I can relate to this. I was raised in a gang oriented home and at 10 years old joined the same hood as my dad and family. 26 years in and out and drug addiction. Got myself out and tomorrow 4 years sober amd have a son and wife. Changing isn't easy. Praise to this man

I grew up in East L.A. raised by a single mother working several jobs at a time to support me and my sister. I used to see the gang members in my neighborhood and that’s the last things I wanted to be. I studied hard to graduate hight school, joined the Navy after hight school and college after my 4 years in the Navy. It was my mother’s greatest fear that I would become a gang member but I made a promised to her that I would not be one and I kept that promise.

Very inspiring Story. As a Former Gang Member myself I am so Proud of this Man. May God continue to Bless him.

Similar story to my life. Gangs, Drugs felt like no way out joined the ARMY. Now I’m an airline pilot.

I was a at risk kid back in 2006-07 with all the gang shit going on around me & my friends. We fell into it but we had this one guy who was a former gang member who was always at school to calm things down, he was always there for us & took us outside of the city sometimes to get away from everything. I’m 32 now & I wanna thank him so much for everything he did for us kids. Some of us made it out some didn’t. He was murdered 2 years ago at his home in front of his wife & kids. He was shot over 10 times. RIP my friend 🙏🏽 Thank you 4 everything you did for us kids. RIP

I moved from an area known for its gangs when I found out I was pregnant in hopes to keep my kids safe from that life. I think this is such a great success story that kids need to hear. I think it’s a book that middle schoolers and high schoolers should have to read. It’s never too late to start doing better for yourself.

"No matter where you come from, you can still succeed" 🇺🇲♥️🙏 Very TRUE words. Thank you for your service Raul.

I grew up in the same neighborhood (a few years older than he) and with the same circumstances as Raul. A lot of my friends growing up ended up becoming Florencia 13 members from the original Malditos and many of the other ones in the area. Many are in prison, are deported and some, unfortunately, are dead. It wasn't easy for any of us but I was lucky to be around some adults (teachers, neighbors) that saw potential in me and inspire me to become a better person. I still go back to visit a lot of my childhood friends back home. I commend Raul for turning his life around. He inspires me to be a better person.

I salute this vato .... he is a great inspiration... myself went from running on the streets to now working towards my masters in Social work

I highly recommend his book, he's truly an inspiration.

Truly inspiring to me I’m 16 years old and was jumped into play boy surenos when I was 13 but now I plan on joining the navy seals as soon as I graduate high school

Proud of you my boy! Seen it all go down since day 1. Continued success!!!

Very proud of this man for changing his life as former gang member back 90 we did a lot of stupid things thinking gangs were are family I will always be an og but my new life I spend fishing and hunting and doing real family stuff with out having to look over my back

Yes I also grew up in the 90$ in east LA Boyle hts. The lifestyle and culture was gang life. I also am in the process of helping the youth that had no parental guidance that we all needed. I also take care of mentally challenged for 16 years now. I was also a former gang member that grew up with no positive influential guidance. Thank God for the doors he opens up for us when we think there’s only a dark tunnel. There is light!!!❤️🙏👆💯

That’s amazing. So glad he transformed his life cause gangs is just not the way. Thank you for this amazing story.

I also can relate to this mans story. My daughter changed my life and it still is a everyday battle but it opened my eyes. Jail/prison is not fun and not where I wanna be. Well done brother!

This is so familiar! I have a friend who became a gang member in SD , but got out by going into the Navy. He is now a Master Chief.

I grew up in the Florence neighborhood and it was bad too in the 70s and 80s ..still have family there and good friends. It's what path you take in life. Happy to hear he moved up and doing well. Congratulations 😊

I love that guy he went from a ruff life to an positive life God 🙏 bless him.

This is a very interesting story. I’m glad I watched this video. I’m a teacher assistant who has seen things similar to that. Glad to be making a difference in people’s lives, just like Raul is

What an amazing story! I’m sure he has inspired hundreds, if not thousands of at-risk youth, to try for a better way of life. Much respect to him and those with similar life stories.

This is the best story I have ever read on the internet. I can't wait to read his book. Thank you for serving our country, thank you for sharing your life story. I wish I had the funds to buy a million copies of his book and pass them out to as much barrios as possible. May God continue to bless you and your family, with upmost respect from Rancho Cucamonga, California

You always do a great job telling these bios. I have learned so much and enjoyed all of them. On a side note, I could listen to your voice forever. It's so beautiful 🥰

It’s great to hear another person changing their life around. It gives reality to the words “Life is what you make of it”

That's a hell of a story, to get out of the Florencia 13 gang probably was one of the most difficult things to due, I can imagine the peer pressure to get out and change his life

A Real OG is not being part of Gang life -a Real OG is when you get up and work hard for your familia and take care of who truly value you .

Been rocking w/ ya since the jump appreciate all the great content 🔥Real authentic OG channel salute ya frm Midwest 🙏🏾

I gotta say I was not expecting him to change his life around. What an incredible story that unfortunately doesn’t happen more often. My stepdad and his brothers were gang related, but I was never interested in that lifestyle.

Another soul saved - truly inspiring .

I’m happy that Raul turned his life around…this should be a message to young youth in trouble in LA and all across the country

Love this video, I wish their were stories like this one.

Gang life = no life...

God bless this vato. Definitely my respects. It takes a man to do what he did. Help the Raza in the hood change. We need more positive influence like this man.

I enjoyed this. Ty

What an amazing story. Gang life is so hard to get away from. He made the best decision ever right there when he left. He went and made something out of his life. ❤

Amazing shit man. Very inspiring. Much respect n luv✨🤜🤛

Thanks for sharing 🙏🏾 Prayers out for Raul 🕊️ Prayers out for others in similar positions 🕊️

nice work bro...

Hey Brown brother Raul , just wanted to send you the respect and props you so much deserve , I grew up the same way in the same general area, only difference was I had four sisters and we were a lot poorer !, And one of my sisters whom had been a run away, was one day found under a house in Bell Gardens, she had been raped and strangled , 3 days after her 19th birthday. I was about 12 or 13 yrs old (1982) and was just getting into the varrio, after being a lil stoner. When is got out of juvi campo, and after a placement I was released from juvi ( Eastlake Central ) and picked up by my mom's, with a clean slate to adulthood at 18 yrs old; first thing I did was went over to Huntington Parks Recruiting office on Pacific Blvd. And began my enlistment I to the United States Navy myself, but In between my ASBAB test & Basic Training I'd got into trouble again with a girlfriend and homie and picked up a DUI which they were I recall trying to make into a hit and run because I was half way out of the car and my homie had already ran from the scene.....back then you were pretty much out with the military for ANY BAD CONDUCT ! My hopes and dreams of one day flying a jet fighter were shattered ! My life went the way yours probably would of had you not of joined , I'd spent the next 34 years in and out of jails and some the worst prisons Calif. Has or had at the time about 15 prisons out of Californias 33. Folsom, Soledad, Tracy, Tehachapi, CMC-West, Chino - East, West, Central and MSF-Min, Corcoran (2x), Chuckwalla, Ironwood, Calipatria, High Desert , Susanville, CRC - Norco, ......ect..... So in a sense, I've also become a Master Chief but not on the better side of life, although I can at least be thankful to the Homie up above that I'm not dead or have faced life inside without a date .....you made the Best Choice , and it has definitely paid off .....I wish is for much of our own race to do the same while they have the chance , and not just to enlist, but better choices in general and since we are no longer a minority, use this present era to bring up others with the same respect and consideration for the future and our children so that they might live a better life in peace with other races. Also Raul, I had lived with my oldest sister at the time of our sisters death on Middleton and Gage Ave and had went to Gage Jr High back when the jerseys would sport our hoods on them from the t shirt stores on Pacific Blvd, Florencia, A Big 18 numbered in loud colors , hairnets and Tres Flores, Stacy Adams and old timers.....the Blvd on Whittier was a regular thing ..... Stay Strong!!!

Badass story! Raul is an inspiration! Def checking out the book

First to say love your content and channel!

Great video, truly an inspiration! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Amazing! Love to see people changing for the better. Thats why I say there are absolutely NO EXCUSES to turn your life around. If you truly want help, there are people who want to help. ITS UP TO YOU TO MAKE THE FIRST MOVE🙌

This is a great story, we need more good content like this. I went through something similar.

I too was a knucklehead. My children and the Army changed my life!

That Navy boot camp picture is my division that's crazy division 242 that was 1998

Great encouraging and motivational life story with informative and soothing narration califaces. Change only comes if you want it for yourself, I know its hard coming from an environment with high crime rate, gangs, drugs etc. Feeling lost having no hope, avoiding being another statistic. Born and bred in Cali here, anyone going through it remember this, "from grey skies come blue Through darkness comes light" - Guru Gangstarr

Amazing story. Finally something with a positive message and happy ending. Thanks for sharing.

I was courted into F13 at gage high at 13 it was it was normal age getting into F13 in the 80ts I survived by always working and staying away from hard drugs but I will always love Florencia

What a beautiful ending with this story. oh my gosh! When you were telling the story, with reluctancy, I could not imagine what the ending would have been. I thought he would have gotten killed or something extremely negative happened to him; but it turned out to be an extremely positive ending for him! YAY!. what a wonderful role model he has become. And what a wonderful teacher he is to others in his past situation.

More power to you my brown brother it's always good to see stories like this

Hearing his story brought tears to my eyes!😢❤

IF RAUL CAN BE A MAN AN CHANGE FROM GANG MEMBER TO THE BEST ANYONE CAN IT'S CALLED LOVE YOURSELF AN PROVE TO BE BETTER. MIJO YOU REALLY DESERVE A MAJOR AWARD🥰🙏👍 GREAT JOB

Amazing cant wait to read the book!

Awesome story as some one who lives in that area and has family from Florencia I never heard of him . Gave me goosebumps that he made it to MasterChief 🔥💪 🙌

What a beautiful testimony, may God continue to be a great man and to b bless to reach out and help others, gang members or ppl struggling in life..with much love and respect ❤🙏

I should be getting his book next week.its crazy how he turned his life around to gang banger to becoming a higher level in the navy.and also a gang member to be accepted in the military that's very rare.

This shows you if you have all that passion directed in the right place you can change lives in a positive way

Proud to have served along side him on our last deployment together. Great mentor!

Wow very emotional. Great to see you made it out safely not everyone did and it was nice to see koopa and yuk are in those photos memories of the 90s

Good stuff 👍🏼. Proof that anyone who out here in these streets banging can change their lives around and make something better for themselves.

Such an inspirational story!!! It shows you don't have to be a product of your environment, but become a product of your decisions.

Inspiring. What a great way to pay it forward.

Good work

we need more stories like these on here! s/o to u!!!!

Great story !GOOD TO SEE SOMETHING SO BAD GO SO RIGHT !

I joined a gang at 13 thank you for sharing 🙏🏽

Gonna buy the book right now.

Great story. I wish I had the opportunity to go back in time and stay away from gangs and drugs. This is a book that should be in all jails and prisons. I would have adhered to it I was in my late 20's.

that surreal moment having to pause the video on the OG pictures to see if you recognize any of your relatives.

Very positive story, thank you.

I REALLY Hope they make a movie out of this story...CANT WAIT

❤ love this!

I love his story and I love reading the stories of others in the comments. ❤❤

I grew up poor around gangs in SoCal. I'm around the same age as him and didn't live far from where he grew up. I ended up joining the Army and I retired a few years ago. I'm glad he decided to change his life, not enough do. You either accept what life has handed you or you take control your life.

Great job bro awesome life story

Someone once told me “ the world can be as big as you want it to be, or as small as your hood.”

My name is Raul and when they said he changed his life at 17 when his daughter was born I started tripping haha I have similar story but I’m no where near as hardcore as this guy 💪

Ese to master jefe sounds like a great book it takes a lot of courage and dedication not to mention self discipline to get as far as Raul did I want to read that book experience is the best teacher.

I’m glad he changed!!! He was soo young and naive to turn to the gangs but I’m glad he opened his eyes !! 👏👏👏

That's awesome I didn't expect this outcome that's a great story God bless

Shout to the homie Raul , became a navy veteran and used violence in a different matter 🤝 Florence gang

This is so amazing ❤❤❤❤🙏🙏🙏🙏

In the 80's and 90's there was an epidemic of gang activity all over the Country. This is only one story of millions of kids who went through the same thing. Thousands of kids were killed during this time, especially in L.A. which was infested with gang violence. I live in Glendale Arizona. During this time there was more than ten different gangs just in my area. You could not go anywhere without coming across another gang. I was also in a gang, but I was fortunate to leave at around 14 and that changed my life. Today it has improved drastically, and gangs are not so popular anymore.

I was not expecting the story to take that twist! I need to get that book! A real American Hero!! That’s a beautiful story!

I remember this guy, I use to live in LA (Compton area) and my dad was in a gang as well but I remembered that they use to talk about him a few times or other family members did and they respect tf outta this guy

Wow what an inspiring story! ❤

great job

Awesome Story 👏💯

He was my master chief on my ship✊🏽

Well done Raul. I don't know you personally but I'm very proud of you. Much love from Michigan ❤️

I love this story 💙🙏🏼

I grew there on Florence and Miramonte. Good to hear that Raul got out and made a good life for himself. Anyone can do what he did and all it takes is to be focus and ready to make changes 💯 😌

Thank you Raul Ramos for your service.

Being from Los Angeles this story reminds me how it used to be so crazy with gangsters. Some gangbang, tagged or skated etc. now the city has changed a lot ..

This is a awesome story

This story so positive ❤

Nice Story 💕👍

Love this ❤👍🏼👌🏼🙏🏼

Good for you!! Thank you for your service... change can happen! Them kids need a man like this to look up to, to know there's more out there.