Decorated Army officer turned warrior‑advocate Rudy De La Rosa opens up like never before: marked for death by the Mexican Mafia as a teenager, pulled into gang violence, homeless, and staring down his own destruction—before trading bullets for a uniform and fighting for something bigger than himself.

In this Urban Valor Podcast episode, we dig into generational trauma, gang warfare in East LA & the 605 freeway corridor, the “green‑light” hit list, then military service in the U.S. Army, combat in Afghanistan, lifting the weight off his family’s legacy, and rewriting 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.

Video chapters:
00:00 – 00:19 | Knife from the Kitchen: Childhood Horror
00:19 – 00:53 | “We’re Going to War”: Realizing Violence at Home
00:53 – 01:28 | Origins: Santa Monica to Whittier, Early Life
01:28 – 03:08 | Generational Trauma: Grandfather in WWII, Father in Vietnam
03:08 – 06:52 | War‑Scars Passed Down: Navy, PTSD & Family Violence
06:52 – 09:13 | A Father’s Advice: “If You Don’t Go to War You’re Not a Man”
09:13 – 12:49 | Teenage Years: Gang Culture, Identity Crisis & Survival
12:49 – 16:17 | The Neighborhood, Vultures of Divorce & Facing Harsh Reality
16:17 – 19:36 | High School Years: Gang Affiliation, “Green Light” Hit List
19:36 – 24:16 | Targeted, Stalked, Almost Killed: The Green Light Turns Real
24:16 – 27:15 | Homelessness, Dropping Out & the Turning Point
27:15 – 30:23 | Joining the Army: From Gang Life to Uniform
30:23 – 36:04 | Military Career Begins: MP to Officer Candidate School
36:04 – 43:12 | Combat Tour & Afghanistan: Facing War on a Global Stage
43:12 – 47:42 | Leadership, Family Sacrifice & Choosing What Matters
47:42 – 54:06 | 9/11 Moment: From Barracks to Battle
54:06 – 58:59 | Deployment Realities & Mission Focus
58:59 – 1:04:30 | The Policy Fight: Military Kids, Mental Health & Advocacy
1:04:30 – 1:10:52 | Homecoming, Reflection & The Afghan Exit
1:10:52 – 1:16:06 | Career End, Civilian Life & Legacy
1:16:06 – 1:24:26 | From Soldier to Advocate: Changing the System
1:24:26 – End | Final Thoughts: Purpose, Service & True North

#military #warstories #urbanvalor #usarmy #warstories

This might be one of the wildest Marine Corps stories we’ve ever had on the show. Retired Marine First Sergeant Randall Parkes sat down with Urban Valor to share some of the funniest, most unbelievable, and downright fcked up* moments from his 20 years in the U.S. Marine Corps. From barracks inspections gone wrong, to combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, to a real-life rescue that helped spark the Abraham Accords — this episode has everything.

Randall gets brutally honest about what it’s like to lead Marines, deal with chaos as a First Sergeant, and balance discipline with dark military humor. He shares raw, hilarious, and emotional moments from his time in recon, MARSOC, boot camp, and even his post-military life — from real estate success to landing a job at Anduril.

👍 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.

Video chapters:
0:00 – Flashlight Incident & Barracks Inspection Chaos
2:00 – Marine Corps Wartime Service Overview
3:50 – First Deployment & Recon Battalion Life
6:00 – Becoming a First Sergeant: The Good, Bad & Absurd
10:00 – DUI Drama & Naked Room Inspections
16:00 – Life on Ship & Wild Company Commanders
20:45 – Djibouti Jump Missions & Mission Cancellations
23:50 – Corpsman Save Emirati Prince's Life
27:00 – Condom Bowl Fiasco
30:00 – Transition to Drill Instructor Life in San Diego
34:30 – Depot Life & Suicide Watch Recruit
37:00 – Thumbtack Inspection & Culture Shift in Training
41:00 – Screwing With Recruits (In Good Fun)
44:15 – First Transgender Recruit Experience
50:00 – Honest Reflection on Inclusive Boot Camp
55:00 – Career Climax & Transition Plans
1:03:00 – Battles with Retirement Orders
1:10:00 – Hating Corporate Life After Service
1:15:00 – Finding New Purpose at Anduril
1:17:00 – Final Reflections: From First Sergeant to Civilian

#military #warstories #urbanvalor #usmarines #warstories

What drives a decorated Special Operations pilot to unload his weapon - not in fear of the enemy, but of himself?

In this Urban Valor Podcast interview, Army veteran and Night Stalker pilot Nick O’Kelly reveals the mental battle he faced during deployment in Afghanistan. A former Green Beret turned elite helicopter pilot, Nick opens up about the hidden war inside his head — a war with depression, PTSD, and suicidal thoughts that nearly claimed his life.

While flying missions in an active combat zone, Nick reached a breaking point. Fearing he might harm himself, he made the chilling decision to empty his pistol and carry it unloaded for the remainder of the deployment. This episode dives deep into the culture of military mental health, the silent suffering many combat veterans endure, and what it means to survive not just physically, but emotionally!

👍 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.

Video chapters:
00:00 – Meet Nick O’Kelly
02:45 – Special Forces Beginnings
07:30 – Transition to Aviation
11:05 – Deployment to Afghanistan
14:10 – The Toxic Command & Losing Purpose
18:30 – The Day He Unloaded His Pistol
25:15 – Living in Fear of His Own Thoughts
30:00 – Hiding Depression in the Ranks
38:20 – Finding Help and Climbing Back
44:10 – Life After the Military & Lessons Learned

Check out https://thenickokelly.com/stigma to follow Nick’s work.

#military #warstories #urbanvalor #usarmy #warstories