The war didn’t end overseas. It followed them home.

Justin Governale joined the U.S. Marine Corps at 17, driven by the aftermath of 9/11 and a chaotic upbringing in Laredo, Texas. What he found wasn’t just military structure—it was trauma, hazing, chaos, and survival. This raw episode pulls no punches as Justin exposes what it was like to deploy to Iraq in 2005 and 2007 with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines—one of the units hardest hit in Fallujah, losing 33 men.

From becoming a Scout Sniper, surviving an IED, and earning a Purple Heart, to battling the mental scars that followed, Justin shares the brutal honesty most veterans never say out loud.

In this episode or Urban Valor, you’ll hear:
- How childhood trauma primed him for chaos
- The insanity of Marine boot camp under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
- Why pretending to be gay was a strategy to escape service
- The twisted coping mechanisms Marines used post-combat
- How war turned a battalion into walking time bombs
- His journey through combat, loss, and eventually—comedy

If you want real Marine stories, raw Iraq War truths, or insight into the long-term cost of combat—you found it.

🔥 This isn’t the Hollywood version of war. It’s the truth.
🔔 Subscribe for more unfiltered veteran stories.
📩 Know a veteran with a story? Reach out via our website.

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Chapters:
00:00 – Intro: Meet Justin Governale
01:10 – Growing Up in Laredo: Chaos, Violence & Zero Structure
04:40 – Getting Caught Stealing & a Police Escort to School
06:25 – Losing His Best Friend in a Tragic Accident
08:00 – Post-9/11 Enlistment: “I Needed Purpose”
10:30 – Why He Chose the Marines Over SF
13:15 – Boot Camp Under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
17:00 – Pranked by Drill Instructors + Hazing Culture
20:00 – First Deployment to Iraq in 2005
22:45 – Joining a Unit Still Shattered by 33 Killed in Fallujah
26:30 – How Trauma Became Normal: Gallows Humor & Chaos
29:15 – Pranks, Fights, and Mental Breakdowns in the Barracks
32:10 – Becoming a Scout Sniper
35:00 – 2007 Deployment as Sniper: Missions & Trauma
38:30 – Surviving an IED Attack + Earning the Purple Heart
42:00 – Coping with Loss, Rage, and Survivor’s Guilt
45:45 – Coming Home and the Emotional Fallout
49:00 – The Truth About How Units Carry Trauma
52:30 – Transitioning to Civilian Life & Performing Standup
56:00 – How Comedy Helped Him Process Pain
1:02:00 – Advice to Struggling Veterans
1:06:00 – Behind the Scenes: Going Viral on Instagram
1:10:00 – Raising His Son After Trauma
1:14:00 – Redeployment
1:41:46 – On Stage, Healing, and Perspective
1:43:24 – Final Sign-Off: “Simplify. Me Too, Man.”

#military #warstories #urbanvalor #usarmy #warstories

Marine Seth Allen never saw it coming. Straight out of boot camp, he was dropped into 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines — a unit already under investigation for violence, drugs, and misconduct. What was supposed to be a proud chapter of service quickly spiraled into chaos.

In this interview with Urban Valor, Seth pulls back the curtain on the gritty reality of life in the Marine Corps. From near-death firefights in Iraq to the dysfunction and violence he experienced even among his fellow Marines, this isn't the polished, glorified version of military service.

⚠️ This is the story the recruiters never tell you.

Seth shares how his troubled youth led him to the military, the brutal boot camp experiences that shaped him, and the terrifying realization that his unit was broken before he ever arrived. From intense combat stories to internal fights and the emotional weight of surviving while others didn't — this is a brutally honest testimony of what some Marines face behind closed doors.

This is a story worth hearing. If you want the truth about what it’s like to serve in a unit where violence, drugs, and loss were the norm... click play now.

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#military #warstories #urbanvalor #usarmy #warstories

Meet Billey Dooley — Army veteran, former foster kid, survivor of toxic leadership, fire missions labeled “danger close,” and a system that failed those who needed it most.

In this episode of Urban Valor, Billey opens up about nearly being killed by incoming fire, surviving chaos both at war and at home, and the pain of losing a soldier to suicide just hours after a life-altering conversation. From a chaotic childhood in Riverside to jumping out of planes and calling fire missions in Afghanistan, Billey’s story is as gritty as it gets.

But this episode isn’t about just survival. It’s about truth. Leadership. And the weight we carry when we make it out, but others don’t.

We get into:
- A near-death moment during a morning run.
- His experience with abusive training environments.
- Fire missions that almost killed friendly forces.
- How leadership missteps led to a tragic suicide.

And what he believes MUST change in military culture.

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

His friend took his spot. The convoy was hit. Only one came home.

In this Urban Valor episode, Marine Veteran Travis Pinn shares a devastating Iraq War story that changed his life forever. As an 0311 Infantry Rifleman with the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, Travis endured some of the war’s most brutal moments—multiple IED attacks, deadly ambushes, and the psychological trauma that followed him home.

But the moment that haunts him most? The day a fellow Marine took his place in a convoy... and didn’t make it back.

From surviving deadly routes in Iraq to battling PTSD and rebuilding after the war, Travis lays bare the truth of what it means to carry survivor’s guilt and live with invisible wounds.

This episode is more than just a war story—it’s an honest look at what thousands of veterans face once the shooting stops.

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

#military #warstories #urbanvalor #marines #warstories

He quit during Hell Week. Most don’t come back. Jovon Quarles did — and became a Navy SEAL Honor Graduate.

Born into chaos in Washington D.C., Jovon grew up with a mom addicted to crack, no father, and violence all around. He became a dad before he graduated high school. Then he joined the Navy — not because he wanted to, but because he had no choice.

He found the SEAL Teams by accident. But what followed wasn’t luck — it was pain, failure, and redemption.

In this Urban Valor interview, Jovon walks us through:
- Quitting his first Hell Week and what it did to his soul
- Fighting to go back and earn the Trident
- The mindset it takes to finish BUD/S
- Real SEAL Team deployments in combat zones
- Why he says pain is the path
- And how he turned his lowest moment into a mission

This isn’t just a Navy SEAL story. This is what it looks like to lose everything… and choose to fight anyway.

If you’re struggling, stuck, or feel like it’s too late — this one’s for you.

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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!

✅ 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 – Hell Week: the rumor and initiation
01:14 – Jovon Quarles: early life & family background
02:45 – Growing up in DC → move to North Carolina
08:40 – Adolescence, school & teenage fatherhood
10:59 – Football ambition & first drive to join the Navy
13:26 – Family doubts, recruiter pitch, decision to enlist
18:47 – Navy Boot Camp: first impressions
20:36 – Meeting recruits from across the country
30:12 – Qualification test: swim, run, push‑ups — getting in
31:52 – Start of BUD/S: physical & mental grind begins
36:14 – The challenge of Hell Week prep & pressure intensifies
38:28 – Drown‑proofing: confronting fear underwater
40:19 – Mental toughness talk: “pain is the path” mindset
48:58 – Hell Week begins: day one with boats, cold water & chaos
53:36 – Quitting and ringing the bell — admitting defeat
56:52 – Decision to return — commitment to finish what he started
58:14 – Leadership role in second attempt at BUD/S
1:05:09 – Hospitalization & physical collapse — risk of quitting again
1:08:04 – Recovery, walk‑week and finishing BUD/S
1:10:10 – Graduation: Honor Graduate speech & recognition
1:12:13 – Moving onto SQT: real SEAL training begins
1:13:25 – Personal loss: grandmother passes — resolve tested
1:18:25 – Making history: first Black SEAL to graduate BUD/S & SQT as Honor Man
1:19:59 – First SEAL assignment: submarine‑based SEAL delivery team
1:20:22 – Deployments: Special missions & combat in Iraq
1:31:39 – Transition to instructor & recruiting duty — giving back
1:33:26 – Life after SEALs: depression, recovery & new path
1:39:27 – Why Not Me?: book vision & final message

#military #warstories #urbanvalor #navyseal #warstories

This episode took the air out of the room.

Jessica sits down with Urban Valor and walks us through the life most people never see behind the uniform. From a childhood surrounded by chaos and addiction… to stepping into a Marine Corps environment that felt more like danger than brotherhood… to losing herself inside a bottle just trying to cope with the weight of everything she’d carried since childhood.

She gets real about the DUI that nearly ended her career, the harassment she endured, the blackmail that pushed her to the edge, and the moment she realized the system that was supposed to protect her was ready to burn her instead.

And then — she takes us into the deep end.

Her ibogaine journey.
The pain.
The hallucinations.
The emotional rebirth.
The moment she met the child version of herself and finally understood why she drank, why she ran, and why she hurt.

This might be one of the most important conversations we’ve had with a veteran. Not because it’s dramatic — but because it’s honest.

👍 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 – Entering the Marine Corps & First Warning Signs
02:00 – Childhood Trauma: Abuse, Neglect & Survival
06:30 – Alcohol in the Marine Corps & Isolation Overseas
11:00 – The DUI That Changed Everything
15:45 – Harassment, Blackmail & a Broken System
22:50 – Getting Demoted & Hitting Rock Bottom Again
28:40 – Traveling to Colombia & Rediscovering Life
34:00 – MSG Dreams Crushed & Another Setback
38:30 – Testing Positive & Preparing for Discharge
44:50 – Living in a Bus & Rebuilding Purpose
49:00 – Starting Liberisk & Helping Veterans Heal
53:00 – Entering Psychedelic Treatment (Ibogaine)
55:15 – The Ibogaine Trip: Pain, Darkness & Revelation
1:05:00 – Emotional Breakthrough & Rebirth
1:12:00 – What She Learned & How It Changed Everything
1:18:00 – The Bigger Message for Veterans & Humanity

#military #warstories #urbanvalor #marines #warstories

This is the stuff they don’t put in documentaries.

Seth Ryan’s first combat mission as an Army Ranger wasn’t just historic — it was horrifying. We’re talking chemical suits, pitch-black raids, gunships in the sky, and digging up decomposed soldiers with their bare hands. This is the real story behind the rescue of POW Jessica Lynch — told by the guy who lived it.

And trust me... you’ve never heard it like this like you will on today's Urban Valor Episode!

In this episode, Seth walks us through:
- Growing up surrounded by drugs, prison-bound relatives, and trauma most kids never see.
- The fire that burned down his home — and the weird, defining aftermath.
- Getting mentally obliterated in Marine Corps boot camp... and reshaped into something tougher.
- Switching to the Army Rangers and becoming a punching bag for hazing because of it.
- Living in barracks filled with black mold, spitting blood from pneumonia — and not backing down.
- Watching new guys break bones falling off rappel towers, or worse.
- His first mission ever — a rescue op no one expected to survive.
- Digging into a soccer field by hand to recover the rotting remains of American soldiers.

The unspoken toll that moments like that leave behind… and why Rangers carry it alone.

If you’re here for real special operations history, raw emotional storytelling, and a side of war that doesn’t make it into the headlines… you’re exactly where you need to be.

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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!

✅ 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 – Growing Up in Chaos
04:20 – Watching His Home Burn Down
07:45 – Becoming a Marine
13:05 – Marine Corps Boot Camp: Mental Breaking Point
20:10 – 9/11 Changes Everything
26:55 – Switching to the Army Rangers
33:20 – Hazing, Black Mold, and Ranger Regiment Reality
40:00 – Training Accidents and Broken Bodies
48:00 – Jessica Lynch Rescue Mission Begins
55:30 – Breaking Through the Hospital Wall
58:00 – Rangers Dig for the Fallen
01:03:45 – The Emotional Weight of Recovery
01:10:00 – Reflections on Combat and Sacrifice

#military #warstories #urbanvalor #usarmy #warstories

They said he’d fail. His best friend was shot and killed. Now he’s a White House officer.

Lieutenant Commander Alvaro Ramos didn’t take the easy path. He grew up with a tin roof over his head, sleeping on floors in Guam. He joined the Navy to escape poverty — and then watched his best friend, a fellow corpsman, get killed by a negligent Marine on deployment.

That moment could have broken him. Instead, it built him.

Alvaro went on to serve 23 years in the United States Navy, earned his commission, became a Physician Assistant, and rose to serve inside the White House Medical Unit under Presidents Trump and Biden.

In this episode of Urban Valor, Alvaro opens up about:
- The fatal moment that changed his life forever
- Getting told “I hope you fail” by a senior chief
- Why he almost quit the Navy
- The identity crisis of becoming an officer
- And how Special Boat Team 22 finally made him feel like he mattered

If you’ve ever been underestimated, doubted, or knocked down — this is your reminder to get back up.

👉 Watch the full story of Alvaro Ramos now.

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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!

✅ 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 – “I Hope You Fail” — The Moment That Changed Everything
1:10 – From the Philippines to Guam: Childhood in Poverty
3:50 – Why He Joined the Navy Instead of College
6:10 – Boot Camp Culture Shock
9:00 – 9/11: The Day Everything Changed
11:45 – Deployment Confusion and a Heartbreaking Mistake
15:00 – The Day Moreno Died
17:30 – The Words That Haunted Him in College
20:00 – From Corpsman to Officer: Fighting Imposter Syndrome
24:00 – Special Boat Team 22: Finally Feeling Valued
27:00 – The Jeep. The Seal. The CEO.
30:00 – That Random Course at Walter Reed
31:30 – The Call From the White House
33:00 – What It Really Means to Lead

#military #warstories #urbanvalor #usnavy #warstories