MetaFilter posts tagged with veterans

Moral Injury

the man of twists and turns — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:43:21 -0800

A New Theory of PTSD and Veterans: Moral Injury

But as clergy and good clinicians have listened to more stories like these, they have heard a new narrative, one that signals changes to the brain along with what in less spiritually challenged times might be called a shadow on the soul. It is the tale of disintegrating vets, but also of seemingly squared-away former soldiers and spit-shined generals shuttling between two worlds: ours, where thou shalt not kill is chiseled into everyday life, and another, where thou better kill, be killed, or suffer the shame of not trying. There is no more hellish commute.

'I can't forgive myself ... and the people who can forgive me are dead.' Beyond PTSD to 'Moral Injury'. TIME Magazine writes: Moral Injury: “A Profound Sense of Alienation and Abject Shame”. The VA writes about Moral Injury And The Context Of War. For Troops Needing Psychological Help, Asking Can Be the Toughest Hurdle.

"As the hymn says, you can lay your burden down."

zarq — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 07:36:49 -0800

The Things They Leave Behind. "When the Vietnam Veterans Memorial opened 30 years ago, something unexpected happened: People started leaving things at the wall. One veteran has spent decades cataloging the letters, mementos, and other artifacts of loss — all 400,000 of them." (Via.) Website: The National Park Service Museum Resource Center. CSPAN Video: "Bob Sonderman, director of the Museum Resource Center, gave a tour of the football field-sized warehouse which houses roughly 2.5 million archaeological objects from National Park locations in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia." (2/11)

"We Just Witnessed a War Crime"

Pirate-Bartender-Zombie-Monkey — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 14:33:02 -0800

The first thing we learned about war re-enactment is that it's fucking terrifying having guns fired at you, even ones loaded with blanks. The second thing we learned is a common re-enactor's dilemma called "The G.I. Effect", which is basically that people playing Americans don't like to die. So sometimes they just don't.

It's Like Vietnam All Over Again, pt 1. Part 2

Go to War. Do Art. (II)

zarq — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 11:22:15 -0800

The permanent collection of the (US) National Veterans Art Museum in Chicago contains more than 2,500 pieces of art by 250 artists, all of which can be seen at NVAM Collection Online. The site includes biographical material on the artists who created the work. Featured Artwork. A small selection. (Via. Images at links in this post may be nsfw, and/or disturbing to some viewers.)

“I used to take them at their word. I can’t do that anymore.”

zarq — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 17:05:05 -0800

824,273 disabled veterans are currently awaiting a response on claims from the US Department of Veterans Affairs. On average, it takes the government 257 days to respond, and there has been a 7.2% growth in claims over the last 1.3 years -- so the delays are growing. While they wait, veterans often cannot access health care from the agency or receive disability compensation. Plus, the backlog on claim appeals is at least 3.5 years. So how can veterans avoid the backlog? A special investigation by the Bay Area Citizen shows that processing speed is a matter of geographic location: veterans in sparsely populated areas have their claims filled faster than those living in urban centers. Interactive Map: Where is Worst Backlog? Related video and transcript.

Now I’m home and I’m blind and I’m broke/What is next?

spitbull — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 07:13:50 -0800

"Hell Broke Luce" -- a surreal anti-war video from Tom Waits for his powerful song based on the harrowing story of Lance Corporal Jeff Lucey, a 23-year old Iraq war Marine veteran who committed suicide in 2004. From Waits' 22d album Bad As Me (2011, AntiRecords) Lucey was also one of the subjects of a Frontline documentary called "The Soldier's Heart." (His case significantly complicates our current understanding of the horrors of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder for veterans.) Song lyrics at LyricsWiki. Commentary on "Hell Broke Luce" at Common Dreams. An alternate video to the song using images from Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket. And from the first user comment on YouTube: I'm an Iraq vet. This song evokes an amazing emotional reaction in me. So much of this is directly applicable to my experiences. Shit, Tom. Shit. Thank you so much for this. NPR First Listen on Bad As Me. Sasha Frere-Jones on Bad as Me. Of course, this is not Waits' first powerful anti-war song. (I recommend reading the description under this YT video.)

"He is no longer his own person."

zarq — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 07:32:52 -0800

The Checkpoint. An essay which looks inside the conflicted mind of an Israeli soldier, stationed at a West Bank checkpoint. By Oded Na'aman, currently a student in the Philosophy PhD program at Harvard University, who served in the Israeli Defense Forces from November 2000 to October 2003. Mr. Na'aman is also a member of Breaking the Silence, a website that gathers and publishes anonymous testimonials from IDF soldiers -- combat veterans -- about their experiences and the realities of life in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza.

President Obama cracks down on for-profit recruiting of veterans.

Scientist — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:28:47 -0800

Today, President Obama signed an executive order which places stricter disclosure requirements on recruiters for for-profit schools looking to recruit veterans and soldiers. The move comes amid growing concern among state and federal legislators that for-profit educational institutions are doing more harm than good and are employing predatory recruiting practices especially on veterans who are exiting the military and looking to improve their education through the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The order itself can be found here. This quote from the Army Times link lays out the order's bottom line:

Obama’s order requires schools receiving the GI Bill or other Defense Department-funded veterans educational benefits or tuition assistance to disclose more information to students using military tuition assistance, including a breakdown of the percentage of service members and veterans who complete courses or degrees, according to White House officials.

Among the order's other highlights, again from Army Times:

Schools that receive GI Bill or tuition assistance will be required to have academic and financial counselors for service members and veterans and to ease policies for enrollment, re-enrollment and refunds if military-related duties interfere with classes.
The government will attempt to trademark the term “GI Bill” so unscrupulous institutions will be prevented from using the name in advertising and on websites.
Schools with overly aggressive or unscrupulous recruiting practices will be barred from military bases, blocking access to prospective students.
A centralized complaint system will be created, with access to investigators, prosecutors and policymakers who enforce the law and regulations.
Schools that fully comply with federal rules will be listed on a federal website, such as the Veterans Affairs Department’s GI Bill website, while schools that don’t comply will be excluded from listings.

Might this be the beginning of a wider government crackdown on for-profit higher education?

The funeral of Hiram Cronk, the last veteran from the war of 1812

quin — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 05:36:09 -0800

Hiram Cronk was born in 1800, at 14 he enlisted to fight the British, and in 1905, he passed away as the last veteran of the war of 1812. This amazing video shows the funeral procession, featuring veterans from the Civil War and the Spanish-American war as they marched through Brooklyn. [via, also]

Not Your Typical Vietnam War Documentary

gman — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:59:30 -0800

"First Kill is a war documentary that explores the dark side of man and the psychology of soldiers at war. Vietnam veterans are interviewed about their experiences and what war does to the human mind and soul." [1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8]

Farewell, Florence.

piratebowling — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:37:41 -0800

Florence Green, the last know WWI veteran, passed away today. She was two weeks away from her 111th birthday. The last known WWI combat veteran, Claude Choules, passed last May. (previously)

And Miles To Go Before I Sleep

Poet_Lariat — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 21:51:52 -0800

"My name is Stephen T Millhouse and I am walking 1,460 miles " Former Marine, Stephen T Millhouse, is walking from Montana to Los Angeles to raise awareness about homelessness and money to help them. You can see his route here and follow along on his blog if you like. In the 90's he was living in Los Angeles and was trying his hand at becoming an actor but by 2001 he was homeless and living in his car. Earlier this year he decided to try and get the word out to people about homelessness so he started walking. He's been walking since July. Just him and a backpack or two , stopping in shelters along the way, being interviewed by news organizations and talking to them about homelessness. He's been interviewed by NBC, CBS , the Idaho Mountain Express and a lot of other news organizations along the way. Stop by his facebook page and say "Hi!"(he could use a word of support). Or make a contribution that will go towards homeless organizations. He's asking for a penny a mile. He's not anywhere near his original goal of raising a million dollars for the homeless but he's still walking.

Veterans and PTSD

homunculus — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 11:15:33 -0800

Army vet with PTSD sought the treatment he needed by taking hostages – but got jail instead. "Fifteen months of carnage in Iraq had left the 29-year-old debilitated by post-traumatic stress disorder. But despite his doctor’s urgent recommendation, the Army failed to send him to a Warrior Transition Unit for help. The best the Department of Veterans Affairs could offer was 10-minute therapy sessions — via videoconference. So, early on Labor Day morning last year, after topping off a night of drinking with a handful of sleeping pills, Quinones barged into Fort Stewart’s hospital, forced his way to the third-floor psychiatric ward and held three soldiers hostage, demanding better mental health treatment." [Via] A Novel Court Model to Aid Veterans With P.T.S.D. "But something different happened in Mr. Eifert’s case. Headed for disaster, he was spared through a novel court program and an unusual coming together of a group of individuals — including a compassionate judge, a flexible prosecutor, a tenacious lawyer and an amenable police officer — who made exceptions and negotiated compromises to help him. If he takes advantage of the chance to recover his life, he is likely to avoid incarceration and receive the care he needs to move forward."

Fading to yellow in a brown leather frame.

dazed_one — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 06:51:37 -0800

67 years ago today, 150, 000 allied troops landed on 5 beaches on the coast of France that were defended by Rommel and about 60,000 troops of the Nazi Wermacht. Today is the D-Day landings anniversary. Lest we forget.

Green Army Men with PTSD

Tom-B — Thu, 05 May 2011 12:17:44 -0800

Green Army Men with PTSD

“Aux enfants, je leur dis et je leur répète: ne faites pas la guerre."

zarq — Tue, 03 May 2011 11:01:39 -0800

The Last Two Veterans of WWI Errata, from the author's website.

Pilgrim’s Progress

shii — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 16:58:31 -0800

I didn’t really appreciate the concept of becoming ‘unstuck’ in time until I returned from war. Matt Gallagher gives words to the discomfort of life after 15 months in Iraq.

The pacifists who went to war; violence and pacifism in a world of war

infinite intimation — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 01:55:42 -0800

This documentary is the story of two Mennonite brothers from Manitoba who were forced to make a decision in 1939, as Canada joined World War II. In the face of 400 years of pacifist tradition, should they now go to war? Ted became a conscientious objector while his brother went into military service. Fifty years later, the town of Winkler dedicates its first war memorial and John begins to share his war experiences with Ted. The Moral Dilemma of Pacifism in a World of War An interview with David Rieff The Paradox of War and Pacifism: First, the two extreme positions, the pacifist and the crusader, commit the cross-level fallacy and violate principles of hermeneutics, however benign the intention. Upon closer examination, there is little support for these positions as fully biblical ones. Each, taken logically to the extreme, distorts the role of the Christian as a member of his society. In the pacifist, it requires him to disengage from the society in which he lives. In the crusader, it requires him to so identify the function of the church with that of the state that he becomes more involved in it than with his call to Christian service (indeed, causes him to confuse the two). Part three of a three-part series, Canada Remembers, Endings and Beginnings focuses on the final phase of WWII in Europe in 1945 and the aftermath. Veterans recount their memories of the conflict at the Rhine and the celebrations on VE Day, followed by their contribution to the victory in the Far East. These recollections are complemented by outstanding footage filmed by army cameramen. The film also focuses on what transpired after the war, when the soldiers had to reintegrate back into society. Rewind-Nov 11, 2010- Matthew Halton On the Rewind podcast, Canada's most famous foreign correspondent of the Second World War- Matthew Halton. He was the eyes and ears of the frontlines telling stories about the people he met and the place he saw. Even through the crackles and pops of 60-year-old tape, his powerful story telling shines through. (mp3 download) Canada recently unveiled The Memory Project, the largest database of Canadian Second World War oral history:

This nationwide bilingual project will create a record of Canada’s participation in the Second World War as seen through the eyes of thousands of veterans. The Memory Project will provide every living Second World War veteran with the opportunity to share their memories through oral interviews and digitized artefacts and memorabilia. These stories and artefacts will be available on this site for teachers, students and the general public.

Veterans were asked to specifically discuss their roles, ranks, positions, locations, and battles they were involved in; you can browse Veteran stories by historical events (Theatre of War, Campaign, Operation, or Battle), military details (Regiment, Squadron, Ship, Aircraft, Medal, Branch of Service, Prisoner of War Camp or Equipment) or by Keyword (audio tags or artefact tags). Check the currently featured stories. World War Two; in the words of some of those involved. .

Paws for Purple Hearts

Joe Beese — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 13:29:57 -0800

... it's terribly important for veterans to feel they are continuing a mission that held them together through the violence and stress of war. "PTSD carries a stigma, that you're broken and wounded," said Yount, "And many guys have guilt for not still being in the fight. The idea of Paws for Purple Hearts is you can be part of the war effort while you're getting treatment."

Garfield hates the troops

XQUZYPHYR — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 12:00:27 -0800

A comic strip has caused a political uproar by making a bold, controversial statement on Veteran's Day, considered by some to be an insult to our nation's fighting men and women. The strip that has spit on the work of our country's bravest veterans is, as you would expect, that anti-American bastion of subversive vitriolic societal commentary, Garfield.

How Can We Use Your Carefully Honed Skills?

VikingSword — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 17:08:27 -0800

'The unemployment rate for veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars reached 14.7 percent in March, according to the latest government statistics.' It is particularly bad for the youngest veterans - with a jobless rate at 21.1% for ages 18 to 24, 'well above the national jobless rate of 16.6 percent for nonveterans in the same age group, 18 to 24.' 'Young veterans tell of futile job hunt' - and the situation keeps getting worse. It was 11.2% a year ago, but regardless of the accuracy of the statistics, 'veterans groups say the figures are unacceptable. "It's unforgivable that new veterans are bearing the brunt of the economic downturn," said Tom Tarantino, legislative associate for the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. "This is no way to welcome a new generation of heroes home."' 'Paul Sullivan, director of Veterans for Common Sense, said these veterans are having difficulty finding work for several reasons. "Sometimes the skills from the battlefield don't transfer directly to civilian jobs," he said. He added that the military has a "spotty record" of providing transition assistance for soldiers leaving the military and returning to the civilian work force. Other veterans groups agree.'

Enlightenment by trauma - soldiers speak up

knz — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 03:59:19 -0800

Our real enemies are not those living in a distant land whose names or policies we don't understand; The real enemy is a system that wages war when it's profitable, the CEOs who lay us off our jobs when it's profitable, the Insurance Companies who deny us Health care when it's profitable, the Banks who take away our homes when it's profitable. Our enemies are not several hundred thousands away. They are right here in front of us. — Mike Prysner (YT) This video is an illustrated excerpt of Mike Prysner's speech (parts 1, 2) at the Winter soldiers testimonies of the Irak Veterans Against War (IVAW, previously). IVAW, together with VVAW form a network of veteran organizations whose members have realized on the battlefield that "wars are easy to start and hard to stop and that those hurt are often the innocent." These soldiers speak up to educate, unfortunately a posteriori, about how they were deceived into believing they were defending freedom. Without their first-hand accounts, the rationale behind conflicts might be forever lost to history.

Military people in cute situations.

nobody — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:53:18 -0800

Soldiers return home after months abroad and are greeted by their very excited dogs. (A compilation of puppy-focused welcome-home videos for Veterans' Day.)

WWII Veteran Speaks on Equality

pashdown — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:31:00 -0800

The woman at my polling place asked me, do I believe in equality for gay and lesbian people? I was pretty surprised to be asked a question like that. It made no sense to me. Finally I asked her, "What do you think I fought for on Omaha Beach?"

War Makes Monsters of Us All

netbros — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 08:46:04 -0800

The Warrior Writers Project brings together recent veterans and current service members to be in creative community and utilize art-making processes to express themselves. There is a deep necessity for veterans to create when so much has been shattered and stolen. A profound sense of hope comes from the ability to rebuild and transform.