Urban Valor: the podcast

He survived hell—and now he inspires millions. Tom “Quitproof” Jones, a former U.S. Marine and world-class endurance athlete, endured one of the most traumatic childhoods imaginable: being beaten, terrorized, and even woken with a gun to his forehead.  In this episode of Urban Valor, Tom opens up about how his abusive father hunted his mom—with Tom as a forced witness—and how that trauma shaped him into the resilient man he is today. From PTSD and addiction to running 121 marathons in 121 days and paddleboarding 1,250 miles to raise awareness for veterans and abused kids. Tom proves that the human spirit is unbreakable. This isn’t just another military story. This is about transformation. About becoming “Quitproof.” About finding meaning in pain and lighting a path for others. 👉 If you've ever felt broken, lost, or hopeless… Tom’s journey will show you that it’s possible to rebuild. Stronger. Louder. Unstoppable. 🪖 Watch to hear Richard’s brutally honest account of Army life, combat in Iraq, and the battles he still faces today. 👍 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 - Intro: Tom “Quitproof” Jones’ story 01:48 - The horrors of his childhood revealed 04:30 - When your father is the threat 07:55 - How the Marine Corps gave him structure 11:42 - Hitting rock bottom post-service 14:15 - The birth of “Quitproof” mindset 17:30 - 121 marathons in 121 days 21:00 - Paddleboarding 1,250 miles for awareness 24:45 - Advice for people who feel broken 27:10 - What he’d tell his younger self 30:00 - Final thoughts #military #warstories #urbanvalor #usmarines #warstories

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. 👍 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 - 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. 👍 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 – 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

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. 👍 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 – 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