Urban Valor: the podcast
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
Urban Valor: the podcast
Army Paratroopers Viciously Fight Taliban Trying to Overrun Their Position
This week on Urban Valor, we sit down with Army Veteran Danny Szczakowski, a former Airborne Infantry paratrooper with the 173rd Airborne Brigade. From enduring a challenging childhood in Hereford, Texas, to facing intense combat in Afghanistan, Danny's story is one of resilience and sacrifice.
In this episode, he recounts multiple gunfights against the Taliban as they attempted to overrun their outpost, his harrowing experience recovering a fallen helicopter that claimed the lives of two pilots, and how his journey as a Drill Sergeant took an unexpected turn. Danny also opens up about the emotional toll of military service and a personal battle that led him into a dark mental space.
His story is one of courage, survival, and the unseen struggles of veterans after service. Watch as he shares firsthand accounts of combat, the lessons he’s learned, and his fight to find peace after war.
👍 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:
00:44 - Childhood and Troubled Family Background
09:16 - Teenage Years and Finding Heavy Metal Community
17:38 - Joining the Military and Overcoming Fear of Heights
25:32 - Airborne Training and Arrival in Italy
33:07 - Deployment to Afghanistan and Combat Experience
49:05 - First Confirmed Kill and Taliban Execution
1:01:03 - Losing a Friend in Battle
1:33:28 - Becoming a Drill Sergeant and Leadership Challenges
2:10:02 - Mental Health Struggles and Rediscovering Faith
2:22:36 - Launching a Veteran Support Project
#military #warstories #urbanvalor #marines #taliban