Vietnam Veteran Survives Landmine 😱 Incredible Marine Corps Vet Story!

This week’s Urban Valor episode features Marine Corps Vietnam veteran
Richard Rivera. Richard was nearly killed after tripping a landmine while on patrol in the jungles of Vietnam. He talks us through both terrifying and happy times amid combat operations.
Richard shares the change he noticed within himself upon being discharged from the Marine Corps and returning home.
Even after nearly losing his life in war some of his darkest days were back home on the land he was fighting for. This Marine veteran and Vietnam Veteran story is unbelievably incredible.
There's discussion of Vietnam Veterans history and how they were treated as well as how surviving Vietnam affected his life. This veteran fought in Vietnam, risking his life, and his story is incredible. Enjoy!
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#vietnam #war #urbanvalor #cnn #marine #foxnews #veteran #hero

[@joshg1165]

Thank you for sharing Richard. It’s Marines like you that keeps the younger generation staying getting after it 🇺🇸

[@UrbanValorTV]

Great interview Josh, as always! Thank YOU for what you do for us as well!

[@jamesdahobo10]

Proud of you uncle Rich❤ thank you for your service

[@UrbanValorTV]

We appreciate him sitting down with us SO much!

[@FIGGY65]

Thank you Urban Valor for the work on this refreshing project. John, please give your Uncle Rich a fond hello and thank you from this 57 year old Marine Brat. My Dad passed last year at 84, and was a retired Gunny ( 1954-1974) Engineer with multiple Viet Nam combat tours. Your Uncle here reminds me so much of my dad and his many comrades: Highly patriotic, humble, caring, very self aware, and all sacrificing-from their service until the very end. Hopefully Rich is involved with counseling other vets?! He seems like a very relatable fellow who would excel at such important work! All my best to you and Rich! God bless, and Semper Fi ! Shawn

[@ILB]

Fantastic story, well. Richard is definitely an inspiration!

[@UrbanValorTV]

Yes he truly is!

[@K-S95]

Thanks for your service Richard. Vietnam veterans don’t seem to get nearly enough recognition as they should, he reminds me of my dad who was also a Marine and over in Vietnam as well…full of wisdom and integrity.

[@UrbanValorTV]

Agreed! Well said and thanks so much for your comment! We really appreciate it and I know the Vets we interview do as well!

[@rosalinda612]

Thank you for sharing your story.

[@UrbanValorTV]

Thank you so much for your comment!

[@Johnson11c]

Amazing story sir! God help continue to help this man overcome and move forward in his life!

[@tommybickerstaff1249]

Thanks Marine

[@UrbanValorTV]

Thanks so much Tommy!

[@41546able]

Your story was right on on the percentage of surviving. When I inlisted in 1965 they did not have 2 years in the Marines only 4 years. I was in Nam in 1966 to 1967 and was sent back in 1968 because of the Tet Offensive.

[@teresamartin8344]

Deeply grateful for you and to you

[@gilwhitmore9682]

More than just a recounting of service action and injuries. Richard shared a perspective on the desert war veterans that I had not considered. I appreciate his service and sacrifice, thank you Richard.

[@UrbanValorTV]

You and me both regarding his perspective 🤙🏻 🇺🇸

[@creaturesofqueens]

Despite that being a very nonlinear retelling of his life story it all came together quite well when discussing life as veterans and the insightful comparisons between draftees, pre 9/11 soldiers and the all volunteer force that fought the GWoT. Hit that nail on the head. Amazing that someone who was drafted to spend 13 months in Vietnam feels lucky compared to the rotational tours to Iraq and Afghanistan. Thank you for your story and insight sir.

[@tomhardin4532]

Good comments on viet nam I was there 68-69 thank you for the comments

[@jeffn.918]

Amazing to think this Marine was able to speak to a veteran of the Spanish-American war! One tour in Vietnam and his everyday life was changed forever.

[@UrbanValorTV]

🇺🇸

[@mrplummerjones407]

Got a job at Boing out of high school. Welp, those days are gone.

[@MrFilmguy1]

Incredible story! Great advice!

[@richardbowers3647]

Mental shocks can be felt early in life. Even in infancy. The damage is traumatic & can cause life long stress. Here’s a poem with an implied cure. Poem's title is “The New One’s Center Had Moved.” The new one’s center had moved. The infant’s place of anchor had gone. Neither the boy nor young man knew. Their lives were marked as well. All lost to empty time of living, Where wisdom & books have no meaning. They each looked to the man to be. “Grow up,” The man yelled. “Look out for yourself.” They all wanted a way back, Back to the place of beginning. They asked a fix from him. “Between the rising & setting sun,” He exclaimed, “Go to the beginning there. Breath out the flames which burn your heart. There your body & voice of being can be found. A life of quiet, joy & peace.” Hurry - The old man is coming!

[@drummie131]

This Guy talks so much sense. I also suffer from PTSD, but I didn't know for a few years, until the threat of a relationship breakup forced me to see a doctor. I knew something was wrong with me because I would fly into a rage at the slightest thing, and would feel ashamed afterwards, and couldn't understand where it had come from. Anyway I was sent for cognitive therapy, which I didn't think would work, because I thought "my problems will still be there when I leave". I could not have been more wrong, This doctor was the first one I had seen. that seemed to understand and told me, my mind was like a chest of drawers, poured into the middle of the floor, and I couldn't work out how to put it all away correctly. This, just a simple explanation, I feel got me to trust someone again, I knew he wasn't full of shit and did understand. I had 12 months of therapy before being discharged from the hospitals services. For one reason or another, I was lost in the system, and didn't have any follow up advice or medication, and for the next 20 years I gradually slipped back to the way I had been. With me It was sudden loud noises, even people dropping things, balloons popping etc. If I saw it happening I was fine, but if It happened behind me, I would feel terror but then absolute rage would take over within seconds. I also couldn't hold down a job, and kept moving to others, if I believed what I was doing was dangerous, I simply wouldn't be able to do it. Again my partner, who was my wife by now, constantly told me to get help, but I believed I had been helped and that was all I could get. Again I was wrong. My doctor prescribed a drug called Sertraline, which has changed my life. I found out I should have been on these, from the day my cognitive therapy finished. Unfortunately it was too late to save my marriage, as the damage was done, but it has allowed me to carry on a near normal life. I firmly believe had it not been for this treatment, I wouldn't be here today, Life was unbearable. Richard, you're spot on when you say, you only spoke to people who are in a similar position. Only one of my friends knew as he had opened up about his experiences of it. What also helped me later on, but maybe not everybody was, I got to the stage I didn't hide it anymore, I didn't care what people thought. If they didn't like me for having a mental illness, then fine, at least I know. I don't normally write these responses, but if anyone out there is suffering, definitely speak out. It's so sad when you hear or read about someone suffering and not knowing where to turn, or sweeping it under the carpet. Thanks Richard for sharing and Urban Valor for posting. P.S sorry for this long winded message. You inspired me to speak about it again, and if my story helps, even in the slightest way, then its been worth it.

[@violagentsch]

Respect ✌

[@jefffeudner408]

My Brother Bobby..ask him."Where is your Leg" UP.THERE ..HE POINTS UP.THERE.. !!" in that tree in in Vietnam" honest..that is where the leg he doesn't have IS.

[@mzimm460]

Watch the vets interviews from Billings gazette. You don’t need to steer as much some of there interviews are three hours long and nobody is asking questions

[@UrbanValorTV]

We'll check them out. Thanks!

[@brandontaylor7741]

Now every time I hear a veteran talking I hear Don Shipleys voice in the back of my head. Even if the guy is legit. Lol

[@benopie7772]

after my first deployment they had us all sit in a tent in saudi arabia and fill out a post deployment questionnaire . our platoon sergeants told us to mark everything ok or else you be labeled a crazy and locked up so that what i did. worst advice ever looking back i defintely was not ok and it took me years of pain and suffering caused to myself and others to realize that.

[@fowchiiiliedpuppiesdied]

At some point, we have to own our choices.

[@smhs1262]

wow

[@jamesellis2784]

Marine ,1 . Landmine .0.

[@Longeezy]

Far, far too many adverts. Couldn’t watch it all.