Urban Valor: the podcast

Marine Says Force Recon in the 90s Was Absolutely Insane

Marine Recon veteran Rob Blanton sits down with Urban Valor to share one of the wildest, funniest, and most honest Marine Corps stories we’ve ever had on the channel. From growing up in Santa Rosa, California, to joining the United States Marine Corps almost by accident, to becoming a Force Recon Marine. Rob served in the Marine Corps from 1993 to 2014, retiring as a Master Sergeant. In this interview, he walks us through the chaos of joining the Marines on the buddy program, getting stuck on open contract, becoming an 0311 infantryman, earning his way into Force Recon, and eventually deploying into some of the most intense moments of modern military history. 👍 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 - Saddam’s Palace, Tomahawks & Baghdad Chaos 01:18 - Meet Rob Blanton: Marine Recon Master Sergeant 01:35 - Growing Up Around Addiction, Loss & Family Pain 08:09 - Joining the Marine Corps by Accident 14:32 - Boot Camp, Open Contract & Becoming Infantry 22:25 - 3/1 Marines, Blood Stripes & Wanting Recon 38:30 - Failing Force Recon Selection the First Time 48:07 - Coming Back and Earning His Spot 54:25 - Basic Recon Course & Life Inside Force Recon 1:08:41 - Jump School, Dive School & 90s Recon Culture 1:28:23 - Iraq, Saffan Hill & the Start of the War 1:53:11 - Saddam’s Palace, Baghdad Ops & Aftermath 2:33:10 - PTSD, Warfighter Made & Saving Veterans #military #warstories #urbanvalor #marines  #warstories

18-Year-Old Combat Medic Forced to Make Life-or-Death Decisions Under Fire!

Army Combat Medic Daniel Jimenez served from 2003 to 2023, deploying with the 82nd Airborne into Afghanistan as an 18-year-old medic during the height of the Global War on Terror. In today's Urban Valor's podcast, Daniel shares what it was like to survive Taliban ambushes, treat casualties under fire, face grenades, RPG attacks, firefights, trauma, and the reality of becoming an Army medic in war. This is the real story of a young soldier thrown into Afghanistan, learning fast, carrying an aid bag, and being forced to make life-or-death decisions before most people his age had even figured out who they were. Daniel talks about joining after 9/11, choosing the Army over the Marines, becoming a combat medic, going through Fort Benning, Airborne School, and eventually arriving at the 82nd Airborne — where the real world hit hard and fast. From a nighttime ambush where an RPG hit above his Humvee… To rolling over an enemy body and realizing he was lying on a grenade… To treating wounded soldiers and civilians with limited resources… 👍 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:  #military #warstories #urbanvalor #marines  #warstories

He Was Selling Drugs at 11 Before Getting Into Gunfights In Iraq at 18!

War changes people. In this episode of Urban Valor, Marine veteran Shawn Reed shares his story growing up in violent neighborhoods in St. Louis, joining the United States Marine Corps, fighting in Iraq during the height of the war, surviving brutal combat, and dealing with the aftermath that followed so many Marines 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! Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories. Chapters:  00:00 – “It Was Like Star Wars” 00:43 – Marines Started Dying By Suicide After Deployment 01:00 – Meet Shawn Reed 01:44 – Growing Up in North St. Louis 05:38 – Selling Drugs at 11 Years Old  08:53 – Watching a Drive-By Shooting Up Close  10:35 – Why He Decided to Join the Military  12:52 – The Marine Recruiter Who Changed His Life 15:18 – Becoming a Marine Infantryman 16:15 – Marine Corps Boot Camp Was Hell 21:14 – Wild Stories From SOI & Infantry Training 29:35 – Arriving at 3/1 Marines 33:59 – Hazing, Fear & Preparing for Iraq 40:40 – Landing in Kuwait Before Iraq 42:01 – First Patrols in Iraq 44:28 – His First Gunfight in Iraq 47:09 – The Night He Was Left Alone in Iraq  51:13 – Trying to Survive Alone at 18 Years Old  53:34 – Reuniting With His Team Leader  1:57:34 – Why PTSD Thrived After Iraq  1:58:46 – “War Was Simpler Than Going Home” 1:59:42 – Deploying Again With the 13th MEU 2:00:56 – EFPs Started Tearing Through Vehicles  2:01:31 – An Entire EOD Team Was Killed  2:02:30 – Walking Through a Minefield to Rescue Marines  2:07:34 – His Corpsman Saved His Life  2:08:43 – Waking Up After Being Shot  2:09:48 – Doctors Said His Marine Corps Career Was Over  2:36:12 – Witnessing Mass Casualties Again  2:37:20 – The Phone Call His Mother Received After He Was Shot  2:38:41 – How the Military Changed PTSD Recovery for Marine #military #warstories #urbanvalor #marines  #warstories

This Soldier Drove Fuel Trucks Through Iraq While Getting Shot at With No Armor

Iraq War stories like this don’t come from Hollywood… they come from guys who actually lived it. This Iraq War veteran story from a U.S. Army fuel convoy driver who was thrown into Iraq at just 20 years old...no armor, driving fuel trucks, getting shot at, and running missions daily through active war zones. We break down what it was REALLY like on the ground — from entering Iraq during the early invasion, to driving the “Highway of Death,” dealing with gunfire, extreme heat (140°+), and zero resources, to the insane reality of surviving day-to-day when everything around you is unpredictable. But here’s what most people don’t understand… It wasn’t just combat. It was: - Sleeping on trucks near Baghdad Airport - Running missions nonstop with no clear end - Buying black market ice just to survive the heat - Improvising systems to stay alive - Making decisions in seconds that could cost everything And through it all... you just keep moving. “Just drive.” That was the job. No pause. No reset. No guarantees you’re coming back. 👍 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 Iraq War Stories & Crazy Deployment Moments   01:17 Who Is Jonathan Daige?   03:50 9/11 & Joining the Army   07:25 Driving Fuel Trucks in Iraq   11:20 Entering Iraq & First Combat Reality   16:40 Surviving Heat, Hunger & Daily Missions   17:36 Getting Shot At on Convoys   25:11 Life at Baghdad Airport   30:24 Iraq War Changed in 2005 (IEDs & Danger)   60:29 From War to Stage 4 Cancer #military #warstories #urbanvalor #usarmy  #warstories

This Army Officer’s Green Beret Father Did the Unthinkable to Her!

In today's Urban Valor Podcast, a former U.S. Army Captain opens up about the dark truth about military life, what it’s really like being a woman in the Army, and the experiences no one talks about. From growing up in a chaotic and abusive environment to navigating misogyny, harassment, and leadership challenges in the military, this story exposes the reality behind the uniform. She shares her journey through: - The reality of being a female infantry officer - Toxic leadership and military culture issues - Personal trauma and overcoming adversity - What actually happens behind the scenes in the Army - How she rebuilt her life through discipline and resilience 👍 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:  #military #warstories #urbanvalor #usarmy  #warstories