Urban Valor: the podcast

In this Urban Valor Podcast, former Army Sergeant First Class Vincent Morales shares his unbelievable journey from growing up around gang violence in Kansas City, Missouri, to fighting through some of the most dangerous experiences of the Iraq War, including the Battle of Mosul, the 2004 Mosul dining facility bombing, and devastating roadside IED explosions.

Vincent opens up about losing fellow soldiers, surviving repeated combat blasts, struggling with severe physical and mental injuries, and the challenges of transitioning from military service to civilian life.

After multiple deployments, his life spiraled into substance abuse, broken relationships, and a suicide attempt that nearly killed him.

But that's not where his story ends.

And THAT is what makes this interview so damn powerful.

Vincent doesn't sugarcoat what combat did to him.

He talks about the violence, the guilt, the anger, and the moments that still haunt him decades later.

One of the most heartbreaking experiences came when an IED struck a vehicle carrying some of his closest brothers. Vincent rushed toward the burning wreckage, helped pull his friend from the vehicle, and stayed beside him as they fought to save his life.

He also shares the devastating aftermath of the December 2004 Mosul chow hall bombing, the reality of repeated roadside bombs, and what happens when soldiers are forced to bury their emotions just to survive the next mission.

And then there's the battle nobody prepared him for.

Coming home.

For Vincent, leaving the battlefield didn't mean leaving the war behind. Years of combat, traumatic brain injuries, chronic pain, sleep deprivation, and unresolved grief followed him into everyday life.

His marriage collapsed. His addiction worsened. And in May 2013, he attempted to take his own life.

He survived.

What happened next completely changed the direction of his life.

Through recovery, fatherhood, community, and serving other veterans, Vincent began rediscovering his purpose.

He eventually helped co-found Veterans Community Project, an organization dedicated to supporting veterans facing homelessness and housing instability through tiny-home communities and individualized support services.

**Learn more about Veterans Community Project:**
https://www.veteranscommunityproject.org/

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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.

Chapters: 
00:00 Intense Combat Stories & The Battle After War
01:22 Meet Army Veteran Vincent Morales
03:00 Growing Up in a Military Family
07:08 Running Away from an Abusive Home
09:01 Gang Violence in Kansas City
14:37 Arrests, a Police Chase & a Turning Point
19:03 Becoming a Father at 17
21:49 How 9/11 Changed Everything
24:05 Joining the Army with His Brother
25:21 Army Combat Engineer Basic Training
37:47 First Assignment at Fort Lewis
38:55 The Mentor Who Prepared Him for War
49:54 First Iraq Deployment & Stryker Patrols
52:51 The Reality of Combat Sets In
55:10 First Ambush in Iraq
59:48 The Battle of Mosul
1:04:12 The Deadly 2004 Mosul Chow Hall Bombing
1:08:01 Fighting Through Tal Afar
1:11:50 The IED Attack That Killed His Brothers
1:19:11 The Heartbreaking Military Memorial
1:26:34 Another IED Blast & Saving Martinez
1:38:43 Honoring a Fallen Brother's Family
1:46:31 Preparing for a Second Iraq Deployment
1:57:03 How Route Clearance Changed
2:02:08 Clearing an Al-Qaeda Compound
2:12:52 Recognizing the Man Combat Had Created
2:15:49 The Moment Prince's Purple Rain Broke Him
2:21:06 Combat Operations in Sadr City
2:27:36 A Deadly Mission & Extreme Heat Casualties
2:32:57 Physical Injuries and the Cost of War
2:37:02 Coming Home and Losing Everything
2:47:20 Addiction, Anger & Personal Collapse
2:50:15 Volunteering for a Third Deployment
2:51:51 Afghanistan and Training Afghan Soldiers
3:03:47 Coming Home to a Broken Life
3:06:12 Surviving a Suicide Attempt
3:09:37 Learning to Walk and Live Again
3:10:10 Finding Purpose Helping Veterans
3:13:20 Founding Veterans Community Project
3:16:44 Housing the First 13 Veterans
3:17:47 How Veteran Tiny Home Communities Work
3:20:38 Building Veteran Support Services
3:25:11 Expanding Veteran Housing Across America
3:30:53 Learning to Control His Anger
3:34:34 The Lasting Effects of Brain Injuries
3:36:22 Getting Help and Beginning to Heal
3:38:05 Exploring New Paths to Recovery
3:41:38 What Is an Army Sapper?
3:42:40 Vincent's Final Message of Hope

#IraqWar #VeteranStories #CombatPTSD

At just 18 years old, US Marine Corps veteran Manny De Anda witnessed the unimaginable during his deployment to Fallujah, Iraq. After a devastating explosion involving a 7-ton military truck carrying female Marines, Manny and his fellow Marines were among the first to arrive on scene. What he witnessed during that Iraq War deployment would stay with him for the rest of his life.

In this episode of the Urban Valor Podcast, Manny shares his firsthand experiences serving as an 0311 infantry Marine during two deployments to Iraq, surviving the dangers of IED attacks, losing fellow Marines in combat, and struggling with the lasting psychological effects of war.

But Manny's story goes FAR beyond the battlefield...

Growing up in Orange County, California, as the son of Mexican immigrants, Manny wanted to make something of himself and give back to the country that gave his family opportunity.

So, at just 17 years old, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.

And he had absolutely no idea what he was walking into.

From the chaos of Marine Corps boot camp to the brutal realities of combat in Iraq, Manny takes us through the experiences that shaped him, the Marines who changed his life, and the brothers he would never see again.

One of the most difficult moments came when Manny responded to the aftermath of an explosion involving female Marines.

He was only 18.

He describes the destruction, the recovery of fallen service members, and the memories that still follow him today.

And then there was December 21st.

Just days before Christmas, another devastating IED attack killed Marines he'd served alongside since arriving at his unit.

Imagine surviving one deployment, returning for another, and watching the people you trained with and cared about disappear one by one.

It's hard to comprehend what that does to someone.

But here's what makes Manny's story even more remarkable...

When he returned home and eventually left the Marine Corps, his journey was FAR from over.

He went to college, became a police officer, and encountered an entirely different kind of trauma while responding to emergencies, violence, and death in his own community.

Eventually, he made the difficult decision to leave law enforcement.

And then, in one of the most unexpected turns of his life, he moved to China to teach English.

Yep. From combat in Iraq to teaching kindergarten in China.

Quite the career change, huh?

But it was there that Manny discovered something he'd been searching for since leaving the military.

Purpose.

Today, Manny works in higher education, helping veterans, adult learners, and students navigate their own paths forward.

And through it all, the memory of the Marines he lost has never left him.

Manny's willingness to share these experiences is a powerful reminder that the sacrifices of military service don't necessarily end when someone takes off the uniform.

To Manny, thank you for trusting us with your story, brother. And thank you for your service.

To everyone watching, if this story resonates with you, share it with someone who needs to hear it.

And if you're a veteran, reach out to a brother or sister you haven't spoken to in a while.

That simple conversation might mean more than you realize.

👍 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.

Chapters: 
00:00 Marine Recalls the Horrors of Iraq
01:33 Growing Up in Orange County
10:06 Troubled Childhood and Finding Discipline
14:55 Why Manny Joined the Marine Corps
19:47 Marine Corps Boot Camp Stories
27:34 Preparing for War and Joining the Infantry
31:14 First Deployment to Fallujah, Iraq
33:50 Losing a Close Friend in Afghanistan
36:55 Responding to the Deadly Attack on Female Marines
41:38 The Emotional Aftermath of Combat
44:56 Preparing for a Second Iraq Deployment
49:32 Second Deployment Near the Syrian Border
53:05 Devastating IED Attack Before Christmas
55:57 Losing More Marines and Deployment Extension
1:00:02 Turning Down $40,000 for Another Deployment
1:01:26 Leaving the Marine Corps
1:03:10 Struggling to Adjust to College
1:08:49 From College Student to Police Recruit
1:13:55 The Reality of Working as a Police Officer
1:18:55 Leaving Law Enforcement Behind
1:21:30 Moving to China to Teach English
1:24:41 Finding Purpose Through Education
1:26:19 Losing a Fellow Marine to Addiction
1:29:33 The Importance of Checking on Veterans

#MarineCorps #IraqWar #CombatVeteran

In today's Irban Valor Podcast, Octavio talks about combat in Iraq, repeated IED attacks, losing Marines in his unit, being engulfed in flames, the medevac and ICU experience, learning to walk again, adapting to life with severe burns and a hand amputation, and the impact his injuries had on his wife and children.

Octavio also opens up about what happened after the uniform came off...struggling with alcohol and drugs, losing his sense of purpose, rebuilding his family life, returning to his faith, and eventually finding a new mission helping other veterans.

Today, Octavio serves with Front Sight Military Outreach, where he helps veterans reconnect with faith, community, brotherhood, and purpose after military service.

Chapters: 
00:00 Marine Survives a Massive IED Attack
01:27 Growing Up in Fontana, California
03:03 Family Roots in Zacatecas, Mexico
04:25 Getting Pulled Into Gang Life
07:39 Expelled From High School
08:01 Getting Jumped Into a Gang
11:37 Sent to Mexico
13:57 Turning His Life Around
16:02 Dreaming About the Military
17:16 Meeting a Marine Corps Recruiter
19:44 Leaving for Marine Corps Boot Camp
24:14 Earning the Title Marine
26:00 Joining 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines
29:12 First Deployment to Okinawa
32:42 Training With Force Recon
33:34 Massive Fight Between Marines
37:24 Zodiac Training Off Australia
40:09 The Lesson He Never Forgot
44:32 Becoming a Marine Corps NCO
46:28 September 11th in Okinawa
49:02 Reenlisting in the Marines
50:25 Becoming a Marksmanship Instructor
55:21 Watching His Marines Go to War
58:08 Joining 1st Battalion, 5th Marines
1:01:46 Preparing for Iraq
1:03:56 Deploying to Ramadi, Iraq
1:07:54 IED Capital of Iraq
1:09:26 Running Quick Reaction Force Missions
1:12:18 The Reality of Combat
1:13:34 His First IED Explosion
1:17:34 Losing Marines in Ramadi
1:18:27 Looking for a Fight
1:20:20 Hunting for IEDs
1:23:54 June 16, 2005
1:25:20 The Mission That Changed Everything
1:28:44 The Roadside Bomb Explodes
1:29:09 Humvee Launched 40 Feet
1:30:39 Trapped Inside a Burning Vehicle
1:31:35 Escaping While on Fire
1:34:34 Medevac Under Fire
1:38:00 Fighting for His Life
1:39:57 Hallucinations in the ICU
1:45:24 Beginning the Recovery
1:46:50 Seeing His Daughter Again
1:48:49 Learning His Marines Had Died
1:50:22 Life Inside the Burn Center
1:53:52 How His Children Reacted
1:56:19 Becoming an Outpatient
1:58:29 Medical Retirement From the Marines
1:58:56 His Wife Never Left His Side
2:00:47 Life After the Marine Corps
2:02:18 Alcohol, Cocaine & Losing Direction
2:02:59 Finding Faith and Purpose
2:04:27 Finding His Veteran Brotherhood Again
2:06:17 The Struggle of Leaving the Military
2:07:42 Front Sight Military Outreach
2:09:13 Final Thoughts

Marine veteran Alex Hernandez survived an RPG blast while fighting in Fallujah, Iraq — an attack that severely wounded his tank commander and left Alex covered in shrapnel and blood.

In this episode, Alex tells the story of going from a kid in East LA with no clear direction to joining the United States Marine Corps after 9/11, becoming an M1 Abrams tank mechanic, deploying to Iraq, and finding himself in some of the most intense fighting of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Alex remembers watching the aftermath of the Blackwater contractor killings before Marines were suddenly ordered outside the wire. What followed was hours of combat in Fallujah.

Then, on April 7, everything changed.

While moving through the city in an M1 Abrams, Alex spotted armed fighters appearing with RPGs and AK-47s. Moments later, an RPG struck the tank commander’s hatch.

His tank commander lost his right eye.

Alex was hit by shrapnel and badly wounded in both hands.

But surviving the battlefield was only the beginning.

Alex also opens up about returning home, losing the career and identity he thought he would have, struggling with his mental health years after the war, seeking help, and eventually trying to rediscover a sense of purpose through service and teaching others.

This is a story about war, brotherhood, injury, identity, and what happens when the fighting stops but the battle isn’t necessarily over.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 — The RPG Attack in Fallujah
01:10 — Growing Up in East LA
06:16 — His Grandfather Inspires Him to Serve
07:33 — 9/11 Changes Everything
09:24 — Proving He Could Become a Marine
11:12 — Injured During Boot Camp
13:27 — The Marine Who Never Made It Home
16:54 — Becoming an M1 Abrams Tank Mechanic
19:07 — Arriving at 29 Palms
22:21 — Preparing for War
25:23 — Heading to Iraq
28:42 — First Incoming Fire
30:04 — Life Inside an Abrams Tank
36:45 — Blackwater Killings and Fallujah
38:09 — The Battle Begins
40:46 — 13 Hours of Combat
44:50 — April 7th
45:30 — Watching an RPG Fly Toward the Tank
47:04 — Drawing Fire Away From the Marines
48:59 — RPG Strikes the Tank
49:21 — “I’m Pissing Out Blood”
50:47 — Escaping the Burning Tank
51:31 — Surgery and Recovery
53:57 — Returning to the Fight
57:43 — His Wife Deploys to Iraq
58:30 — Coming Home
1:02:12 — Losing His Sense of Purpose
1:04:29 — Mental Health Begins to Collapse
1:06:33 — Calling the Crisis Line
1:07:58 — Finally Finding the Right Help
1:09:46 — Learning How to Move Forward
1:11:27 — Finding Purpose Again
1:12:14 — “Pick Your Head Up and Continue to March”

Marine Staff Sergeant Tony Storey served 21 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, including combat deployments to Somalia and Iraq. At just 21 years old, he led Marines into Somalia during Operation Restore Hope, survived a bullet striking the sandbag beside his head, and later endured a monsoon that flooded his fighting position with human remains.

In this episode, of Urban Valor, Tony shares what it was like entering Mogadishu, serving as an 0311 Rifleman, training Iraqi security forces, and carrying the memories of combat long after coming home. 

👍 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!

Chapters: 
00:00 Marine Still Has the Bullet That Almost Killed Him
01:15 Tony Storey — 21 Years in the Marine Corps
01:44 Childhood, Abandonment & Losing His Grandparents
06:56 Growing Up in the Shadow of His Marine Father
10:45 His Father’s Brutal Combat History in Vietnam
17:02 “He Was the Marine I Wanted to Be”
20:32 Deciding to Join the Marines
26:03 Arriving at Parris Island
31:08 The Recruit Named Batman
33:30 What Marine Boot Camp Taught Him About Himself
38:32 A Massive Recruit Brawl Breaks Out
45:59 Hurricane Hugo Changes His Graduation
49:14 The Moment He Finally Became a Marine
51:03 Early Marine Combat Training
58:20 Instructor Accidentally Shoots Two Marines
01:00:07 Marine Corps Security Forces
01:05:30 Suicide in the Barracks
01:16:06 Joining 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines
01:16:40 America Is Going Into Somalia
01:19:11 Preparing for Operation Restore Hope
01:21:00 First Wave Into Mogadishu
01:24:23 21 Years Old Leading Marines Into Somalia
01:27:36 They Were Digging Inside a Cemetery
01:30:35 The Bullet That Almost Killed Him
01:34:14 Entering Baidoa — “The City of Death”
01:34:43 The Monsoon That Flooded Their Fighting Holes
01:37:36 Human Remains Begin Floating Past Him
01:43:34 Christmas Day in Somalia
01:45:59 The Child Tony Couldn’t Save
01:51:28 Leaving Somalia
01:53:27 The Marine Who Stole a Lotus
02:00:40 Transitioning Back to Civilian Life
02:04:14 Recalled by Name and Sent to Iraq
02:05:43 Training Iraqi Security Forces
02:19:56 Working Alongside SEAL Team 10
02:28:00 Coming Home From Iraq
02:29:12 Fireworks, IED Memories & Combat Trauma
02:30:38 The Things Combat Veterans Can’t Explain
02:33:38 The Faces He Still Remembers
02:35:30 The Calls From Marines Who Are Struggling
02:37:03 “I Wouldn’t Trade a Damn Thing”
02:37:49 What Tony Lives for Today
02:40:45 Final Thoughts & Semper Fi