Decorated Army officer turned warrior‑advocate Rudy De La Rosa opens up like never before: marked for death by the Mexican Mafia as a teenager, pulled into gang violence, homeless, and staring down his own destruction—before trading bullets for a uniform and fighting for something bigger than himself. 

In this Urban Valor Podcast episode, we dig into generational trauma, gang warfare in East LA & the 605 freeway corridor, the “green‑light” hit list, then military service in the U.S. Army, combat in Afghanistan, lifting the weight off his family’s legacy, and rewriting his story.

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Video chapters: 
00:00 – 00:19 | Knife from the Kitchen: Childhood Horror  
00:19 – 00:53 | “We’re Going to War”: Realizing Violence at Home  
00:53 – 01:28 | Origins: Santa Monica to Whittier, Early Life  
01:28 – 03:08 | Generational Trauma: Grandfather in WWII, Father in Vietnam  
03:08 – 06:52 | War‑Scars Passed Down: Navy, PTSD & Family Violence  
06:52 – 09:13 | A Father’s Advice: “If You Don’t Go to War You’re Not a Man”  
09:13 – 12:49 | Teenage Years: Gang Culture, Identity Crisis & Survival  
12:49 – 16:17 | The Neighborhood, Vultures of Divorce & Facing Harsh Reality  
16:17 – 19:36 | High School Years: Gang Affiliation, “Green Light” Hit List  
19:36 – 24:16 | Targeted, Stalked, Almost Killed: The Green Light Turns Real  
24:16 – 27:15 | Homelessness, Dropping Out & the Turning Point  
27:15 – 30:23 | Joining the Army: From Gang Life to Uniform  
30:23 – 36:04 | Military Career Begins: MP to Officer Candidate School  
36:04 – 43:12 | Combat Tour & Afghanistan: Facing War on a Global Stage  
43:12 – 47:42 | Leadership, Family Sacrifice & Choosing What Matters  
47:42 – 54:06 | 9/11 Moment: From Barracks to Battle  
54:06 – 58:59 | Deployment Realities & Mission Focus  
58:59 – 1:04:30 | The Policy Fight: Military Kids, Mental Health & Advocacy  
1:04:30 – 1:10:52 | Homecoming, Reflection & The Afghan Exit  
1:10:52 – 1:16:06 | Career End, Civilian Life & Legacy  
1:16:06 – 1:24:26 | From Soldier to Advocate: Changing the System  
1:24:26 – End | Final Thoughts: Purpose, Service & True North  

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