Step Up To Challenges Podcast

Iraq war veteran Eduardo Leon joins us today to talk about his early life growing up poor and in a traditional Mexican family,  multiple deployments,  getting IED, his post military struggles with depression, anxiety and substance abuse and how he pulled himself out from the darkness. 0:00 – Beginning / Introduction 6:42 – Eduardo Leon – Air Force Veteran 9:04 – Born in Hayward CA and early life. 12:00 -Now living in Salinas 23:00 -Wanted to be a Cop and SWAT 30:00 -Joined the Airforce & shipping out 40:00 -Air Force Security Forces Academy 49:00 -Back home from training – August 2001 a month before attacks on Sept 11, 2001 50:00 -1st Reserve Drill weekend.  Unit activated 2 days later. 1:01:00 – Dec 2002 – 1st Deployment to Kuwait 1:18:00 – Back home but volunteers for deployment to Kyrgyzstan in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. 1:26:00 – Finally Deploying to Iraq to Camp Victory…..Route Irish, Abu Grave, Green Zone & more 1:44:00 – Surviving an IED Blast as a Turret Gunner. 2:06:00 – Coming Home