Show notes
This week on Urban Valor, we sit down with Army Veteran Danny Szczakowski, a former Airborne Infantry paratrooper with the 173rd Airborne Brigade. From enduring a challenging childhood in Hereford, Texas, to facing intense combat in Afghanistan, Danny's story is one of resilience and sacrifice.In this episode, he recounts multiple gunfights against the Taliban as they attempted to overrun their outpost, his harrowing experience recovering a fallen helicopter that claimed the lives of two pilots, and how his journey as a Drill Sergeant took an unexpected turn. Danny also opens up about the emotional toll of military service and a personal battle that led him into a dark mental space.His story is one of courage, survival, and the unseen struggles of veterans after service. Watch as he shares firsthand accounts of combat, the lessons he’s learned, and his fight to find peace after war.👍 Like this video to support and show appreciation.🗣️ Comment your support or ask any questions. Sometimes, our interviewees respond, and we at Urban Valor will do our best to respond as well!✅ SUBSCRIBE to support Urban Valor and the courageous Veterans who tell their stories AND so you NEVER miss a weekly episode of our veteran stories. New stories every Sunday!Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories.Video Chapters: 00:44 - Childhood and Troubled Family Background09:16 - Teenage Years and Finding Heavy Metal Community17:38 - Joining the Military and Overcoming Fear of Heights25:32 - Airborne Training and Arrival in Italy33:07 - Deployment to Afghanistan and Combat Experience49:05 - First Confirmed Kill and Taliban Execution1:01:03 - Losing a Friend in Battle1:33:28 - Becoming a Drill Sergeant and Leadership Challenges2:10:02 - Mental Health Struggles and Rediscovering Faith2:22:36 - Launching a Veteran Support Project#military #warstories #urbanvalor #marines #taliban