He Was Selling Drugs at 11 Before Getting Into Gunfights In Iraq at 18! episode artwork

EPISODE · May 11, 2026 · 2H 48M

He Was Selling Drugs at 11 Before Getting Into Gunfights In Iraq at 18!

from Urban Valor: the podcast · host Urban Valor

War changes people.In this episode of Urban Valor, Marine veteran Shawn Reed shares his story growing up in violent neighborhoods in St. Louis, joining the United States Marine Corps, fighting in Iraq during the height of the war, surviving brutal combat, and dealing with the aftermath that followed so many Marines home.👍 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.Chapters: 00:00 – “It Was Like Star Wars”00:43 – Marines Started Dying By Suicide After Deployment01:00 – Meet Shawn Reed01:44 – Growing Up in North St. Louis05:38 – Selling Drugs at 11 Years Old 08:53 – Watching a Drive-By Shooting Up Close 10:35 – Why He Decided to Join the Military 12:52 – The Marine Recruiter Who Changed His Life15:18 – Becoming a Marine Infantryman16:15 – Marine Corps Boot Camp Was Hell21:14 – Wild Stories From SOI & Infantry Training29:35 – Arriving at 3/1 Marines33:59 – Hazing, Fear & Preparing for Iraq40:40 – Landing in Kuwait Before Iraq42:01 – First Patrols in Iraq44:28 – His First Gunfight in Iraq47:09 – The Night He Was Left Alone in Iraq 51:13 – Trying to Survive Alone at 18 Years Old 53:34 – Reuniting With His Team Leader 1:57:34 – Why PTSD Thrived After Iraq 1:58:46 – “War Was Simpler Than Going Home”1:59:42 – Deploying Again With the 13th MEU2:00:56 – EFPs Started Tearing Through Vehicles 2:01:31 – An Entire EOD Team Was Killed 2:02:30 – Walking Through a Minefield to Rescue Marines 2:07:34 – His Corpsman Saved His Life 2:08:43 – Waking Up After Being Shot 2:09:48 – Doctors Said His Marine Corps Career Was Over 2:36:12 – Witnessing Mass Casualties Again 2:37:20 – The Phone Call His Mother Received After He Was Shot 2:38:41 – How the Military Changed PTSD Recovery for Marine#military #warstories #urbanvalor #marines  #warstories

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War changes people. In this episode of Urban Valor, Marine veteran Shawn Reed shares his story growing up in violent neighborhoods in St. Louis, joining the United States Marine Corps, fighting in Iraq during the height of the war, surviving brutal combat, and dealing with the aftermath that followed so many Marines home. 👍 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 b...

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He Was Selling Drugs at 11 Before Getting Into Gunfights In Iraq at 18!

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