Army MP Recounts Combat Missions in Iraq & Haunting Investigations

Meet Richard Aviles, a U.S. Army Veteran and former Military Policeman whose story is as raw as it is remarkable. In this Urban Valor episode, Richard recounts growing up in Puerto Rico, navigating culture shock in the U.S., and enlisting in the Army to escape homelessness and pursue purpose. Within months, he found himself deployed to Iraq, running combat missions, clearing houses, and collecting biometrics in high-risk environments. But the weight of war wasn’t left overseas. Richard opens up about his experiences with domestic violence calls, soldier suicides, and the haunting cases he faced while working the road stateside. This is a story about survival, service, trauma—and healing. It’s about chasing validation, confronting your past, and learning to live with the scars you carry. Whether you’re a veteran, military family member, or civilian seeking to understand the true cost of war, this one will hit home. 🪖 Watch to hear Richard’s brutally honest account of Army life, combat in Iraq, and the battles he still faces today. 👍 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 - Opening: Responding to a Crisis 00:21 - Introduction to Richard Aviles 01:18 - Growing Up in Puerto Rico 02:08 - Strict Parenting & Early Lessons 03:03 - Community Respect & Culture Shock 06:28 - Homelessness and Enlistment 09:26 - Basic Training Realities 13:03 - Arriving at Fort Leonard Wood 18:11 - Picking His Job: Military Police 23:32 - Volunteering for Iraq Deployment 25:43 - Missions, IEDs, and Reality Sets In 28:17 - Getting Reassigned After Article 15 30:54 - Raids & Detention Operations 35:28 - Challenges Working with Iraqi Police 38:00 - Transitioning Back Stateside 39:15 - Working the Road as an MP 40:28 - Responding to Suicides & K2 Abuse 47:49 - Crazy Cases & Barracks Life 50:07 - Deciding to Leave the Army 53:52 - Struggles with Civilian Reintegration 57:49 - Life Now: Family, Podcast & Purpose 59:25 - Final Message to Veterans #military #warstories #urbanvalor #usmarines #warstories