Jan 29, 2022
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Today we hear the remarkable Combat Story of Derek Herrera, a
former Marine Special Operator who led Marines in Iraq, Haiti, the
Middle East and Afghanistan.
While on a MARSOC operation in Afghanistan, he was shot and
paralyzed.
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Derek is another one of these guys that just makes you feel lazy
and that he has more time in a day than you do.
Rather than give up after being injured, he medically retired from
the Corps and has achieved significant success while continuing to
serve others.
He’s the President of the Board of Directors of the Marine Raider
Foundation, Chairman of the Board of MedTechVets, founder of Habit
Camera and UroDev Medical (formerly Spinal Singularity), a keynote
speaker, and host of the FORWARD podcast.
Derek is the real deal who spends all his time putting others ahead
of himself and I know you’ll enjoy his inspiring Combat Story as
much as I did.
Find Derek Online:
His Linktree has a ton of online links: https://linktr.ee/derekherrera
Instagram @derek_herrera https://www.instagram.com/derek_herrera/?hl=en
LinkedIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/derekherrera/
Find Ryan Online:
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Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial
Email ryan@combatstory.com
Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus
Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle
Show Notes
0:00 - Intro
0:41 - Guest introduction (Derek Herrera)
1:37 - Interview begins
3:31 - Having an entrepreneurial spirit since childhood
9:32 – A military family and wanting to be a Navy Seal
13:28 - The Navy Seal selection process and not making it
21:08 - Mindset going into the Marine Corps
28:06 - First deployment primarily doing raids in Iraq
40:23 - A full-circle moment helping the Navy Seals as a Marine
45:11 - Deciding to go the Special Ops route in the Marines
53:52 - First and only deployment as Special Operator in
Afghanistan and what his missions were like
1:04:58 Combat Story – The operation that changed his life and left
him paralyzed from the chest down
1:12:58 - Reaction to learning he was paralyzed and how he found a
way to stay in military
1:18:53 - Deciding to transition out of the military and finding
passion and purpose in business
1:27:44 – The Marine Raider Foundation
1:35:18 - What did you carry into combat?
1:37:24 - Would you do it all again?
1:39:44 - Listener comments and shout outs