Former U.S. Marine Michael Delery joins us on Urban Valor to share a powerful and haunting story from his time in Iraq. During the 2003 invasion, Mike’s unit was approached by a young Iraqi boy who led them to a shallow grave—revealing the remains of four missing American soldiers.

Growing up in South Central Los Angeles, Mike faced nonstop pressure to join gangs. Instead, he chose the Marine Corps and built a life of service and sacrifice. In this episode, he recounts the intensity of Marine Corps Security Forces training, the chaos of combat deployments, and the moment that would stay with him forever.

He also opens up about the emotional weight carried by veterans after service—navigating PTSD, losing friends to suicide, and the harsh reality of returning home. From sleeping on a living room floor weeks after deployment to the frustrations of Marine Corps recruiting, Mike offers an unfiltered look at military life before and after combat.

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Video Chapters: 
00:00 – Iraqi Boy Leads Marines to a Shocking Discovery  
01:12 – Reflecting on the First Ever Urban Valor Interview  
01:29 – Life at Banger: Security Forces & Nuclear Protocols  
03:45 – Peer Pressure and Gangs in South Central LA  
10:12 – Brotherhood and Discipline in the Marines  
20:46 – Losing Friends in Combat & Harrowing Iraq Memories  
26:59 – 9/11 and the Chain Reaction that Led to War  
30:08 – Fast Roping, Field Ops & Overseas Deployment  
43:34 – Coming Home: Homeless with a Family Weeks After Iraq  
50:19 – The Mental Toll of Marine Recruiting Duty  
1:03:10 – Leaving the Corps for His Family’s Future  
1:16:33 – Civilian Life as a Cop: Danger, Trauma, & Tension  
1:33:21 – PTSD, Suicide, and the Tragic Loss of Marco Sanchez  
1:46:28 – Stories of Camaraderie and Marine Brotherhood  

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