Forged in Chaos: Tyler Gray on the Hidden Battles of Warriors

From the front lines of counterterrorism to the long, difficult journey of recovery, Tyler Gray — former Delta Force operator and author of Forged in Chaos: A Warrior’s Origin Story — shares a raw, unfiltered look at the internal wars veterans fight long after combat ends. Gray introduces a new theory that challenges the traditional PTSD label, arguing that many warriors are not dealing with “post”-traumatic stress, but rather the lifelong impact of being forged in chaos and shattered in peace. He opens up about the night in Sadr City that changed everything, his grueling recovery, and the shortcomings of the VA system that mirror flaws across the broader U.S. healthcare system. This powerful conversation peels back the curtain on the hidden costs of service, resilience, and redefining what it means to survive.