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!

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

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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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.

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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!

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

Meet Marine Corps veteran Armando Garcia, a dual-branch warrior who served 30 years in the U.S. Air Force and Marine Corps. In this episode of Urban Valor, Garcia recounts his incredible journey from Desert Storm to Fallujah, including surviving a grenade blast, building military infrastructure, training future Marines, and even serving alongside his own son in Iraq.

From enlisting to escape poverty to being handpicked by General “Mad Dog” Mattis for Ranger School, Garcia’s path includes everything from infantry combat to drill instructor duty to command-level strategy in some of the Marine Corps' most intense operations.

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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!

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

Video Chapters:
0:00 – Bomb Crater Crash & Military Beginnings
0:26 – Childhood in Del Rio, Texas
1:34 – First Enlistment in the Air Force
5:07 – Transition to Marine Corps
7:27 – Boot Camp and Early Lessons
10:10 – Infrastructure Design at Camp Pendleton
12:31 – Reenlistment & Weapons Company Role
20:30 – Desert Storm Deployment
30:21 – Life as a Drill Instructor
40:38 – Selected by General Mattis for Ranger School
50:20 – Warrant Officer Commission & Iraq Deployment
58:05 – Battle of Fallujah Prep & Firefight
1:11:00 – Memorials, Sacrifice & Coming Home
1:20:44 – Post-Service Reflections & Mental Resilience
1:26:27 – Final Words on Brotherhood & Purpose

#military #warstories #urbanvalor #usmarines #warstories

Former U.S. Marine Michael Delery joins us on Urban Valor to share a powerful and haunting story from his time in Iraq. During the 2003 invasion, Mike’s unit was approached by a young Iraqi boy who led them to a shallow grave—revealing the remains of four missing American soldiers.

Growing up in South Central Los Angeles, Mike faced nonstop pressure to join gangs. Instead, he chose the Marine Corps and built a life of service and sacrifice. In this episode, he recounts the intensity of Marine Corps Security Forces training, the chaos of combat deployments, and the moment that would stay with him forever.

He also opens up about the emotional weight carried by veterans after service—navigating PTSD, losing friends to suicide, and the harsh reality of returning home. From sleeping on a living room floor weeks after deployment to the frustrations of Marine Corps recruiting, Mike offers an unfiltered look at military life before and after combat.

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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!

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

Video Chapters:
00:00 – Iraqi Boy Leads Marines to a Shocking Discovery
01:12 – Reflecting on the First Ever Urban Valor Interview
01:29 – Life at Banger: Security Forces & Nuclear Protocols
03:45 – Peer Pressure and Gangs in South Central LA
10:12 – Brotherhood and Discipline in the Marines
20:46 – Losing Friends in Combat & Harrowing Iraq Memories
26:59 – 9/11 and the Chain Reaction that Led to War
30:08 – Fast Roping, Field Ops & Overseas Deployment
43:34 – Coming Home: Homeless with a Family Weeks After Iraq
50:19 – The Mental Toll of Marine Recruiting Duty
1:03:10 – Leaving the Corps for His Family’s Future
1:16:33 – Civilian Life as a Cop: Danger, Trauma, & Tension
1:33:21 – PTSD, Suicide, and the Tragic Loss of Marco Sanchez
1:46:28 – Stories of Camaraderie and Marine Brotherhood

#military #warstories #urbanvalor #usmarines #warstories

This week on Urban Valor, we hear the extraordinary story of Army Staff Sergeant Robert Ham—a combat videographer whose job was to document war through the lens. Serving from 2007 to 2017, Robert captured footage most Americans will never see—graphic, haunting, and real. But it wasn’t until he reviewed the footage later that the emotional weight truly hit him.

In this week's episode of Urban Valor, Robert shares the reality of filming dying Afghans, surviving mortar attacks, and embedding with combat units across Afghanistan. He opens up about the toll that job took on his mental health and what happened after he came home. Despite enrolling at USC’s top-ranked film school, he struggled with depression, identity loss, and nearly took his own life.

Now a filmmaker dedicated to preserving the stories of those who served, Robert is the creator behind Interpreters Wanted and Searching for Bergdahl. His story is one of service, trauma, survival, and healing.

🔗 Watch Robert’s documentaries: https://www.hammrproductions.com
📺 Watch “Interpreters Wanted” on VeteranTV.com

Urban Valor is a platform that honors veterans through real stories, experiences, and lasting legacies.

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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!

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

Video Chapters:
00:00 Filming Life and Death in Afghanistan
00:28 Meet Robert Ham – Army Combat Videographer
03:00 Growing Up with Artist Parents
05:01 Witnessing 9/11 and a Shift Toward Service
06:58 Joining the Army and Becoming Combat Camera
08:59 Shocking Experiences in Basic Training
10:45 Saving a Fellow Soldier on the Firing Range
12:52 Discovering Hidden Talents in Fellow Recruits
14:06 First Deployment with the 25th Infantry Brigade
16:00 Winning Trust Through Film
18:30 Why Combat Camera Was Essential
21:00 Missions, Combat, and Creating PG-13 War Films
24:00 Missing His Son’s First Year for Deployment
26:00 The Confusion of the Afghanistan War Mission
28:44 First Outside-the-Wire Mission: EOD Team
30:50 Earning His Place with the Infantry
34:00 Behind the Camera During Chaos and Combat
35:54 CIA's Deadliest Day – Dec 30, 2009
40:00 The Cost of War and Raw Storytelling
42:01 July 4th Base Attack – Telling the Story
45:00 Searching for Bergdahl Documentary
48:00 Remembering the Fallen – Patrick Devoe & Others
51:00 Afghan Interpreters and Their Sacrifice
54:00 What It Took to Leave Afghanistan
57:00 Transitioning to Civilian Life After Service
60:00 Getting into USC Film School on the GI Bill
63:00 Why Telling Veteran Stories Matters
65:00 His Grandmother Survived Genocide – Now He Tells Stories
67:00 Robert’s Films and Work with the VA
69:30 A Final Message to Veterans

#military #warstories #urbanvalor #usarmy #warstories

Michael Allison is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who survived a devastating VBIED (vehicle-borne improvised explosive device) attack in Iraq—but his toughest battles came after the war. In this episode of Urban Valor, Michael opens up about the trauma that followed his deployment, including PTSD, addiction, and divorce.

Born in Jamaica and raised in America, Michael’s life was marked by adversity from the start. After joining the Marines at just 17, he was deployed to some of the most dangerous combat zones in the Middle East. When his convoy was hit by a deadly car bomb, he was awarded the Purple Heart. But it was life after service that nearly broke him.

From losing close friends in combat to battling mental illness, alcoholism, and the collapse of his marriage, Michael faced rock bottom. In this episode, he shares the raw truth of what it's like to come home broken—and how he rebuilt his life, remarried his wife, reconnected with his children, and found healing through therapy and purpose.

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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!

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

Video Chapters:
00:00 – Surviving a Deadly Car Bomb in Iraq
00:30 – Childhood in Jamaica & Immigration to the U.S.
06:39 – Life in Miami’s Overtown Projects
17:40 – Football Dreams Lost & Joining the Marines
23:50 – Boot Camp Struggles & Mental Resilience
32:28 – Honoring Fallen Veterans on Burial Detail
41:17 – Emotional Detachment Before Deployment
53:25 – The Mission That Changed Everything
58:03 – Ambush & Survivor’s Guilt After VBIED
1:14:20 – PTSD Trigger After a Racist Attack
1:21:36 – Job Loss After Seeking Mental Health Help
1:23:53 – Divorce & Rock Bottom
1:26:36 – Starting the Healing Journey
1:28:49 – Remarriage & Rebuilding Family Bonds
1:31:20 – Legacy, Redemption & Serving Others

#military #warstories #urbanvalor #usmarines #marineveteran

Marine veteran George Kite shares his account of close combat in Fallujah, the brutal realities of war, and the lifelong impact of PTSD in this week’s Urban Valor episode. From growing up poor in South Carolina—sometimes homeless—to enlisting on his 17th birthday, George’s journey is one of survival, grit, and raw honesty.

He remembers the chaos of the First Battle of Fallujah, including rooftop firefights, mortar attacks, and moments that still haunt him decades later. George opens up about accidentally shooting a combatant, encountering child soldiers, losing friends in battle, and the emotional fallout that followed. His story captures what so many combat veterans face but rarely share publicly.

George also describes life after war: working with the Army National Guard, battling depression, and discovering a new purpose by supporting fellow veterans through mental health challenges. From sniper school to urban warfare instructor to DC security assignments, George's Marine Corps career is filled with intense and emotional moments that every American should hear.

This is not just a war story. It's a human story. One of courage, trauma, transformation, and the quiet fight that continues long after the battlefield.

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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!

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

Video Chapters:
00:00 – Ambushed Before the Stairs
00:22 – Enlisting After a Tough Childhood
04:30 – Living in a Sharecropper’s Shack
12:36 – Joining the Marines at 17
20:22 – Boot Camp Breakdown & Reconnecting in Fallujah
27:54 – Infantry School & Weekend Mayhem
40:00 – DC Assignments & Watching Over the White House
55:52 – “You're Not Going Back to Iraq” (But Then You Are)
1:00:09 – Rockets Hit the Chow Hall
1:08:02 – Close-Range Kill and Emotional Fallout
1:24:36 – Urban Combat and Pigeon Coop Incident
1:33:47 – PTSD, Rage, and Survivor’s Guilt
1:59:27 – Losing His Mom, Betrayal, and Depression
2:12:31 – Living With PTSD Minute by Minute
2:21:02 – Sniper School and Being Ready Again
2:29:58 – A Brief Escape to DC and Seeing the Sights
2:37:47 – Meeting Nancy Pelosi and the Best Sandwich
2:42:18 – Don’t Give Up!!

#military #warstories #urbanvalor #usmarines #marineveteran