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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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

Navy Veteran Jesse Swalley shares his story of survival after a brutal knife attack left him paralyzed. Raised in the San Fernando Valley, Jesse enlisted in the U.S. Navy seeking a better life and served as an Aviation Boatswain’s Mate from 1980 to 1986.

After navigating the dangers of the flight deck and the challenges of military life, Jesse faced his greatest battle on U.S. soil—stabbed multiple times trying to break up a fight. Despite a severed spinal cord, Jesse refused to let paralysis define him. Teaching himself how to skateboard again, he proves that resilience knows no limits.

In this episode of Urban Valor, Jesse opens up about life at sea, overcoming addiction, surviving near-death, and reclaiming his spirit.

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Video Chapters:
00:00 — Jesse Swalley’s Near-Death Stabbing Incident
00:42 — Growing Up Poor in San Fernando Valley
02:16 — Choosing the Navy Over the Marines
05:18 — Life on the Flight Deck: High-Risk Navy Jobs
19:49 — Shipboard Accidents and Realities of Naval Life
22:20 — Hazing Rituals and Crossing the Equator
26:53 — Life After Service: Struggles and Addiction
38:28 — Fighting to Protect a Friend
43:27 — Stabbing Attack and Spinal Cord Injury
55:18 — Learning to Walk Again and Rediscovering Purpose
1:00:21 — Adaptive Skateboarding and Marathons
1:10:02 — Finding Community and Healing Through Sports
1:17:51 — Reflections on Resilience and Inspiration

#military #warstories #urbanvalor #usnavy #navyveteran

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 – 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.

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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 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

In this gripping episode of Urban Valor, we feature Marine Captain Jason Angell, who shares his firsthand experiences from the Iraq War, including brutal combat in Ramadi and Hit. From relentless firefights to life-or-death situations, Jason takes us deep into the chaos of urban warfare, the unwavering courage of Marines, and the brotherhood that kept them pushing forward.

Jason, a former U.S. Marine (1993-2008), served as both an infantryman and an officer. He takes us back to the early days of the Iraq invasion in 2003, leading up to some of the most intense battles Marines faced in Iraq’s most dangerous warzones. His stories reveal the brutal reality of modern warfare, the mental and physical toll on soldiers, and the moments that defined their service.

Through the episode you will hear raw, unfiltered accounts of combat, leadership under fire, and the challenges faced by those who risk everything for their country.

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

Video Chapters:
00:00 - Explosive Discovery: EOD Marine Finds Live Rounds
03:50 - Who is Jason Angell? Marine Corps Journey Begins
07:01 - The Hardest Marines to Deal With in Training
12:00 - Overcoming Injury & Returning as an Officer
20:05 - Preparing for War: Deployment to Iraq in 2003
34:15 - Sadr City: Intense Combat & Unexpected Chaos
37:40 - Calling in A-10 Air Support Under Fire
52:04 - First Time Shot At Since the Invasion
1:02:46 - Partnering with the Legendary 506th Infantry
1:30:27 - Witnessing a Marine Lose His Leg in Battle
1:45:10 - Surviving a Sniper’s Bullet by Inches
2:02:47 - Transporting General Mattis Through a Warzone
2:10:05 - The Psychological Toll of War & Transitioning to Civilian Life
2:16:48 - Writing His Story: Honoring the Brotherhood

#military #warstories #urbanvalor #usmarine #marines