urban Valor highlights Marine veteran Tyler Grogg, who hails from Worthington, Ohio. Inspired by pivotal moments like Desert Storm and 9/11, Tyler enlisted in the Marine Corps with a passion for service. Originally trained in communications, he found his calling as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician, facing the threat of improvised explosive devices head-on in the war-torn landscapes of Afghanistan.

Join us as Tyler shares the raw reality of his experiences, recounting harrowing encounters with fatal explosions that took the lives of his comrades. Through his firsthand perspective, we gain insight into the profound impact of combat and the sacrifices made by those on the front lines. Tyler also reflects on his journey transitioning out of the Marine Corps, shedding light on the enduring trauma and his ongoing efforts to heal and support fellow veterans.

Tune in as Tyler bravely opens up about his past, offering valuable lessons on resilience, recovery, and the enduring bonds forged in the crucible of war.

👍 Remember to LIKE this video if you found it informative, enjoyable, or just to show your support to Tyler and/or us at Urban Valor.

🗣️ 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 take the share and tell their story, 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.

#military #urbanvalor #war #warstories #veteran #marineveteran #marines