He’s one of the main reasons why I pursued infantry in the Marine Corps 2014 1/3 lava dogs! He was the head recruiter at the time I was joining the Poole program.
I had the honor of serving with Gunny Praxedes for a couple days at the time he was an E6. From what I remember one of the best, humblest and funniest Marines I had the pleasure of working with. He left a positive impression on me as a young E5 in a short amount of time. Glad to see him doing well randomly on the internet. Semper Fi brother
This interview left me speechless. I have so much respect for all those who have served especially ones who were deployed and fought. I’m enlisting in the corps, I want to be alongside these men fighting with them. Thank you for service for all marines.
It's always been tough sledding to be Marine Infantry (GRUNT). I did that as a 0311 two years. I noticed over the years your luck is based on your depoyments, once your done training. If you are deployed with a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) in the wrong place, wrong time, you can get into really bad stuff and you gotta take brothers home to their parents from Dover Air Force Base. Taking my best friend home, in a casket, was toughest thing i ever did
Dude I need on this channel. We lost 8 guys one day to a 2000 pound IED in Afghanistan in 2009. It was the most horrific thing I ever saw in my life. And the smell of burning flesh of Americans made me pass out I was 19 years old. 1-17in 2nd sbct cco 2 platoon
That's a Marine warfighter, 110 proof. I can relate to everything he says, 55 years after my own tour in the Corps. We are timeless, as Marine combatants. Stay in touch with the Marine inside you, Gunny - it's an integral part of you, a source of strength when you need it. God bless you, man. Live your life in part honor of those who are gone too soon, you're keeping them alive in memory. To be forgotten is like being left behind on the battlefield.
Marines never leave anyone from their units on a battlefield after a fight. If Infantry can't get them out they will send Recon teams at night to pull them out
I served in Vietnam in 1968 / 69 3rd Battalion L company 1/5. I fought at the Battle of Hue City. I was 17 years old at the time and didn't know shit. I'd been involved in a couple of small actions But Hue city was my wake up call. Urban combat is no fucking joke. The enemy, VC and Nva were in prepared fighting position and they took it to us. Without air support we'd of been fucked. Lost a lot of buddies in that action. It was close to 150 Kia and over 1,000 wounded. Not a day goes by that I don't think of my buddies and that God awful battle I can relate to everything this young warrior is saying. Semper Fi brother.
Maybe you Marines and other branches of the US should be more appreciative of your Air force big brain brothers then. And Space force since they're the youngest branch.
@@LB-uo7xythanks chair force big brothers for 10000 of you doing HAM radio shit wearing Kevlar for every 1 person in the air doing something. you gotta be fucking kidding me
SEMPER FIDELIS THOMAS thank you for words and your time spent I'm greatful for its gonna help me bear the weight of the issues still troubling me and boost my positive needs of pride of my marine crops values I've held on to for good in my life time it was the greatest time of my life
this has been one of the most brutal interviews i’ve heard on this channel. i wanted to be a marine growing job but i took a different path and wrong choices, but i would’ve loved for the opportunity to serve my country in the military. thank you for your service!!!
Wow. I “met” him through IG during the Afghanistan pullout trying to get out translators, allies, ANA etc. Such a great, great man. He NEVER gave up, literally I don’t think he slept for a solid two weeks. He helped SO many. I’m so glad to hear his full story here.
Hogan was a damn good man. You wouldn’t remember me man, but we were the trackers attached to y’all in Sangin, patrolling the 605. They wouldn’t bring tracks to afghan due to the safer MRAPs so we just attached to y’all. I was with Baker the day he stepped on the IED that took his life after leaving OP Brannon. That day still haunts me. I was medivaced in October after my 3rd hit, but those 5 months with y’all are the proudest days of my life. Semper fi brother.
Hey brother, I was in charge of PB Fleming on the 605 just south of what we called the Manchin. It was at the Bazaar, I had 4 of your guys attached to me and we took yalls interpreter Sam. I still talk with Sam to this day. David Baker was a great man and my best friend. I didn't know Hogan like that since he was in Alpha, but I heard he was the same as David, and they both went out saving the brothers around them. Which group of guys were you attached to? And could you help me find the guys attached to me?
This was an amazing interview. Hearing all of this makes me super proud to have been in the Marine Corps and to have been around men of this caliber. I also got a kick out of hearing him talk about hitting the fleet when older seniors were still wearing BDUs instead of Marpat... I got to the fleet around the same time and chuckled a bit when he brought it up.
I was with 3/3 Comm platoon. 2003-2007. We lost 3 Comm brothers and 1 Motor T brother during our Iraq 2006 deployment in Haditha, Iraq. I didn't witness their deaths in person, but I made sure to never forget the greatness and influencethey'veleft upon me. I now live my life in their honor and make it a personal mission that their legacy is told to people that ask about my military past. Gone, but not forgotten.
So I did my tour in Nangarhar province from August of 2010 to 2011 (101st), "The Surge." Some of the things he said confirmed my experiences as well, especially about the Iraq enemy being the JV squad and the Afghans being the Varsity. It was my first and only deployment, but most of our guys had multiple deployments, we had a Samoan guy on #7. About Two months in one of our section sergeants, on his 4th tour after three in Iraq, looked off into the distance with wide eyes and said to himself: "...I thought the Iraqis were bad..." I too at least initially, walked around with candy in my pockets for the kids...that all stopped. I remember one time in particular, our platoon was rolling between two hills (MRAPs) and there were some stones and garbage in the narrow road which caused us to slow down and move around them. As we did, some kids appeared at the top of one of the hills and bombarded us with large rocks when our dismounts got out to move the road blocks. I just remember thinking: "these little fuckers are practicing to be future Taliban, and they're practicing their ambushing skills." + I had some of the exact same experiences as this guy in terms of monitoring the kids. The kids would tell you everything you needed to know about the village. I am haunted still by what one of our terps told me: "What you are doing here will never work, you are too nice and my people only understand violence." What are we supposed to do? Kill you all? Our intel guys let us down, we never really understood that place or how complicated it was. Cultural relativism has no place there, if you think every culture is equally good and beautiful go to this poop-hole for a year, it will cure you. I would love to send all the hippies and lefties there for a year so they can gain a better understanding of how lucky we all are to not live there, or a place like that. Maybe then, they will have a little less loathing for their country. I now wake up every day and thank God for my good fortune. If there is a more complicated place on earth, I wouldn't know where that would be. What those people do to themselves is worse than whatever we did to them.
Man, your very last sentence is so true. They’re very complicated and it’s a completely different society there. Violence is a part of their daily lives
One of the best listen to's.....my unit was a reserve unit that participated in Phantom Fury....Bravo 1/23. Cajuns...attached to 3rd LAR Wolf Pack....we were lucky to not have KIA...we had WIA's...Alpha Co & Charlie Co had KIA's...but i know friends that were KIA's & WIA's from other units. It bothers me that i left Iraq not losing a digit...it bothers me...but we all keep marching...stay strong for your family & fellow Marines.....i miss my Corps....i pray for peace but always prepared for war....that never goes away..... Thanks Gunny P! Semper Fidelis
I wasn’t a grunt, and my experience in Iraq wasn’t nearly as bad as the stories told here. It’s men like him, that make me even more proud of being a Marine. Semper Fi.
Goosebumps man. Goosebumps. I can only aspire to lead a life of selfless service and to the greater good of my fellow brothers and sisters in this world. Just like you and all of your marines and veterans who stood 10 toes down in the face of death and did what had to be done. I am not a marine or a veteran of any sort but my family served in ww1, ww2, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. But I will always remember what my ancestors have sacrificed to afford me and my peers the freedoms to live the life that we live.🙏🙏
Heroes all. They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them. Thankyou
Man this resonated with me so much. It reminds me of my time in southern Afghanistan in 2012. I only did 6 years, Army EOD, but everything you said about during and after your deployment is just so true. Thanks for being brave enough to share.
Thats actually genius thinking about it..its like business marketing..but instead of selling the idea..your making them questio. Why they are DESERVING of the idea..if you get my drift. The pen example from Wolf of wall street, except reversed and bringing the business to them lol
It’s crazy to hear the stories straight from a guy in the unit that relieved us in 2010. I still remember the day that 1stSgt Carlisle got wounded. Sangin was a hell of a fight.
Semper Fi Gunny Praxedes and thank you for your service to this country and all of us! What you endured, saw, and did is beyond normal comprehension. Your bravery and your Marines dedication and bravery to stay on task and in the fight speaks volumes of you all.
Thank you Sir for all you did and continue to do 🙏 I pray you live a long prosperous life God bless you ! I’m Canadian 🇨🇦 and thank god for the Marines everyday
I was never in the military, but man I can listen to these stories all day! Thank you everyone who is serving or has ever served for your service! Thank you!
I’ve watched this interview twice now. This is an awesome man and proud to have men like this that has sacrificed so much for all of us in this country. Thank you for your service. Love to hear when our vets are crushing it. Keep doing what your doing and I pray more blessings upon you.
Much respect. I'm a vet also. I missed combat by a very short time. Always felt I wasn't worthy of being called a vet until a cousin of mine who did 2 tours in Afghanistan sat down and talked.
If you were a grunt even in no combat, there is no going back to normal for most. You’ll be always be an overly aggressive, mean, stupid, rock eater deep deep down. The worst part is… we don’t want to go back to normal. Life is better this way. But is it? Can’t speak for other MOS but I imagine it’s very close.
What an incredible interview. I must say I watch a lot of vets speaking on these podcasts and they are all good and all important. This one was riveting.
Holy smokes! The stories this warrior has, absolutely amazing. I felt like I was right there with him. God bless all of our service members (past, present, future). Semper Fi brother!! 🇺🇲💪👊
So I’m a civilian. Always have been, never served, but I a lot of family who did. I found your channel a week or two ago, I just want to say that ever since then, I haven’t watched anything else besides this channel. I sit at my civilian Job making gas tanks for the big 3. Binging these stories. I watched probably about 30-45 videos so far. I just want to say from the bottom of my heart. Thank you to our soldiers who sacrificed to make sure our country was being protected. Also shoutout to your families and also the fallen soldiers. The drill instructor Randall is one of my favorite interviews. You can tell he’s a great guy. And his quote at the end is very true and I’m very appreciative of that. “Millions of Americans lay in bed and sleep peacefully every night because of rough gentlemen ready to do violence on their behalf” thank you guys very much. ❤
Thank you so much Thomas for sharing and your service. I would love to be your friend if I ever got a chance to meet or talk to you. I wish you all the best in life.
Thanks for sharing this story. I was never in the military, but I would follow this guy into a fight if I had to, and probably even if I didn't have to. I used to think when I was younger that people who signed up were foolish, and maybe in way they are, but it's impossible for me not to have respect for this kind of composure, responsibility, and directed seriousness. To show up in his recruit's stead is a legendary and redemptive move.
You nailed it gunny,I did two hitches,back in 79-86,cold war,but even then,we did it the same way,sweat in peace,when I got out,I started my own construction company,30 years,retired at 55,semper Fi!
Thank you Gunny Praxedes for these planet sized stones you carry in your heart on my behalf- I’m humbled by your generosity as well as your bravery, and thanks for your stories so well told 🙏🏾
Pretty cool hearing each veterans account of these key battles. You start to connect the dots "oh okay hes talking about him" and so on and so forth. Love the content! Ive been up my weekend from work just binge watching. I cant get enough. This channel needs more exposure in the mainstream, WAY more exposure. I always wished to enlist. Just got in way to much trouble😔 in my younger years. It sucks knowing so many of our own heroes have passed on. Fucking sucks. These are the real heroes!
Wow... A powerful interview thank you for letting us in your life & your experience. For your service. To those Men and women who didn't make it back home, Always remembered never forgotten 🙏🏾 TRUE HEROS
Thomas thank you for serving our great country you are so greatly appreciated. Your story is amazing you have the utmost respect for the Corps, for those you served with and those that made the ultimate sacrifice. I wish the people that are trying to destroy everything that makes our country so great would listen to you and others that served and the sacrifices made so that they can voice their opinions at the same they have no clue what its like to see your a killed or to suffer the physical and emotional scares of combat. I have a hardtime for those that don't stand up for our flag or any disrespect to our flag period. You are a great inspiration, your humble, your very respectiful you are great American. I wish you the best and I know you'll do well in whatever you want in life. You are a hero, thank you once again and your a great American God Bless you.
Thank you for your service. And for narrating experiences for a civilian like me that has absolutely no concept of what you and your fellow Marines braved. Respect and gratitude is all I have to offer. Which feels inadequate. But thank you. On behalf of all Americans safe within our borders. Thank you.
Always regretted not joining up after missing max enlistment age in 01. But then I see these guys who’ve been in the shit and realize that I would have been of little service. No way I could go on after a day like that dude had. Respect, brother.
I like where you're coming from. Humility, respect and gratitude. But I can't help but wonder how many fresh recruits may have the same doubts you describe. And how boot camp and training forges something inside a man he did not know he had. Mad respect from this civilian.
I enlisted and left for Parris Island 6 weeks after turning 17. I flew in with someone who was a week away from being too old. His maturity helped him, as it did those who enlisted at ages such as 22, 25, 26, etc. Their experiences before the Corps were always interesting. Being placed in a billet that required them to follow my orders did feel odd. I was Infantry. I had just help place a KIA down that I knew very well, when I realized that I was going to college when my four years were up. You would have done well in the Corps. Basic Recruit training is actually the easiest part. Life in the FMF in peacetime is a chore. Definitely stays with you if you deploy to a combat theater as an Infantryman. You feel that gap in your life when you decide to sit down as a freshman on day one of class. I had a GED. I became a teacher. Life is good. Great interview. SF
@@reddiver7293 yeah, that’s also a nagging regret too - maybe once I got off the bus at Paris Island the D.I.s / esprit de corps might have changed my mind but alas, I can’t go back. I did ask my helicopter pilot cousin what he thought about joining the army around that time as they were taking anyone it seemed up till 43 or something. He looked at me rather coldly and said, Mike, man… you definitely don’t want to be in the army. I still don’t know what he meant by that but the dude was Uber competent and I believed him. Oh well… next life, I guess. All that said, thanks for steppin up, brother.
This man has a solid heart this here is what a real man looks like kind caring and prepared for what ever it takes for the men he leads all the possible respect a man can have for another thank you bro your men and you made and make us proud beyond the ability to convey to you thank you sir salute
This guy is a fucking Legend and amazing LEADER! Just from hearing his story, they don’t make Leaders like this anymore. He literally left recruiting duty to go to his recruits unit, who was KIA. Speechless
It was a pleasure listening to this well spoken man talk about some of his experiences as a combat Marine. A raw unfiltered account of what he saw and what he was thinking at the time as well as how it affected him later. Men like this are the strength of America.
“I’m in the middle of a mine field brother” DAMN! Really can’t even imagine that. Sheesh man. My heart goes out to all the vets man. Including both my parents. Combat vets deserve a lot more
He’s one of the main reasons why I pursued infantry in the Marine Corps 2014 1/3 lava dogs!
He was the head recruiter at the time I was joining the Poole program.
I had the honor of serving with Gunny Praxedes for a couple days at the time he was an E6. From what I remember one of the best, humblest and funniest Marines I had the pleasure of working with. He left a positive impression on me as a young E5 in a short amount of time. Glad to see him doing well randomly on the internet.
Semper Fi brother
Thank you for being a fucking man among men.
🙏💪🫡
This interview left me speechless. I have so much respect for all those who have served especially ones who were deployed and fought. I’m enlisting in the corps, I want to be alongside these men fighting with them. Thank you for service for all marines.
Thank you for watching brother 🙏🏼
This is one of the heaviest interview's i've ever seen. Thank you both for sharing.
Yes it really is. This was incredibly powerful, heavy, and so courageous. We're honored to share Thomas' story.
man if you love this channels content you should check out "The Shawn Ryan Show,"
It's always been tough sledding to be Marine Infantry (GRUNT). I did that as a 0311 two years. I noticed over the years your luck is based on your depoyments, once your done training. If you are deployed with a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) in the wrong place, wrong time, you can get into really bad stuff and you gotta take brothers home to their parents from Dover Air Force Base. Taking my best friend home, in a casket, was toughest thing i ever did
@@brucepeckham6043 Thanks for your service brother. I just hope you are doing OK.
Dude I need on this channel. We lost 8 guys one day to a 2000 pound IED in Afghanistan in 2009. It was the most horrific thing I ever saw in my life. And the smell of burning flesh of Americans made me pass out I was 19 years old. 1-17in 2nd sbct cco 2 platoon
so get in contact with him then
Do you know a guy named Isaiah beckham?
5/2 Punishers!
@@TaMaoLeMaNuLuA strike and destroy second to none
@@Stonewallgaston Buffalos!
I wish the politicians would watch interviews like this before sending men to war, and before pulling out of the places they fought for.
A nice sentiment but the PPL that rule over America consider PPL like this Marine fools and pawns.
They wouldn't care even of they did know amd most of the time they do know. They don't give a fuck
I would say a qualification for politicians should be to serve 4yr Minimum.
Nah they just stack $ while soldiers die for no reason. 20 years in the east on a lie and americans ate it up. It won't change.
Other peoples kids deaths don't bother them. As long as it doesn't bother the money they make from invading countries.
That's a Marine warfighter, 110 proof. I can relate to everything he says, 55 years after my own tour in the Corps. We are timeless, as Marine combatants. Stay in touch with the Marine inside you, Gunny - it's an integral part of you, a source of strength when you need it. God bless you, man. Live your life in part honor of those who are gone too soon, you're keeping them alive in memory. To be forgotten is like being left behind on the battlefield.
Civilian here. Interesting to read combat veterans' words of wisdom.
"Once a marine always a marine " Leroy Jethro gibbs
Agreed 100 percent
Marines never leave anyone from their units on a battlefield after a fight. If Infantry can't get them out they will send Recon teams at night to pull them out
The stories are eye opening! Fascinating.
I couldn’t have more respect for this Devil Dog. As a fellow Marine I couldn’t be prouder. Semper Fi
Thank you so much for your support and your service!
I’m 100% disabled veteran who served in the United States Air Force during operation desert storm. You my friend are a hero.
Appreciate it 🤙🏼
I served in Vietnam in 1968 / 69 3rd Battalion L company 1/5. I fought at the Battle of Hue City. I was 17 years old at the time and didn't know shit. I'd been involved in a couple of small actions But Hue city was my wake up call. Urban combat is no fucking joke. The enemy, VC and Nva were in prepared fighting position and they took it to us. Without air support we'd of been fucked. Lost a lot of buddies in that action. It was close to 150 Kia and over 1,000 wounded. Not a day goes by that I don't think of my buddies and that God awful battle I can relate to everything this young warrior is saying. Semper Fi brother.
Thanks for service , I appreciate it
Maybe you Marines and other branches of the US should be more appreciative of your Air force big brain brothers then.
And Space force since they're the youngest branch.
@@LB-uo7xy1% of the air force is like that now straight geeks. marines go through hell on the ground in the front
@@LB-uo7xythanks chair force big brothers for 10000 of you doing HAM radio shit wearing Kevlar for every 1 person in the air doing something. you gotta be fucking kidding me
This man is an incredible American. Thank God he has been able to find meaning and purpose after these traumatic life changing experiences.
100%
SEMPER FIDELIS THOMAS thank you for words and your time spent I'm greatful for its gonna help me bear the weight of the issues still troubling me and boost my positive needs of pride of my marine crops values I've held on to for good in my life time it was the greatest time of my life
this has been one of the most brutal interviews i’ve heard on this channel.
i wanted to be a marine growing job but i took a different path and wrong choices, but i would’ve loved for the opportunity to serve my country in the military. thank you for your service!!!
Your support brother means a lot to us. Thank you 🤙🏼🇺🇸👊🏼
Wow. I “met” him through IG during the Afghanistan pullout trying to get out translators, allies, ANA etc. Such a great, great man. He NEVER gave up, literally I don’t think he slept for a solid two weeks. He helped SO many. I’m so glad to hear his full story here.
Hogan was a damn good man. You wouldn’t remember me man, but we were the trackers attached to y’all in Sangin, patrolling the 605. They wouldn’t bring tracks to afghan due to the safer MRAPs so we just attached to y’all. I was with Baker the day he stepped on the IED that took his life after leaving OP Brannon. That day still haunts me. I was medivaced in October after my 3rd hit, but those 5 months with y’all are the proudest days of my life. Semper fi brother.
Hey brother, I was in charge of PB Fleming on the 605 just south of what we called the Manchin. It was at the Bazaar, I had 4 of your guys attached to me and we took yalls interpreter Sam. I still talk with Sam to this day. David Baker was a great man and my best friend. I didn't know Hogan like that since he was in Alpha, but I heard he was the same as David, and they both went out saving the brothers around them. Which group of guys were you attached to? And could you help me find the guys attached to me?
Hi, I’m Canadian 🇨🇦❤️🇺🇸 God Bless this man & God Bless Our Troops.
Dude I couldn’t listen to it anymore. I’m so proud that there getting these videos out there I hope it keeps on going but god dam.
Your being a little dramatic... I can hear it jus fine
I'm sorry I've misunderstood what you said I thought you were complaining about the audio but maybe instead you mean how heavy this episode was
Gunny praxedes!! one of the greatest human beings i have ever met and known!
Every morsel of respect that I can offer goes to this man
Agreed
What an amazing young man
This was an amazing interview. Hearing all of this makes me super proud to have been in the Marine Corps and to have been around men of this caliber. I also got a kick out of hearing him talk about hitting the fleet when older seniors were still wearing BDUs instead of Marpat... I got to the fleet around the same time and chuckled a bit when he brought it up.
I was with 3/3 Comm platoon. 2003-2007. We lost 3 Comm brothers and 1 Motor T brother during our Iraq 2006 deployment in Haditha, Iraq. I didn't witness their deaths in person, but I made sure to never forget the greatness and influencethey'veleft upon me. I now live my life in their honor and make it a personal mission that their legacy is told to people that ask about my military past.
Gone, but not forgotten.
May these stores never be lost. This is true history.
Man this one was heavy .... May those marines rest well, thank you for your service n dedication...
I am going to try to listen to all of them. I can't thank you guys enough for your service.
So I did my tour in Nangarhar province from August of 2010 to 2011 (101st), "The Surge." Some of the things he said confirmed my experiences as well, especially about the Iraq enemy being the JV squad and the Afghans being the Varsity. It was my first and only deployment, but most of our guys had multiple deployments, we had a Samoan guy on #7. About Two months in one of our section sergeants, on his 4th tour after three in Iraq, looked off into the distance with wide eyes and said to himself: "...I thought the Iraqis were bad..."
I too at least initially, walked around with candy in my pockets for the kids...that all stopped. I remember one time in particular, our platoon was rolling between two hills (MRAPs) and there were some stones and garbage in the narrow road which caused us to slow down and move around them. As we did, some kids appeared at the top of one of the hills and bombarded us with large rocks when our dismounts got out to move the road blocks. I just remember thinking: "these little fuckers are practicing to be future Taliban, and they're practicing their ambushing skills." +
I had some of the exact same experiences as this guy in terms of monitoring the kids. The kids would tell you everything you needed to know about the village.
I am haunted still by what one of our terps told me: "What you are doing here will never work, you are too nice and my people only understand violence." What are we supposed to do? Kill you all?
Our intel guys let us down, we never really understood that place or how complicated it was. Cultural relativism has no place there, if you think every culture is equally good and beautiful go to this poop-hole for a year, it will cure you. I would love to send all the hippies and lefties there for a year so they can gain a better understanding of how lucky we all are to not live there, or a place like that. Maybe then, they will have a little less loathing for their country. I now wake up every day and thank God for my good fortune.
If there is a more complicated place on earth, I wouldn't know where that would be. What those people do to themselves is worse than whatever we did to them.
Best comment, my husband says the same after OEF.
Man, your very last sentence is so true. They’re very complicated and it’s a completely different society there. Violence is a part of their daily lives
@bjw9529 So bizarre to me that humans can be so hostile, with apparently no care of life. These are not Humans.
I'm pissed.
My buddy pretty much told me the same. He said having to deal openly with pedos pissed him off to no end.
⛩
One of the best listen to's.....my unit was a reserve unit that participated in Phantom Fury....Bravo 1/23. Cajuns...attached to 3rd LAR Wolf Pack....we were lucky to not have KIA...we had WIA's...Alpha Co & Charlie Co had KIA's...but i know friends that were KIA's & WIA's from other units. It bothers me that i left Iraq not losing a digit...it bothers me...but we all keep marching...stay strong for your family & fellow Marines.....i miss my Corps....i pray for peace but always prepared for war....that never goes away..... Thanks Gunny P!
Semper Fidelis
I wasn’t a grunt, and my experience in Iraq wasn’t nearly as bad as the stories told here. It’s men like him, that make me even more proud of being a Marine. Semper Fi.
Brother, your service was equally valuable. Don’t sell yourself short. You answered the call!
Same
@@camc8879 no it was not this is the lie everyone needs to stop telling pogs this your just lying to them & they already know this.
Goosebumps man. Goosebumps. I can only aspire to lead a life of selfless service and to the greater good of my fellow brothers and sisters in this world. Just like you and all of your marines and veterans who stood 10 toes down in the face of death and did what had to be done. I am not a marine or a veteran of any sort but my family served in ww1, ww2, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. But I will always remember what my ancestors have sacrificed to afford me and my peers the freedoms to live the life that we live.🙏🙏
❤
That was deep and emotional man. Excellent interview!
Thanks so much! We appreciate your support!
When are young marines go to learn they can not earn respect by using filthy language, vietnam marine.
Heroes all.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
Thankyou
Thanks!
Wow Dave, thank you so much! That’s so awesome of you! We appreciate it 🙏
Man this resonated with me so much. It reminds me of my time in southern Afghanistan in 2012. I only did 6 years, Army EOD, but everything you said about during and after your deployment is just so true. Thanks for being brave enough to share.
The reverse psychology of the Corps is absolutely true. I walked into the recruiter and he said “What can you do for us today?”
I walked in and the recruiter told marine recruiter told me to get the hell out so I went to the army 😭😭
Thats actually genius thinking about it..its like business marketing..but instead of selling the idea..your making them questio. Why they are DESERVING of the idea..if you get my drift. The pen example from Wolf of wall street, except reversed and bringing the business to them lol
I love Marine Corps recruiting. They wanna see a loser become a marine. They'll do anything for the recruit!
What a exceptional man. There is still hope for our country because it produces guys like you. Thank you Marine, Semper Fi.
It’s crazy to hear the stories straight from a guy in the unit that relieved us in 2010. I still remember the day that 1stSgt Carlisle got wounded. Sangin was a hell of a fight.
Oct 09 thru May of 2010 amd I will agree. I did the push thru Marjah with 3/10 arty
I remember him from bootcamp. He was our first Sgt. Sad to hear he passed away
@@thebeachguy6697🫡 rah
He was my senior di in 04. Great fucking man. I'll never forget him. RIP brother
@thebeachguy6697 what unit and who did you relieve?
Semper Fi Gunny Praxedes and thank you for your service to this country and all of us! What you endured, saw, and did is beyond normal comprehension. Your bravery and your Marines dedication and bravery to stay on task and in the fight speaks volumes of you all.
One heck of a leader and Marine. Semper Fi
💯
Thanks for bringing us this Marines story.
Thank you Sir for all you did and continue to do 🙏 I pray you live a long prosperous life God bless you ! I’m Canadian 🇨🇦 and thank god for the Marines everyday
I was never in the military, but man I can listen to these stories all day! Thank you everyone who is serving or has ever served for your service! Thank you!
I’ve watched this interview twice now. This is an awesome man and proud to have men like this that has sacrificed so much for all of us in this country.
Thank you for your service. Love to hear when our vets are crushing it. Keep doing what your doing and I pray more blessings upon you.
What an amazing story. Thank you
THanks for the support!
Thank you brother
Much respect. I'm a vet also. I missed combat by a very short time. Always felt I wasn't worthy of being called a vet until a cousin of mine who did 2 tours in Afghanistan sat down and talked.
If you were a grunt even in no combat, there is no going back to normal for most. You’ll be always be an overly aggressive, mean, stupid, rock eater deep deep down. The worst part is… we don’t want to go back to normal. Life is better this way. But is it? Can’t speak for other MOS but I imagine it’s very close.
What an incredible interview. I must say I watch a lot of vets speaking on these podcasts and they are all good and all important. This one was riveting.
Man. So much respect. Amazing. Thank you sir for your service and sacrifice. God bless you
Thomas you are awesome thank you and your fellow marines for keeping us American citizens safe. God bless you all. R.I.P to all who died.
🙏
Holy smokes! The stories this warrior has, absolutely amazing. I felt like I was right there with him. God bless all of our service members (past, present, future). Semper Fi brother!! 🇺🇲💪👊
Damn Brother, What an intense session. Iim sweating w tears. Blows my mind what Marines do.
Thank you ALL !
Outstanding interview
Thanks so much 🙏
So I’m a civilian. Always have been, never served, but I a lot of family who did. I found your channel a week or two ago, I just want to say that ever since then, I haven’t watched anything else besides this channel. I sit at my civilian Job making gas tanks for the big 3. Binging these stories. I watched probably about 30-45 videos so far. I just want to say from the bottom of my heart. Thank you to our soldiers who sacrificed to make sure our country was being protected. Also shoutout to your families and also the fallen soldiers. The drill instructor Randall is one of my favorite interviews. You can tell he’s a great guy. And his quote at the end is very true and I’m very appreciative of that. “Millions of Americans lay in bed and sleep peacefully every night because of rough gentlemen ready to do violence on their behalf” thank you guys very much. ❤
Thank you for your service and I wish you a happy rest of your life.
Appreciate that brother🙏🏼 wishing you a happy life as well 🤙🏼
The basics are the most important lessons learned. Thank you for your service
Thank you and all Veterans for their service 🙏 be safe
Thank you so much Thomas for sharing and your service. I would love to be your friend if I ever got a chance to meet or talk to you. I wish you all the best in life.
Love you Sgt P. You got me into the corps. I didn't come to you, you found me and I thank you.
This guy is a very strong man, I'm in awe. You def make your people and fellow marines proud.
Wow! The most remarkable, heart wrenching, incredible interview. This man is amazing. Much respect to him.
You only look 18 bro. Thanks for your service. Excellent story✌️
Dude is pure badass. And even has a badass Marine name....Gunnery Sergeant Thomas Praxedes.
Yeah that is a cool name
Yes indeed!
Thanks for sharing this story. I was never in the military, but I would follow this guy into a fight if I had to, and probably even if I didn't have to. I used to think when I was younger that people who signed up were foolish, and maybe in way they are, but it's impossible for me not to have respect for this kind of composure, responsibility, and directed seriousness. To show up in his recruit's stead is a legendary and redemptive move.
You nailed it gunny,I did two hitches,back in 79-86,cold war,but even then,we did it the same way,sweat in peace,when I got out,I started my own construction company,30 years,retired at 55,semper Fi!
Much respect and love brother! Wow, I had tears a couple of times.!
His kindness as a Marine, you'll follow him. This story hurts bad. Him knowing the guy who died, he brought in. IT HITS HARDER.
love listening to these while im doing stuff on my computer
We appreciate your support big time! Thank you!
Amazing interview. Really hits home. I went to Saddleback for nursing school and grew up in Mission Viejo. Thank you for your service. God bless you.
This is one of the better videos of a combat Marine's experience that I've seen...... much respect to this Marine and thank you for sharing!
Very inspiring. Thank you gentlemen
Praxedes. Phenomenal. An American Warrior. The best of a generation. Thank you, truly. God bless. 🇺🇸
The honor of being a Marine that no one could take away.
Yes!
@@UrbanValorTV fuiI
Wow!! This hit so hard!! Articulated so well I fell it. 🙏🏽❤️
Great stories. Thank you for your service!
Thank you Gunny Praxedes for these planet sized stones you carry in your heart on my behalf- I’m humbled by your generosity as well as your bravery, and thanks for your stories so well told 🙏🏾
Awesome interview! This gentleman is First Class. Thank you for getting to tell his story!!
This brother saw it all. Some crazy experiences. He could tell some doozys as a recruiter. (But recruiting young men who died in war is super heavy.)
He sure did David! Thanks so much for watching and commenting! We appreciate it!
Deeply grateful for you and to you ❤️
Pretty cool hearing each veterans account of these key battles. You start to connect the dots "oh okay hes talking about him" and so on and so forth. Love the content! Ive been up my weekend from work just binge watching. I cant get enough. This channel needs more exposure in the mainstream, WAY more exposure. I always wished to enlist. Just got in way to much trouble😔 in my younger years. It sucks knowing so many of our own heroes have passed on. Fucking sucks. These are the real heroes!
Wow... A powerful interview thank you for letting us in your life & your experience. For your service. To those Men and women who didn't make it back home, Always remembered never forgotten 🙏🏾 TRUE HEROS
Much respect to you and your Marines brother! Pray the best for you and yours! Semper Fidelis to you and the Marines you served with!
Powerful stuff, God bless you Gunny. Semper Fi.
Thomas thank you for serving our great country you are so greatly appreciated. Your story is amazing you have the utmost respect for the Corps, for those you served with and those that made the ultimate sacrifice. I wish the people that are trying to destroy everything that makes our country so great would listen to you and others that served and the sacrifices made so that they can voice their opinions at the same they have no clue what its like to see your a killed or to suffer the physical and emotional scares of combat. I have a hardtime for those that don't stand up for our flag or any disrespect to our flag period. You are a great inspiration, your humble, your very respectiful you are great American. I wish you the best and I know you'll do well in whatever you want in life. You are a hero, thank you once again and your a great American God Bless you.
Thank you very very much for your service.
Thanks for sharing and thank you for your service.
I’m speechless with his story god bless them
Thank you for your service. And for narrating experiences for a civilian like me that has absolutely no concept of what you and your fellow Marines braved. Respect and gratitude is all I have to offer. Which feels inadequate. But thank you. On behalf of all Americans safe within our borders. Thank you.
Always regretted not joining up after missing max enlistment age in 01. But then I see these guys who’ve been in the shit and realize that I would have been of little service. No way I could go on after a day like that dude had. Respect, brother.
I like where you're coming from. Humility, respect and gratitude. But I can't help but wonder how many fresh recruits may have the same doubts you describe. And how boot camp and training forges something inside a man he did not know he had.
Mad respect from this civilian.
I enlisted and left for Parris Island 6 weeks after turning 17. I flew in with someone who was a week away from being too old. His maturity helped him, as it did those who enlisted at ages such as 22, 25, 26, etc. Their experiences before the Corps were always interesting. Being placed in a billet that required them to follow my orders did feel odd. I was Infantry. I had just help place a KIA down that I knew very well, when I realized that I was going to college when my four years were up. You would have done well in the Corps. Basic Recruit training is actually the easiest part. Life in the FMF in peacetime is a chore. Definitely stays with you if you deploy to a combat theater as an Infantryman. You feel that gap in your life when you decide to sit down as a freshman on day one of class. I had a GED. I became a teacher. Life is good.
Great interview. SF
@@michaelsinclair7253 Wow, Mike. Well said. Thanks for your service and the stones it took to do your duty. I hope you continue to thrive.
@@reddiver7293 yeah, that’s also a nagging regret too - maybe once I got off the bus at Paris Island the D.I.s / esprit de corps might have changed my mind but alas, I can’t go back. I did ask my helicopter pilot cousin what he thought about joining the army around that time as they were taking anyone it seemed up till 43 or something. He looked at me rather coldly and said, Mike, man… you definitely don’t want to be in the army. I still don’t know what he meant by that but the dude was Uber competent and I believed him. Oh well… next life, I guess. All that said, thanks for steppin up, brother.
@@xWIREDOGx
Good fortune to you, my brother.
You truly are a leader and embody the corps thank you for the motivation to drive on. I’ll never forget…
This man has a solid heart this here is what a real man looks like kind caring and prepared for what ever it takes for the men he leads all the possible respect a man can have for another thank you bro your men and you made and make us proud beyond the ability to convey to you thank you sir salute
Thank you for your service sir
For all who served I thank you!
🙏🏼 appreciate the support 🇺🇸
This guy is a fucking Legend and amazing LEADER! Just from hearing his story, they don’t make Leaders like this anymore. He literally left recruiting duty to go to his recruits unit, who was KIA. Speechless
Powerful interview
Thank you for sharing your story, Sir.
Thank you for sharing your experiences.
thank you for volunteering to serve. war truly is hell
What an incredible Marine!!! May the lord continue to guide you through your journey of healing and life 🙏…Thank you for your service!!!!🙏
A life so beyond my reality, it might as well be a film. Amazing to hear. My respect and awe for these guys cannot be described.
It was a pleasure listening to this well spoken man talk about some of his experiences as a combat Marine. A raw unfiltered account of what he saw and what he was thinking at the time as well as how it affected him later. Men like this are the strength of America.
“I’m in the middle of a mine field brother” DAMN! Really can’t even imagine that. Sheesh man. My heart goes out to all the vets man. Including both my parents. Combat vets deserve a lot more
Love hearing these stories of my brothers!! SemperFI