Navy Vet Survives Near-Death Knife Attack - "He stabbed me in the back and cut my spinal cord"
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.👍 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 — Jesse Swalley’s Near-Death Stabbing Incident00:42 — Growing Up Poor in San Fernando Valley02:16 — Choosing the Navy Over the Marines05:18 — Life on the Flight Deck: High-Risk Navy Jobs19:49 — Shipboard Accidents and Realities of Naval Life22:20 — Hazing Rituals and Crossing the Equator26:53 — Life After Service: Struggles and Addiction38:28 — Fighting to Protect a Friend43:27 — Stabbing Attack and Spinal Cord Injury55:18 — Learning to Walk Again and Rediscovering Purpose1:00:21 — Adaptive Skateboarding and Marathons1:10:02 — Finding Community and Healing Through Sports1:17:51 — Reflections on Resilience and Inspiration#military #warstories #urbanvalor #usnavy #navyveteran
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1:20:00
Marine’s In-Depth Account of the Bloodiest Battle of Iraq War
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 Loss00:38 – Childhood & Redneck Upbringing04:12 – House Fire & Family Struggles11:35 – Confronting Racism & Early Anger15:38 – Joining the Marines & Choosing Infantry27:09 – Boot Camp Shock & Drill Instructor Brutality58:40 – Grenade Mishap in Combat1:10:16 – Landing in Iraq Under Cover of Darkness1:22:16 – Evacuation on Chicken Trucks Under Fire1:26:21 – Leading the Assault on Fallujah1:42:49 – Losing Fellow Marines in Battle2:07:23 – Eulogy & Emotional Reckoning2:11:45 – Post-Military Identity Crisis2:28:48 – Radical Honesty & Rebuilding Life2:32:46 – Helping Veterans Through Business#military #warstories #urbanvalor #marines #veteranmentalhealth #supportveterans
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2:37:14
Soldier Tasked with Pulling Mangled Bodies Out of Truck in Afghanistan
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 Afghanistan00:40 – Early life: Abuse, neglect, and abandonment01:45 – Placed in foster care and finding hope03:30 – Adopted by aunt, strong sibling bond06:00 – Struggles with masculinity, fatherlessness13:00 – Joining the Army after college dropout19:00 – Nearly dies from wisdom tooth extraction24:30 – Deployed to Afghanistan: Real combat begins28:45 – Ambushed in overwatch position36:00 – Sniper takes out enemy after close call44:00 – PTSD, trauma from seeing mangled bodies48:30 – Suicidal thoughts, VA crisis call52:00 – Struggles in marriage and emotional volatility55:00 – Healing through therapy and The Forge1:03:00 – Veteran support and personal growth1:05:30 – Helping other veterans#military #warstories #urbanvalor #usarmy #veteranmentalhealth #army
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1:06:42
Army Officer Survives Afghanistan But Fights New War at Home
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
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1:38:18
Marine’s Dreams Crushed After Passing Sniper & MARSOC Tests
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
Welcome to Urban Valor, where we hear the stories of our veteran heroes in their own words. Within these vet interviews, you'll hear everything from combat stories, life stories pre/post military, military transition, and everything in between. Our interviews aren't just war stories or combat veteran interviews, but interviews from any military veteran willing to share. Our mission is to educate the masses with what military veterans go through while serving their country and how life has been since their military transition back to civilian life. Join our cause, online community, and show your support for Urban Valor at https://urbanvalor.com
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