Neither Fort Hood nor Hollywood: Warriors' Stories

Public capacity to be shocked by tragedies has been sadly diminished as each year brings a different take on the unimaginable, yet the horror at Ft. Hood seems to have penetrated both media clutter and the overwhelming challenges many Americans face in their personal lives. Despite 24/7 punditry and all-hands-on-deck investigative journalism, much remains unknown about what may have led Major Nidal Malik Hasan to gun down more than 40 brothers and sisters-in-arms, killing 13 of them. Some focus has already been placed on Maj. Hasan's professional role as an Army psychiatrist, and the notion that post-traumatic stress could have "secondary" damage -- that constant exposure to the memories and agony of others must have a destabilizing impact on any psyche. That may be so, and doubtless we'll hear both speculation and medical evidence in the days to come, but as we head toward Veterans Day on Wednesday, I believe that the more responsible course for citizens to take is to try to seek out more stories from more veterans -- not merely to assist them in their efforts to achieve understanding and closure, but to ensure that we comprehend, directly and personally, the nature of the sacrifice we expect but seldom viscerally appreciate.

For many Americans, Veterans Day passes quietly between the hoopla of Halloween and the warm nostalgia of Thanksgiving. In that way, the reserved nature of Veterans Day beautifully captures the quiet heroism of those who have defended us -- but at the same time, our warriors' very humility intensifies our civilian responsibility to honor and reflect. To the schism arising in public attitudes about our foreign conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, we add the Ft. Hood reminder that military service raises dangers beyond reckoning for warriors -- and their families -- before, during and after battlefield service. Far differently from the 1960's, both sides of the policy debate reflect the undisputed and profound respect for our war heroes resonating throughout America.

At its most basic level, Veterans Day's has the status of a national holiday in hopes of engendering a profound appreciation for the sacrifice we have grown to expect from our military. But the challenges of modern life, increased by the pressures brought by a recession, make it natural for anyone on the homefront to focus on the personal. Just as we bear a collective responsibility as citizens when our men and women are in harm's way on our behalf, so should we recognize the unique challenge that their pain, hardship and suffering pose for us: are we living our own lives in a manner that justifies their sacrifice?

I fall short of that standard every day, and far away from foreign conflict, I will never fully understand the intensity of what our warriors endure. Most of us live our days in a cocoon woven with the sweat and blood of others. If we do not share their burden, we should at least seek out their stories. It is an opportunity to enrich our lives and perhaps to bring some small measure of balm to theirs. We owe at least this much to them, and to ourselves.

This Veterans Day, I plan to honor those who served our country by watching their stories and then becoming more involved in veterans' issues. The documentary films below capture experiences from vastly different wars, including accounts from WWII, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. These SnagFilms offer a way to engage and inform vast audiences -- and grant to each of us the chance to spend a quiet moment with those to whom we owe so much. Veterans Day is a single annual holiday that should spark daily appreciation. So whether it's on Wednesday or any day, seek out a vet, or a veteran's family, and watch one of these films with them. Hopefully it will spark a discussion about their own experiences, nightmares and aspirations. You'll see that we are also spotlighting one of many wonderful organizations founded by and/or working with vets -- we believe in "filmanthropy," the power of each great film to stimulate a debate and catalyze informed action. We hope that these films will have that impact, and we urge everyone to seek out veterans groups in your hometown or active on issues of particular importance to you. Dialogue and action so should be more than a transitory duty for each of us -- together they can help us forge from conflict greater unity and purpose.

 

Comments

[Dan B]

@RIConservative: I appreciated the way this post didn't politicize the Ft. Hood tragedy. It's exhausting and demoralizing to watch the way some on the right are using the catastrophe as a pretext to question the ability of Muslims to serve in the U.S. military.

I'd also like to second the recommendation of another commenter, who mentioned "When I Came Home". Over 1 in 5 homeless are veterans. The film is a powerful reminder of the struggle our heroes often face after they return from combat. You can watch it here: http://www.snagfilms.com/films/title/when_i_came_home/

[Albert Lai]

Growing up in Ohio, our middle school had yearly trips to DC as an experience to broaden our cultural and educational horizons. The favorites were the Smithsonian museums (mostly notably the Air & Space, probably the John Glenn influence and "The Right Stuff" [1983]) and the Lincoln memorial.

During both trips, we visited Arlington, and it was a sobering and confusing journey, coming from a college town best known for its anti-military, anti-war mentality related to events in May 1970 that occurred in our small town.

After many years, the understanding of Arlington's ultimate sacrifices has continued to resonate, through the stories of friends and close acquaintances who serve today in Iraq and Afghanistan, in the CIA, and also others (FBI, Foreign Service) who are put in harm's way on behalf of all of us.

Please take a moment and watch ARLINGTON: FIELD OF HONOR.

[Stephanie Sharis]

From the films you list to recognize Veterans Day 2009, the film that stuck with me most - especially in the aftermath of the Fort Hood tragedy - was WHEN I CAME HOME. The effects of PTSD are staggering and make coming home from active duty often the beginning of an even more difficult chapter of life. I hope that our country can recognize the importance of caring for our veterans - mind, body and soul - and give them the services and support that they need. We deserve to honor them long after they return from the battlefront.

[Andrew Mer]

Speaking of public capacity I am just back from the UK where I was struck by the overwhelming number of people wearing poppy pins in honor of Remembrance Day. I found the pin to be a powerful and constant reminder of the sacrifices made by troops there as well as at home as I went along during my day. Another powerful reminder of this sacrifice is captured by two great filmmakers Garrett Scott and Ian Olds in their smoldering film OCCUPATION­:DREAMLAND an insightful look at a squad of American Soldiers in Falluja/2004. I can't recommend it enough.

[ckcallen]

Although I watch war documentaries from time to time, I was amazed to see there are 61 films on SnagFilms.com with the tag "military & war." I agree that there isn't much we civilians can do to understand what it is like to be in combat, but learning as much as we can from a soldier's perspective through film certainly helps. Happy Veterans Day to all!

If you want to find those 61 films, do what I did and use the Movie Watcher tool on the SnagFilms.com homepage.

[pegu]

In knowing only a little about the circumstances, I offer a tiny anecdote only based on the fact that the shooter (for lack of a better word) was a psychiatrist. For people in these types of positions - offering help - they are too commonly ones that may ignore their own issues or don't have the support system. We think "oh they're a professional, they don't need help" but who knows what issues big or small may need assistance. A family doctor of mine, who worked almost 30 years as a fixture in the community, started having stomach issues. Too busy looking after his own patients and his own family (3 kids who were doctors as well), he started vomiting blood 6-9 months later. Turned out he had late stage (Stage IV?) stomach cancer and passed away several months after diagnosis. Only then did everyone piece together the small bits of information. Even the helpers need help - though that in no way excuses these circumstances.

[Daun]

The movie screen attached to this message is awesome. I watched Return to Tarawa and was amazed to find myself thoroughly moved not only by Mr. Cooper's mission, but also to take action to fulfill promises we've made to all of our vets. I will also spend Veterans Day trying to find more ways to reach out to our veterans; watching as many documentaries offered by Snag Films as I can and then checking out the vet-directed organizations to see how a newly empty nester like me can get involved to do my part. Veterans Day will not pass quietly between Halloween and Thanksgiving in our house again.

[Rick Allen - Huffpost Blogger]

Thank you for your comment.

Leon Cooper told me today that efforts have again stalled to get the Department of Defense to identify and repatriate what DOD itself has estimated are 24,000 - 35,000 recoverable dead warriors from WWII, Korea and Vietnam (90% from WWII). Leon is trying to raise funds to film 5 Pacific theater battlefields as part of a "You are not forgotten" campaign, and has set up a non-profit for that purpose. I've asked him for information on it, and will post the contact details tomorrow.

RA

[RIConservative]

No mention of the shooters ties to radical Islam???? I guess the truth is not politically correct.

Incidentally, these shootings could have been prevented if this man's peers and superiors were not overly politically correct and had reported all the warning signs he had shown. Now being PC is costing lives and you are still afraid to tell the truth....s­ad.

[Rick Allen - Huffpost Blogger]

No, there's no desire for political correctness. I'm not conducting the investigation into the motivation of the shooter - my point is to note that even if he were destabilized from the stresses of hearing from soldiers with mental health problems, we as citizens should do everything we can to solicit vets' stories and try to understand the experiences they have undergone. I believe this transcends partisan politics. Pehaps you can too, at least on Veteran's Day.
RA