The Boy Named Red - The Ghost on the Corner

In this gripping episode of the Echo Valor Podcast, David Burnell shares a raw and personal chapter from his youth, featured in his book Built by Fire. Set in Lawndale, California, “The Boy Named Red” recounts the haunting experience of growing up as the son of an LAPD officer in a neighborhood where that badge made you a target.

Every morning, David walked past a house where a red-haired gang member—ironically named Red—would threaten to kill his father. Red wasn’t just a bully. He was a storm brewing. A ghost-in-the-making. Years later, that threat became real when Red engaged in a fatal shootout with a Torrance police officer just blocks from David’s home.

This is more than a story about fear—it's about vigilance, violence, and the vow of a young boy who learned that the good guys can never truly clock out. Through fire drills and fists, flags and fear, David forged a mindset that would shape a lifetime of service and readiness.

“The bad kids were always ready… so I made myself ready too.”

This episode blends vivid storytelling, emotional reflection, and a lesson that resonates beyond the streets of Lawndale—into the heart of anyone who has ever stood for something in a world that pushes back.

Based on a true story from the book Built by Fire by David Burnell.