Urban Valor: the podcast - Urban Valor

Latest Episodes:

Black Hawk Pilot Survives Crash, Combat Missions, and Downed Crewmen 🇺🇸 Apr 25, 2022

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This week’s Urban Valor episode features retired Major- Black Hawk Pilot, Jennifer Fortenberry. Jennifer and her twin sister were inspired by their father to join the military. She talks about her father’s incredible accomplishments, surviving a helicopter crash in a combat zone, and struggling to deal with the loss of several crewmen during her three tours to Iraq and Afghanistan. Jennifer leaves us with her involvement in several veteran communities and how it helps her cope with everything she has been through.
Please click "LIKE" to support Jennifer and show appreciation for her incredible story!

Emotions Flare For Army Special Ops Combat Veteran 11 Tours Later 🇺🇸 Apr 18, 2022

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This week’s Urban Valor episode features U.S. Army Special Operations veteran, Chris O’Malley. Chris served in the Army for approximately 21 years and retired as a First Sergeant. During his time in service, Chris conducted 11 tours overseas not limited to Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Philippines. He tells an unfortunate story about a Chinook Helicopter crash while in the Philippines, that had 10 U.S. military personnel aboard with no survivors. Emotions flare understandably as Chris shares about his combat operations throughout his military career.
Chris is a true American Hero and an incredible Veteran and we were so very fortunate to have the opportunity to sit down with him.
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE so you NEVER miss an episode of Urban Valor! We upload new episodes every week!
Please click "Like" on each episode if you do enjoy these incredible veteran stories. This lets our incredible veterans who share their stories know of your appreciation.
And lastly, please comment and let our veterans know how much you appreciate their sacrifice for the USA. Nearly all of the Veterans we sit down with keep up with their videos comments and love to read of your gratitude!

A Dysfunctional Family & Street Fights, U.S. Army Veteran Story 🇺🇸 Apr 11, 2022

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This week’s Urban Valor episode features U.S. Army veteran, Phillip Williams. Phillip says he grew up in a rough neighborhood in Michigan and got into a lot of fights because he was a white guy in a predominately black neighborhood. He had all his teeth knocked out throughout his street fighting career and shares a story about being humbled after being jumped while stationed in Germany.
Phillip says he would do the military all over again and is involved in several veteran organizations where he spends his time volunteering and giving back to the veteran community.
Thanks for watching everyone!
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Marine Combat Veteran Takes His Life, Widow’s Story 🙏 Apr 04, 2022

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This week’s Urban Valor episode features our first veteran spouse interview
with Danielle Sanchez. Danielle was married to Marcos Sanchez, a Marine
combat veteran who served with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special
Operations Capable) during the invasion of Iraq. Danielle says Marcos wasn’t
the same person upon returning home from war and speaks on the struggle
of trying to navigate their marriage without leaving her husband behind.
Unfortunately, Marco’s PTSD caught up with him and he took his life in
October of 2018.
Danielle's story is open, honest, and so courageous. We thank her greatly for her strength in sharing Marcos story with us and the unfortunately reality of PTSD for Veterans, and what we're hoping with Urban Valor to combat against.
Please show Danielle your thanks, love, and support in the comments on our YT video. Danielle, you know how much we appreciate you.

Army Combat Veteran Survives 3 Explosions 🙏 FULL STORY Mar 28, 2022

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This week’s Urban Valor episode features Army combat veteran Will Jones.
Will served as an 11 Bravo infantryman in the Army from 2004 to 2008.
He did two combat tours overseas and talks about being blown up three times while conveying through the IED-infested roads of Iraq. Will is full of high energy and good vibes. He leaves us with how physical fitness impacts his life and keeps him with a strong mind.
Will Jones showed bravery in combat and also bravery sitting down and talking with us today, sharing his story. We thank him greatly for all of the bravery and sacrifice he's endured during and since his two combat tours.
Please SUBSCRIBE and click the BELL Notification once you Subscribe. This will ensure you're contacted every time our weekly episodes of Urban Valor, with incredible stories like Will, go LIVE on YouTube!
Please like this video and comment below to thanks and show Will support! These incredible veterans read your comments and are so thankful for your support, as are we here at Urban Valor.

Chief Master Sergeant SERVED 9 Tours and 38 Years of Duty | Air Force & National Guard 🇺🇸 Mar 21, 2022

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This week’s Urban Valor episode features U.S. Air Force and National Guard
veteran, Samuel Currie.
Sam enlisted into the Air Force in 1974 and retired out of the National Guard in 2013 as a Chief Master Sergeant after 38 years of service. During his time in service, Sam completed 9 tours overseas and has flown many missions as a Loadmaster. He spoke of his father actually being a World War 1 combat veteran along with incredible insights about the military, talks PTSD, and how he chose the Air Force and his job as a loadmaster.
He leaves us with the importance of getting involved in veteran organizations after transitioning back into civilian life and having a purpose in life.

Navy Seal Outruns Rockets, Shares War Stories, & Talks Mental Health 🧠 Mar 14, 2022

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This week’s Urban Valor episode features U.S. Navy Seal veteran, Johnny
Sotello.
Johnny was a breacher and a point man in the Navy Seal Teams, which ended up taking a toll on his mental state. He tells a story about a moment of laughter he shared with his teammates as they attempted to outrun rockets launched by the enemy in Iraq. Johnny leaves us with a bucket full of effective treatments for veterans suffering from PTSD and TBI as he continues to give back by helping as many veterans as he can.
This is usually where we'd tell you all about Urban Valor and our mission to help share stories of all heroic Veterans, while raising awareness in the key areas of Veteran homelessness, Veteran Mental Health, and Veteran transition, or any Veteran in need.
But instead, we'd like to take the opportunity while sharing this incredibly powerful story and advice shared by Johnny Sotello, who is one of the toughest, and most incredible men I know, and just say, there's absolute STRENGTH and TOUGHNESS in getting help. There's power in recognizing you need help. We all need help.
One click, or one dial of your phone can change your life. We have no affiliation with Veterans Crisis Line, but believe what they're doing is incredible, as they offer a free and confidential support line to Veterans in need.
Please, if Johnny spoke to you, and you found yourself recognizing symptoms, or thinking about your own pain and struggle with mental health, reach out to Veterans Crisis Line and have a private conversation so you can be on the road to getting better. We appreciate you HERO, thank you for serving our country, now, you deserve all the help and support in the world.
Be strong, reach out, and get it here:
https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/
And as always, we're here for you, and always open to talking privately. We invite the conversation and would love to help in any way we can!
Just send us a DM on IG https://instagram.com/urbanvalortv or email me Josh directly at josh@urbanvalor.com - we're here for YOU!

Desert Storm Veteran Shares Story! 28 Years of Service with NAVY/ARMY 🇺🇸 Mar 07, 2022

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This week’s Urban Valor episode features Navy and Army Veteran Kent Blackburn. Kent spent approximately 28 years in the service. From being a radioman in the Navy to an infantryman in the Army, Ken has been around the block and was highly experienced. A common denominator amongst America’s veterans is downplaying their service thinking it wasn’t significant. Pay close attention to Kent’s body language as he courageously shares his story and struggles to speak about his accomplishments. He's an absolute hero, but is so humble and doesn't desire the attention or notoriety, that's what makes him, and many Veterans like him so special.
Serving for the Navy and Army throughout his career, Kent has an incredible perspective from a different lens of the military, and as a Desert Storm Veteran, he has plenty of incredible stories to share.
We are honored here at Urban Valor to present you with the story of Keny Blackburn, U.S.Navy and U.S. Army Veteran service his country between 1984 through 2017.
Please SUBSCRIBE to Urban Valor so you never miss one of our weekly interviews! Our Military Stories aren't just War Stories, they're VETERAN Stories, hearing from all different types of Veterans, from different times, periods, to services, to experience, to gender, if you are a Veteran, you have a story to tell!

Army Veteran Sacrifices Feet To Pass Special Forces Selection 🇺🇸 Feb 28, 2022

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This week’s Urban Valor episode features Army veteran James Evans. James enlisted into the Army and decided he wanted to be a Green Beret. He gave his all during Army Special Forces School. Out of approximately 450 candidates James was one of the 92 selected after passing the school. Unfortunately, he suffered severe injuries to his feet. Since transitioning out of the Army, James has embedded himself deep into the veteran community and has a lot to say about the organizations he’s involved in.
Urban Valor is an organization that brings incredible veteran stories to the masses, so we can fully celebrate our Veteran heroes and their sacrifices. Our veteran interviews consist of combat veterans and veterans of all experiences levels. All Veterans played an important role in protecting our country and we're so very proud of them.

U.S. Army Black Hawk Crew Chief in Iraq Invasion | Joe Higgins Story 🇺🇸 Feb 22, 2022

Show notes

This week’s Urban Valor episode features U.S. Army Black Hawk Crew Chief veteran Joe Higgins. In this episode, Joe talks about his admiration for his grandfather who inspired him to join the Army. After Joe talks about flying mission after mission during Operation Iraqi Freedom, he leaves us with the importance of getting involved in veteran organizations and the importance of having a purpose post service.
Urban Valor shares the incredible stories of our Veterans. We don't look for particular stories, we look for any Veteran Story, combat or non-combat. If you're a Veteran, we'd love to hear YOUR story, and you'd be surprised with how many people your story will impact and help.
As Urban Valor continues to grow our platform, we'll soon open our charity efforts to truly help change the lives of Veterans across our country. We are very excited to reveal more details as we continue to develop Urban Valor, and we can't thank you, the viewer, enough for your pioneering support of our new platform and brand. Your interest and support are the foundation to what we're building at Urban Valor and truly are what is making the future possible for us, we thank you.