“Pinned Down in the Kill Zone” - Iraq Vet Survives Endless Ambushes

Marine veteran Ralph Sarabia takes you inside the chaos of Iraq...convoys hit by IEDs, RPGs ripping overhead, close-quarters ambushes, and the split-second choices that decide who makes it home. In todays Urban Valor Podcast episode, he opens up about survivor’s guilt, hypervigilance, and rebuilding life after deployment with faith, family, and boxing. This is a raw, unfiltered account of Marine combat and the fight to heal. 👍 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 First firefight: RPGs, incoming, “pull the trigger, find peace” 03:32 Father absent, taking care of mom, finding a role model in a Ranger 11:41 Caught stealing as a kid—lesson that stuck 14:46 Enlisting after 9/11; boot camp identity strip, asthma scare 29:24 Unit culture, hazing, and the 48-hour call to war 38:26 Desert staging & push toward Baghdad 41:09 “I don’t want to die” — reality of contact and wounded Marines 53:48 Homecoming numbness; living like a “watchman on the wall” 1:03:13 Ramadi: daily ambushes, IEDs, morale tactics under fire 1:12:53 60 Minutes coverage; nonstop losses & memorials 1:18:49 Close calls, survivor’s guilt after Clifton’s death 1:35:13 High-profile security work, USC, brain health treatment 1:51:05 Boxing, faith, entrepreneurship—turning pain into purpose 1:56:50 Closing thoughts to vets #military #warstories #urbanvalor #marines #warstories