From SoCal Gangster To Army Ranger Warrior! (OG Pumpkin) 🇺🇸

This week’s Urban Valor episode features Army Ranger veteran, Angel Cortes (aka OG Pumpkin). Angel grew up poor and malnourished and wound up getting jumped into a gang.
As a gangster, he found himself selling guns and drugs and running the streets. Eventually, Angel decided to make a life change and enlisted in the Army. He served multiple combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan and became one of the best of the best, an Army Ranger.
Since transitioning out of the military, Angel has become a huge advocate on giving back as a community leader and entrepreneur.
#armyranger #veteran #urbanvalor #army #war #combat #foxnews #cnn

[@oneshotonekill24]

CORTES!!!!! "2-3 BROTHER" THAT DEPLOYMENT WAS 1 OF A KIND FOR SURE, MEMORIES THAT WILL STAY WITH US FOREVER. THAT VBIED WAS DEFENTLY A CRAZY CRAZY MORNING AND THE SAD THING IS THAT CRAZYNESS WAS EVERYDAY. PEOPLE SEE SOME OF THE VIDEOS AND PICTURE AND ARE ALWAYS IN AWW OF HOW THINGS WENT DOWN. SO GLAD TO SEE YOUR STILL DOING AMAZING THINGS. STAY SAFE STAY STRONG.

[@thankfullyredeemedmaderigh7436]

🎯

[@gs8582]

Dude you should try n get an episode in the channel. Be dope cuz the stories would connect

[@Halcyon1861]

Change your screen name. The whole point is to stand out. Not a bunch of stickers on the truck, the tee shirts etc

[@tonymontanamalverde]

Going from the bubble of “the hood” having never left before to infantry basic training was a culture shock. I was home sick, didn’t know anything about the army, it sucked. Plus I still had this tough guy mentality from the streets of Southern California. It took me a while to adapt. Made it thru, did a tour to Afghanistan, finished my active duty time, transferred to the California national guard and was there during the 2020 Los Angeles Protests. Here I am 13 years later after thinking I was only doing 4 years.

[@saucejohnson9862]

I met a few former gangsters in the Army on deployment, all that shit goes straight out the fucking window and we all became brothers.

[@tonymontanamalverde]

Exactly, I also met a few dudes who claimed to be gangsters but their true colors were brought out after a while and a couple weren’t really about that life…😅

[@bruceadams9542]

This guy needs to write a book . Thank you for your service.

[@bestjobieverhad9584]

There's no need to write a book

[@Halcyon1861]

You're a writer when you can write about anything and not just you're experience. I know because I write books. My screen name is a character in one of my books.

[@DonnyBrook762]

I was a cook in 3/75 from 08-12. There must have been something about 2008 that brought some many of us Cali kids into Regiment because for a while it seem like everyone I talked to was from California. Truer words have never been spoken when it comes to the reality of death and the fact that it never seems to stop. For me the biggest loss was Chisholm. Even though it happened during training, his death was a big loss for me because there's not a lot of us cooks in Battalion. I still talk to Henderson in a few others, and we all feel the same. Your interview was awesome, keep up the good work.

[@oiitzME1266]

Would love to see Ranger Cortes on The Shawn Ryan Show!

[@tm9184]

I like how he is humble and isn’t cocky. Seems like such a good dude.

[@non-fungibletoken5075]

Alex Cortez bro you are the reason I wanted to go back in and get my shit over with RASP again. I made it the first time back in 2014/2015 but ended up going down to the reg Army due to like yourself not knowing wtf I was doing. I got 3 deployments in the regular side but always had that drive to go back after I knew what I gave up from learning. My story is similar when it comes to personal and just giving up ourself for others. Shit now that I'm free from it I'm planning to go back and tryout next year.

[@Moderndaywayne]

Good luck brother ❤

[@alwaysoutafterdark6136]

Nah...go try out for special missions.

[@carlosshelbyjr.6704]

As a veteran I needed to hear this video. Sometimes knowing that you aren't the only person feeling like you do is motivation to overcome. I have also sacrificed alot (my wife, kids, etc) to propel myself in training. Stay safe brother ☀️⚡️⭐️

[@jeremygonzales411]

Ranger Cortes, that’s the homie! Saludos, from Texas 🤘🏼

[@TheGainfather]

Thank you for your service and your service to help other vets! We're all out here looking for that purpose after the military. Thank you for all you do!

[@georgecoull1883]

I know of Angel and his story in fact I seen him on Mike drop and was hoping to see him on Shawn Ryan and then you guy's do a solid interview always. Thank you for your service and thank you for spreading the message Angel! 🇺🇲🫡

[@noahrutherford6434]

Awe inspiring, thank you for your service!

[@mikelamothe1552]

This guy is a great example of a 'man' for this next generation.

[@nolanpitti5588]

Damn I was in Wardak in 2010-11! Shit was wild, great story brother!

[@hohoho13]

Have a ranger story. During my time as a combat tracker (not the US army) based in Brunei, one day I walked into the sick bay and saw a bunch of skinny guys with shaved heads slumped over chairs around a long table and resting their heads on the table. Turned out that they were ranger trainees, and overheard one of them mumbled to another that he was so glad to have run into a bee nest and now got a chance to rest. Found out later that they had an hour to get checked and treated, and were sent right back to training. Lots of respect for those rangers.

[@UrbanValorTV]

Thanks for sharing that with us 🤙🏼

[@d.rcarrera6599]

Angel, I don't know how to put into words, I will keep it simple. Thanks for your interview, sharing much, being completely honest with yourself about mental health services. I wish you and your family the very best. Keep your focus and don't lose sight of your priorities and goals.

[@johnbradley5236]

Humble Hero.

[@teresamartin8344]

Deeply grateful for you and to you

[@dougstitt1652]

Proud of you Angel ! Thx for your thoughts , thx Urban

[@thebronzetoo]

Right on, Angel! Thanks for serving, brother!! #RLTW

[@laurentjrtherrien5131]

M'y step dad Was in the canadian army in the 80's hé fought in africain war uganda or something and hé Still has nigtmares and wakes up jumping, hé told me that in one situation in particular they walked straight in an ambush and People were falling left and right artillerie saved them.crazy stuff man just listening to him i was on the edge of m'y chair

[@ernestroger3326]

Thank you for serving !

[@teresamartin8344]

Angel, I love your heart. All the best to you and yours.

[@mkbmkb5102]

What a great young man. We need more like him.

[@jameslopez958]

Right On Brother 😎. I'm 5' 7" walk around at 145lbs! I studied Boxing,Judo And Shotokan Karate 🥋. I learned it's the Warrior inside that makes the Path We Walk In Life! Peace ✌️ And Love ❤️ from Tucson Arizona Desert 🏜️🙏

[@harleyd9857]

Thanks for this. I’m going to look for OG Pumpkin ahorita!

[@reddiver7293]

Nice job on building up your life! Gratitude for your servive.

[@Vnachi8]

I’ve seen several different interviews with SF and Delta guys who are also Ranger qualified. When they are asked what the worst assessment program is, they say that they all suck bad in different ways, but the most intense concentrated level of suck is RASP. Even SEAL stud David Groggins, said how bad RASP was. Much respect to this dude.

[@TiMoney22]

Goggins did not go to RASP but I can see this. RASP is much shorter compared to the others

[@Tom_Ciccone]

Goggins has literally talked multiple times about completing RASP. He was the honor man of his class. He 100% went

[@maximusprime-x6p]

Rasp and ranger school aren't the same thing

[@Vnachi8]

@@maximusprime-x6p so then that means RASP is an easy course, devoid of hardship? You knew exactly the point I was trying to make, but you just had to show how smart you are.

[@ralphalvarez5465]

@@Vnachi8 In 1984, RASP was called RIP (Ranger Indoctrination Program) and a friend of mine went through RIP. We were combat engineers and I was the 27th Engineer Battalion (cbt)(abn). My buddy said that RIP was pretty intense. It's like Cortes said do everything that you want to do in the military, get trained up and leave behind no regrets of what could have been.

[@johnnichols2710]

Thanks Ranger Cortes

[@bestjobieverhad9584]

You are right even when you get out it still goes on

[@erickiyoshiphillips2323]

Cortez! This dude is inspirational to me

[@thedarkside1738]

We were in wardak same time same place. I know the exact VBIED he's talking about, I still have the video and aftermath pictures from it.

[@itsMBWAAA]

Ooh looks like this is gonna be a real good one!

[@jasonleader9248]

I was in 173rd deployed the same time he was at the same place

[@81hotboy8]

When I was on fob Salerno in 2012 they drove a truck filled with hme and blew a hole in the wall and drove a van in and the Taliban started attacking inside the fob

[@norcalendurorider7458]

Real American Hero

[@officialmilitaryskate]

Love this dude

[@mikemallory8892]

Nothing feels better when your wife support you and every activity or aspect of your life!

[@markanthony2873]

Very good story....God bless him...

[@raymondruz9634]

This guy is rare, n real…

[@mr.g816]

Muchas gracias carnal OG Pumpkin. Saludos desde LA, puro pa' delante a la verga

[@VMAri-in5cl]

This guy is real cool

[@SodiumEx]

There's an audio white static noise throughout the interview

[@SouthernThoughts]

Thanks for your channel I need a battle buddy

[@Chiefthepup]

Dudes a fucking legend

[@bluedog101c]

Write the book. Thank you for your service sir.

[@dominicmartin2640]

Shout out to Santa Ana, CA.

[@tonymontanamalverde]

That’s right

[@tonymurillo8951]

Santaneros taking it to the fight!

[@wagnergonzalez18]

I did a VSO deployment too

[@KajunGumboMedia]

Fort Lost in the Woods, Missouri …. Good times.

[@jlm6841]

As a youngster we want to be like benavidez….

[@PeterSarinana-xi2ee]

OG PUMPKIN 🤙

[@fernandocarmona3785]

It’s ok sweetheart, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure

[@CA.0verview]

27:33 human resilience man the that it feels developing every moment that gos by, sops and tactics change along with the environment. You’re a damn dinosaur the moment you leave that .

[@williamwilson9283]

Was with 7th id light during just cause out of ft. Ord .

[@michaelmurphy75]

Rock on Ranger ~ LAPD SWAT raided what?

[@nicholascushing9193]

I'm sorry I don't know your name " the interviewer" was wondering what you did in the Marines & the yrs you were in & where you deployed " if you did" just curious thx

[@abninf501]

@UrbanValor What is the name of the song at the end of every video???

[@Smouse168]

In the beginning he says he didn’t experience anything too crazy. Sounds crazy to me

[@jasonleader9248]

That was COP Sayada Bad

[@kalebmarter7739]

Anybody from la watching this know him?

[@josephvega3763]

Angel is the fuckin man!!

[@unkwm128]

He is speaking a movie script. Great story.

[@TheNightmareBeforeyouakaDrnigh]

Cortes has some duck lips from hell. Haha

[@p1xelshooter287]

how are they not gonna out the dudes socials in the description

[@SaundersE5]

Getting recycled in Florida phase is the worst.

[@alex4088]

Bad ass

[@malcolmsoh5648]

75th Ranger Regiment Sua Sponte!

[@SaundersE5]

RLTW!

[@malcolmsoh5648]

@@SaundersE5 Ranger leads the way.

[@joeygarcia3747]

RLTW🤙

[@matthewmc4363]

Not former. Airborne.

[@chltmdwp]

This guy is the smallest ranger I've ever seen

[@mementomori8991]

Being a ranger isn’t based on looks. You need more than that

[@nicholasgojekian8915]

Problems with recruiting

[@lostforwords2946]

🧐😏