Army Sniper & Marine Sons Risk It All Fighting ISIS with Peshmerga

Urban Valor: the podcast

In this episode of Urban Valor, we welcome back Army and Marine veteran Harry Martinez. Last week, Harry shared his journey growing up in Brunswick, NJ, joining the Army National Guard, and later transitioning to the Marines where he became part of the 1st Battalion 6th Marines Sniper Platoon as a PIG (Professional Instructed Gunman).
This week, Harry reflects on his combat deployments. Still, the focus shifts to a powerful story about how he and his two Marine combat veteran sons teamed up with the Peshmerga to fight ISIS in Iraq as civilians.
Harry how, after overhearing his sons' plans to join the fight, he felt compelled to go with them, unable to let his bloodline face the danger alone. In the end, this experience impacted his mental health, fighting alongside his sons.
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Video Chapters:
00:44 - Harry’s Military Career and Background
02:21 - Volunteering for Deployment to Afghanistan
07:41 - Reassigned to Company Intel Support Team
11:46 - Leadership and a Paradigm Shift
18:39 - Ambush and Survival Tactics
25:50 - Snider’s Brave Retrieval of Supplies
29:31 - Cultural Conflicts and Tensions with Afghan Soldiers
36:37 - Struggles with the Afghanistan War and AWOL
44:08 - Returning to Fight ISIS with His Sons
54:04 - The Battle of SAR and Humanitarian Crisis
1:04:36 - Seeking Air Support in the Fight Against ISIS
1:12:10 - Reflections on His Sons and Combat
1:18:58 - Focused Combat and Protecting His Sons
1:55:44 - Returning Home and the Struggles of Transition
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