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
Marine Survived Desert Storm, Invaded Iraq with His Son, Then Survived Fallujah
Meet Marine Corps veteran Armando Garcia, a dual-branch warrior who served 30 years in the U.S. Air Force and Marine Corps. In this episode of Urban Valor, Garcia recounts his incredible journey from Desert Storm to Fallujah, including surviving a grenade blast, building military infrastructure, training future Marines, and even serving alongside his own son in Iraq.
From enlisting to escape poverty to being handpicked by General “Mad Dog” Mattis for Ranger School, Garcia’s path includes everything from infantry combat to drill instructor duty to command-level strategy in some of the Marine Corps' most intense operations.
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Video Chapters:
0:00 – Bomb Crater Crash & Military Beginnings
0:26 – Childhood in Del Rio, Texas
1:34 – First Enlistment in the Air Force
5:07 – Transition to Marine Corps
7:27 – Boot Camp and Early Lessons
10:10 – Infrastructure Design at Camp Pendleton
12:31 – Reenlistment & Weapons Company Role
20:30 – Desert Storm Deployment
30:21 – Life as a Drill Instructor
40:38 – Selected by General Mattis for Ranger School
50:20 – Warrant Officer Commission & Iraq Deployment
58:05 – Battle of Fallujah Prep & Firefight
1:11:00 – Memorials, Sacrifice & Coming Home
1:20:44 – Post-Service Reflections & Mental Resilience
1:26:27 – Final Words on Brotherhood & Purpose
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