Meet Richard Aviles, a U.S. Army Veteran and former Military Policeman whose story is as raw as it is remarkable. In this Urban Valor episode, Richard recounts growing up in Puerto Rico, navigating culture shock in the U.S., and enlisting in the Army to escape homelessness and pursue purpose.

Within months, he found himself deployed to Iraq, running combat missions, clearing houses, and collecting biometrics in high-risk environments. But the weight of war wasn’t left overseas. Richard opens up about his experiences with domestic violence calls, soldier suicides, and the haunting cases he faced while working the road stateside.

This is a story about survival, service, trauma—and healing. It’s about chasing validation, confronting your past, and learning to live with the scars you carry. Whether you’re a veteran, military family member, or civilian seeking to understand the true cost of war, this one will hit home.

🪖 Watch to hear Richard’s brutally honest account of Army life, combat in Iraq, and the battles he still faces today.

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✅ 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!

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Video Chapters:
00:00 - Opening: Responding to a Crisis
00:21 - Introduction to Richard Aviles
01:18 - Growing Up in Puerto Rico
02:08 - Strict Parenting & Early Lessons
03:03 - Community Respect & Culture Shock
06:28 - Homelessness and Enlistment
09:26 - Basic Training Realities
13:03 - Arriving at Fort Leonard Wood
18:11 - Picking His Job: Military Police
23:32 - Volunteering for Iraq Deployment
25:43 - Missions, IEDs, and Reality Sets In
28:17 - Getting Reassigned After Article 15
30:54 - Raids & Detention Operations
35:28 - Challenges Working with Iraqi Police
38:00 - Transitioning Back Stateside
39:15 - Working the Road as an MP
40:28 - Responding to Suicides & K2 Abuse
47:49 - Crazy Cases & Barracks Life
50:07 - Deciding to Leave the Army
53:52 - Struggles with Civilian Reintegration
57:49 - Life Now: Family, Podcast & Purpose
59:25 - Final Message to Veterans

#military #warstories #urbanvalor #usmarines #warstories

A Marine's worst nightmare came true in a split second.

In this episode of Urban Valor, Marine veteran Kyle Hansen recounts the devastating moment his AAV (Amphibious Assault Vehicle) ran over a natural gas line, sparking a massive explosion that left him severely burned and changed his life forever.

Kyle served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2014–2018, starting in Marine Security Forces guarding nuclear assets at Naval Submarine Base Bangor. He later transitioned to 1st Marine Division’s 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, training for overseas deployment. But during his final exercise, the explosion tore through the vehicle, injuring several Marines and a Navy corpsman.

In this interview, Kyle shares the mental and physical aftermath of combat trauma, what it means to lead under fire, and how brotherhood shaped him. He also opens up about recovery, Wounded Warrior Battalion, and reclaiming purpose after being medically retired.

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🗣️ Comment your support or ask any questions. Sometimes, our interviewees respond, and we at Urban Valor will do our best to respond as well!

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Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories.

Video Chapters:
00:00 – The Day of the Explosion
02:12 – Inspiration Behind Joining the Marines
04:03 – Boot Camp & Culture Shock
13:30 – Infantry Training Battalion & Leadership
19:18 – Security Forces & Advanced Combat Training
28:45 – Assigned to Bangor, WA
36:15 – Brutal Patrols & Brotherhood Lessons
43:45 – Transitioning to the Fleet
54:24 – The AAV Explosion Incident
56:22 – Recovery & Wounded Warrior Battalion
1:01:54 – Medical Retirement & Mental Health Struggles
1:07:47 – Finding Purpose After Service
1:11:08 – Final Words on Leadership & Giving Back
1:13:22 – How to Support Recycle for Veterans

#military #warstories #urbanvalor #usmarines #warstories

What really happens when a U.S. Marine fighter pilot faces off with a Russian MiG-29 at 8Gs? In this week’s episode of Urban Valor, we sit down with Major Ed Rush, a decorated Marine Corps F/A-18 pilot with nearly 2,000 hours of tactical flight time and over 50 combat missions under his belt.

Raised by a legendary basketball coach and an NBA referee, Ed’s journey took him from a high-pressure family legacy to the skies over Iraq and Afghanistan. In this episode, he shares how a lie at a bar landed him in the Marines, what it feels like to be shot at during takeoff, and the second-by-second breakdown of an epic simulated dogfight against a Russian MiG-29.

Ed didn’t just fly F/A-18s—he became the #1 dogfighting instructor in the Marine Corps, helped shape the F-35 training program, and later launched a successful entrepreneurial career by applying fighter pilot tactics to leadership and life.

👍 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 Surviving 8G Combat Against a MiG-29
00:18 Meet Ed Rush: Marine Corps Major & F/A-18 Pilot
01:00 Growing Up in a Family of Legends
09:29 A Lie That Changed His Life
16:32 First Steps into the Marine Corps
30:20 Flying the Legendary F/A-18 Hornet
44:40 Breaking Down the MiG-29 Dogfight
59:14 The Most Dangerous Moments in Combat Flying
1:08:41 Balancing War & Fatherhood
1:15:10 From Warfighter to Online Entrepreneur
1:24:13 Ed Rush’s Advice on Finding Purpose After Service

#military #warstories #urbanvalor #usmarines #warstories