In this week’s Urban Valor episode, we feature Marine veteran Michael D’Angelo, a Las Vegas native who overcame a turbulent upbringing marked by homelessness and family struggles. 

Michael shares his journey from running the streets to enlisting in the Marine Corps as a Machine Gunner. He opens up about how a recruiter’s deception left him in the Reserves instead of active duty, leading to years of frustration and mental health challenges as he tried to transfer to active duty without support from his command. 

This powerful story highlights resilience, perseverance, and the unseen struggles many veterans face during and after their service.

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Video Chapters: 
01:12 - Childhood Challenges
05:41 - Turning Point: Choosing the Marines
11:04 - Recruiter’s Deception
16:28 - Struggles in the Reserves
21:46 - Mental Health Impact
29:27 - Finding Resilience and Moving Forward
37:34 - Life After the Marines
45:24 - Lessons Learned 

#military #urbanvalor #warstories #marines #warstories #veteranpodcast