Army Paratroopers Confront Iraqi Combatants in Hand-to-Hand Battle

Being from nor cal growing up in 90s. I remember hearing how in so cal graf artist treated it like gangs.

As a Army veteran with only one deployment, it is hard to imagine 2 or 3, even 4. What is amazing to me about his story has nothing to do with the Army or combat. Instead, this is a story about fatherhood. Before he was a soldier, his father loved him (stayed with him and stayed married to his mom), protected him with a watchful eye on the neighborhood, demonstrated love by allowing his dead-beat uncle to live with them; and most importantly laid down the house rules and enforced them. SGT Fernando said he had to be in by 9PM no matter what. Because of his father's love, SGT Fernando's youth was different from those around him. Fast forward to when his early father was no longer around to protect him, his Heavenly father was. SGT Fernando felt the comfort of his Heavenly father just as he did with his father on earth. And again and just the same, the presence of the Heavenly father in our lives always results in a difference experience for us as compared to others in the neighborhood of life. And just as SGT Fernando's father had a vision for his son better than anything he had growing up; our Heavenly father says it like this: "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11. No matter how a man's childhood was, there is always a father there to turn to. It's up to us to make the decision. SGT Fernando did...and it will be interesting to see how God's plan for him unfolds. What a great story.

Thank you for sharing! It is immensely personal and it takes guts to be brave and have the courage to be real! Harmony Church. B-9-2 April 1983. DOL!

Guys told this one story to everyone he ever meets

Cool story bro lol. 😎

This is one he'll of an interview , your never really done ,may you find peace!

Get this man a proper chair to sit in! lol

Deep respect. Thanks for telling your story.

Amen thank you 🙏🏻

Omg wow you went through some shit

Fayetnam vet here 💙😎

The first time I jumped was my second time in a plane
Airborne all the way 💙😎

Totally off topic, kinda, what that red film over the scopes of the m4 rifle? Iconic

God bless you.

SGT Arroyo - God Bless! - What a soldier what a man - Be Blessed!

One thing he's right about in this whole story. "Why is the ENEMY here?"

As a fellow paratrooper during that time... I can relate.

We lose so many of these veterans everyday. Find a charity and give what you can to it. Save these guys. Every one of them is worth saving.

These are the men that our government throws away, we fight for our benefits after the war, while politicians continue to profit. God bless Urban Valor, you guys are doing great things by letting these Americans tell their story.

TF1Panther

Hes still ready to explode..bless you sir !! You did everything ( and for us americans sittin on our ass ) a true Thank you

PST is terrible... good advice and a great interview 😢😢😢

All the Way Sir….Airborne, I was attached to 1/325 Alpha Company as their Forward Observer. My unit was 2/319 A-Battery Alpha team FO. I was in the field on 9/11 were just finished an all night jump and mission at Mount City when they put us on cattle trucks and took us back to get our bags and wait on tarmac at Pope.

I’m sitting here balling my eyes out. Stories like this just make me so sad. I hate what men have to go through. Society tells us that man are supposed to be strong physically and mentally and any weakness shown then your not a man. I hate this. It makes me so scared for my boys. Both my boys are so in to military and run around playing soldiers all the time. I fear them going into the military. I don’t want them to ever feel the way this man felt or have to do the things that he did. It makes me so angry that politicians and the wealthy start wars and have the common people fight for them. They don’t care about the lives of the people fighting. God bless you sir. Thank you for your sacrifice.I’m sorry you had to go through the things you did. May your friends Rest In Peace.

Woobies are magic.

Not the greatest attitude.

Thank you Fernando for sharing your experience and being vulnerable. I believe you are a role model for many people please don’t give up, un fuerte abrazo!

Hello Fernando, thank you for sharing your life with us and the trauma you experienced in combat. You sacrafised you life for all of us! We love you brother! Airborne!! Thank you for your service to our great country!👍🏿

Salute to all the vets man!!

Thank you Compita, my son just entered boot camp with the goal of becoming an Army Ranger. As a first generation Mexican-American, I walked the narrow path out of the problems back in L.A., I was the first to graduate from high school and college, and have lived as a civilian all my life. As a father who held this boy since day one, and tried to teach him right from wrong, I'm now at a crossroads on how to be there for my son when he needs me.

Regardless of the ineptitude of our leadership, I have the deepest respect and admiration for our current service members, our veterans, and those who have died serving. I don't take their sacrifices lightly. I raised my sons visiting memorials during Memorial Day and Veterans day to honor our service members instead of vacationing. My hat off to all of you, and God be with you. Thank you for sharing your story.

I got stoploss in May 2006, too.

Probably knows my brother Wesley Allen

Listening to this guy talk about his suicide attempt almost brought me to tears. I attempted it but I'm still here. Why? Idk, but there's a reason

What an awesome interview. Much respect for our servicemen. Complete badasses

Thank you for your service soldier ❤️

Thank you for your service.
Love from the Corps

Very Inspiring young Man. May God Bless Himand All Men an Woman who Died .Served our Country. For We the People ❤❤❤❤❤.

🇺🇸🫡

Firm, manly, 5% gay hug from a Marine vet 00-04. Good on you brother.

what a LIFE!!! May God bless you MORE!!!!!!

🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼💯

One of the most intense segments I’ve listened to. Keep strong.

Thank you

I cannot imagine the terror of paranoia from smoking weed, and realizing, “oh shit, I’m a combatant in an active war zone right now…..” It’d be real easy for the paranoia to win in that situation! ….I’d convince myself I was gonna die or have a heart attack too!

Soldiers be smoking even at home station🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Or, you could ask why we were in a country that had ZERO to do with 9/11.

Very powerful interview! Semper Fidelis!

What a awesome interview! Thank you for sharing both sides.

What a legend. 👏

"Why is the enemy here." Great question.