This week’s Urban Valor episode features Retired Marine Gunnery Sergeant Thomas Praxedes. This Marine is a 2x Purple Heart Recipient that saw a close-quarters battle in Fallujah, Chaos in Afghanistan, and so much more. 

Thomas grew up in Los Angeles, CA and wanted to be a soldier until he saw a Marine in dress blues. After the September 11th attack on America, he committed to the Marine Corps. Thomas served in the second battle of Fallujah, Iraq in 2004 where he experienced up close and personal combat with the enemy during urban warfare.  He also served in Sangin, Afghanistan where his platoon would stumble across a field of buried IEDs causing trauma, chaos, and loss of life. After experiencing everything Thomas did, he put in for early retirement in order to deal with his mental health. 

Military mental health and veteran PTSD are major reasons Urban Valor exists. As we started this movement to bring awareness, attention, and support to mental health for military veterans. 

Thomas Praxedes story is action-packed from start to finish and is truly one for the books here at Urban Valor.