Urban Valor: the podcast

Marine veteran Sam Williams reveals the brutal reality of close-quarters combat during the Iraq War, including the infamous Second Battle of Fallujah. In this Urban Valor episode, Sam shares his experiences from the frontlines of Iraq, where he and his unit were forced to retreat from Mosul after engaging a hostile crowd and later thrown into the bloodiest urban battle of the war. Born in a trailer park and raised on a Northern Michigan farm, Sam joined the Marines seeking a sense of purpose after losing his childhood home to a fire. Over 13 years of service, he faced deadly firefights, watched close friends fall, and learned what it truly means to survive war—and life after it. 👍 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 – Introduction: Grenade Incident & Hearing Loss 00:38 – Childhood & Redneck Upbringing 04:12 – House Fire & Family Struggles 11:35 – Confronting Racism & Early Anger 15:38 – Joining the Marines & Choosing Infantry 27:09 – Boot Camp Shock & Drill Instructor Brutality 58:40 – Grenade Mishap in Combat 1:10:16 – Landing in Iraq Under Cover of Darkness 1:22:16 – Evacuation on Chicken Trucks Under Fire 1:26:21 – Leading the Assault on Fallujah 1:42:49 – Losing Fellow Marines in Battle 2:07:23 – Eulogy & Emotional Reckoning 2:11:45 – Post-Military Identity Crisis 2:28:48 – Radical Honesty & Rebuilding Life 2:32:46 – Helping Veterans Through Business #military #warstories #urbanvalor #marines #veteranmentalhealth #supportveterans

In this week’s episode of Urban Valor, we sit down with U.S. Army veteran Denny Giamazzo, who was raised in Worcester, Massachusetts, Denny faced unspeakable abuse—abandoned by his drug-addicted mother, burned with cigarettes, and left alone for days as a young child. After entering foster care, he found brief moments of hope, but the scars of his past never left him. Denny opens up about nearly dying during Army basic training after a routine wisdom tooth extraction went horribly wrong, landing him in the ICU. He later deployed to Afghanistan, where he was forced to pull mangled bodies from trucks and survive gunfire in exposed overwatch positions. Now a mental health advocate, Denny speaks candidly about his struggle with PTSD, self harm thoughts, and how he's working to rebuild his life through veteran brotherhood and mentorship. 👍 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 – Haunting memories from Afghanistan 00:40 – Early life: Abuse, neglect, and abandonment 01:45 – Placed in foster care and finding hope 03:30 – Adopted by aunt, strong sibling bond 06:00 – Struggles with masculinity, fatherlessness 13:00 – Joining the Army after college dropout 19:00 – Nearly dies from wisdom tooth extraction 24:30 – Deployed to Afghanistan: Real combat begins 28:45 – Ambushed in overwatch position 36:00 – Sniper takes out enemy after close call 44:00 – PTSD, trauma from seeing mangled bodies 48:30 – Suicidal thoughts, VA crisis call 52:00 – Struggles in marriage and emotional volatility 55:00 – Healing through therapy and The Forge 1:03:00 – Veteran support and personal growth 1:05:30 – Helping other veterans #military #warstories #urbanvalor #usarmy #veteranmentalhealth #army

Army veteran George Hayworth faced war in Afghanistan—but his toughest battle came after returning home. In this week’s episode of Urban Valor, we sit down with George, a former U.S. Army Artillery Officer, who opens up about his life before, during, and after combat. From his service with the 101st Airborne Division to struggling with identity, addiction, and nearly losing his marriage, George shares how the trauma of combat followed him into civilian life—and what it took to reclaim his family and rebuild himself from the inside out. If you're searching for real stories about mental health, veteran struggles, addiction recovery, or military life beyond the battlefield, this is an episode you can’t miss. George’s transparency will resonate with anyone who has fought silent battles in the shadows. 👍 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 – Caught in Combat Without Optics   00:31 – George's Early Life & Family Challenges   02:08 – Parental Separation & Emotional Burden   06:22 – Experiencing 9/11 as a Teen   12:02 – Joining ROTC & Military Career Begins   17:22 – Adrenaline, Ego, and Jumping from Planes   22:44 – Field Artillery Training and Deployment   30:48 – Failing Ranger School & Learning Humility   36:12 – Assigned to Afghan Advisory Team   44:56 – Leadership Lessons & Team Bonding   49:59 – Operation Strong Eagle 5 Near Pakistan   55:19 – Responsibility, Near Misses & Moral Weight   58:21 – Transitioning Home and Identity Crisis   1:03:54 – Marriage Breakdown & Emotional Spiral   1:06:22 – On-Site Therapy & Owning the Truth   1:09:35 – Addiction, Confession & Redemption   1:17:31 – Reconnecting with Faith & Purpose   1:23:34 – Emotional Regulation & Family Safety   1:26:07 – Brotherhood vs. Drinking Buddies   1:31:52 – Breaking Generational Cycles   1:35:02 – Message to Men: Start Your Healing  #military #warstories #urbanvalor #usarmy #veteranmentalhealth

This week on Urban Valor, we sit down with U.S. Marine Rob Martinez, whose unbelievable story of perseverance through Scout Sniper and MARSOC selection is inspiring and heartbreaking. Raised in Kissimmee, Florida, Rob enlisted in the Marine Corps after a rough start in life. Originally signed up as a Motor Transport Mechanic, Rob’s ambition never stopped. While stationed in Kuwait, he qualified for Scout Sniper Indoctrination. Later, he passed all phases of the elite Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC) Assessment & Selection—only to be denied selection without explanation. In this interview, Rob opens up about the emotional toll of being passed over after pushing his body and mind to the limit. He also discusses his journey through divorce, injury, and transition to civilian life. Today, Rob dedicates himself to helping fellow service members through his nonprofit, All Clear Gear. 👍 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 – Rob’s Emotional Childhood & Troubled Start   02:38 – First Encounter with the Law   10:07 – Getting Kicked Out & Moving to Florida   20:13 – Misled Into Mechanic Role in the Marines   35:17 – A Life-Changing Piece of Advice   41:57 – Denied After Scout Sniper Success   45:30 – Vision Loss and Medical Setback   51:58 – Pushing Through MARSOC Selection   58:36 – Deployment & Injuries   1:04:45 – Altercation & Consequences   1:07:37 – Choosing MARSOC Over Soccer   1:13:52 – Surviving the Pool During ANS   1:23:46 – Feeling Left Behind Without Guidance   1:30:24 – Divorce & Taking Responsibility for a Child   1:37:16 – Losing 18 Friends After Service   1:44:06 – Founding All Clear Gear to Support Marines   1:50:55 – You're Not Alone #military #warstories #urbanvalor #marines

Retired Royal Marine Commando Lee West joins us on Urban Valor to recount the moments when he was nearly kidnapped by Al Qaeda at a checkpoint in Baghdad. Lee served from 2003 to 2020, rising to the rank of Color Sergeant, and brings a firsthand account of frontline combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.  During his second deployment to Afghanistan, Lee was ambushed and blown off his feet by a massive IED blast. His story includes undercover work in the Calais migrant camps while still on active duty, revealing shocking flaws in UK border security. Watch as Lee opens up about brotherhood, trauma, and the sacrifices soldiers make—both on and off the battlefield. 👍 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 - Ambushed on Patrol 04:09 - Growing Up in Swansea 07:21 - Early Interest in the Military 10:59 - Choosing the Royal Marines 14:15 - Passing Commando Selection 18:15 - Brutality of Marine Training 21:30 - Lessons from Early Marine Life 28:25 - Graduation Day & First Posting 35:12 - Surviving Arctic Warfare Training 38:24 - Deployment to Iraq Begins 42:21 - Forming a New Special Forces Unit 46:02 - First Missions in Baghdad 50:04 - Friendly Fire & Chaos of War 53:26 - The Reality of Combat Loss 57:24 - Nighttime Snatch Attempt by Al Qaeda 1:00:42 - Saved by a US Convoy 1:07:37 - Hostage Rescue Training 1:11:54 - Helmand Surge Deployment 1:15:27 - On the Ground in Afghanistan 1:23:02 - “Fix Bayonets” in Live Combat 1:26:23 - Jungle Warfare Instructor Course in Brunei 1:30:39 - Blown Up by IED in Yak Chal 1:34:15 - Continuing the Mission Despite Trauma 1:38:17 - Final Stand in the Village of Fad 1:46:11 - Training Replacements for Afghanistan 1:49:49 - Medical Discharge and the Fallout 1:57:45 - Losing Purpose After Leaving Service 2:05:54 - Struggles with Alcohol & Isolation 2:09:22 - Why Simplicity in Combat is Missed 2:13:33 - PTSD vs. Lack of Purpose 2:16:51 - Undercover as a Homeless Veteran 2:20:45 - Smuggling Into the UK as a Migrant 2:24:12 - Rebuilding Life & Staying Sober #military #warstories #urbanvalor #royalmarinecommando #royalmarines