About this episode
Marine veteran George Kite shares his account of close combat in Fallujah, the brutal realities of war, and the lifelong impact of PTSD in this week’s Urban Valor episode. From growing up poor in South Carolina—sometimes homeless—to enlisting on his 17th birthday, George’s journey is one of survival, grit, and raw honesty. He remembers the chaos of the First Battle of Fallujah, including rooftop firefights, mortar attacks, and moments that still haunt him decades later. George opens up about accidentally shooting a combatant, encountering child soldiers, losing friends in battle, and the emotional fallout that followed. His story captures what so many combat veterans face but rarely share publicly. George also describes life after war: working with the Army National Guard, battling depression, and discovering a new purpose by supporting fellow veterans through mental health challenges. From sniper school to urban warfare instructor to DC security assignments, George's Marine Corps career is filled with intense and emotional moments that every American should hear. This is not just a war story. It's a human story. One of courage, trauma, transformation, and the quiet fight that continues long after the battlefield. 👍 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: 00:00 – Ambushed Before the Stairs 00:22 – Enlisting After a Tough Childhood 04:30 – Living in a Sharecropper’s Shack 12:36 – Joining the Marines at 17 20:22 – Boot Camp Breakdown & Reconnecting in Fallujah 27:54 – Infantry School & Weekend Mayhem 40:00 – DC Assignments & Watching Over the White House 55:52 – “You're Not Going Back to Iraq” (But Then You Are) 1:00:09 – Rockets Hit the Chow Hall 1:08:02 – Close-Range Kill and Emotional Fallout 1:24:36 – Urban Combat and Pigeon Coop Incident 1:33:47 – PTSD, Rage, and Survivor’s Guilt 1:59:27 – Losing His Mom, Betrayal, and Depression 2:12:31 – Living With PTSD Minute by Minute 2:21:02 – Sniper School and Being Ready Again 2:29:58 – A Brief Escape to DC and Seeing the Sights 2:37:47 – Meeting Nancy Pelosi and the Best Sandwich 2:42:18 – Don’t Give Up!! #military #warstories #urbanvalor #usmarines #marineveteran