Video Description

Marine veteran Chris Mansfield shares his story of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, where he and his unit were tasked with a harrowing mission: recovering Sgt. Fernando Padilla-Ramirez, a fallen Marine who was captured, dragged through the streets, and hung in the town center of Nasiriyah before being buried in a landfill. In this episode of Urban Valor, Chris reflects on his journey from growing up between South Shore, MA, and Amherst, NH, seeking validation through the Marine Corps, and ultimately serving as an 0351 Antitank Assaultman with the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines. He opens up about the mental and emotional toll of war, the intense bonds forged in combat, and the struggles of transitioning back to civilian life. 👍 Like this video to support to 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 - Intro 00:45 - Growing Up Between Two Worlds (South Shore, MA & Amherst, NH) 02:10 - Enlisting in the Marine Corps for Validation 04:00 - Boot Camp on Halloween Night: A Brutal Introduction 06:30 - The Reality of War: Deployment and 9/11’s Impact 09:45 - The Mission: Recovering a Fallen Marine 12:20 - Entering Nasiriyah: A Dangerous Operation 15:40 - Finding Sgt. Fernando Padilla-Ramirez’s Body 18:30 - Carrying Him Home: A Moment of Brotherhood 22:15 - The Aftermath: Returning from Combat 25:50 - Struggles with PTSD, Alcoholism & Civilian Life 30:10 - Hitting Rock Bottom & Seeking Help 35:45 - Mental Health, Recovery & Helping Fellow Veterans #military #warstories #urbanvalor #marines #warstories #veteran