Members of the Pennsylvania National Guard are used to the difficult role of "citizen soldier," balancing their military responsibilities with their personal and professional lives. The year-long deployment to Iraq of the 56th Stryker Brigade is making that juggling act more difficult. Sam Coover is a high school chemistry teacher. He's also a single father leaving his three young children. As part of our on-going Impact of War series, WITF's Scott Detrow reports.
Tradition dating to Civil War sends PA soldiers off to battle
October 1, 2008
Members of the National Guard are more than soldiers. They are fire fighters, teachers, and grocery store owners - people who are sorely missed in rural Pennsylvania. The small, central Pennsylvania town of Bellefonte has a farewell ritual stretching back to the Civil War. As part of our Impact of War series, WPSU's Cynthia Berger files this report.
Experience more of the tradition of Bellefonte in this audio slideshow as the people of this small town bid farewell to their soldiers. View the audio slideshow
PA troops get final training before Iraq deployment
September 24, 2008
Hundreds of National Guard members from the Philadelphia area are saying their goodbyes to friends, neighbors and co-workers and heading off to full-time training in Mississippi where Pennsylvania's 56th Stryker Brigade will prepare for deployment to Iraq later this year. It's part of the state guard's largest deployment to Iraq. WHYY's Susan Phillips reports.
Families find strength in one particular army wife and mother
September 17, 2008
While members of the Pennsylvania National Guard's 56th Stryker Brigade are preparing for deployment to Iraq, their loved ones are preparing themselves for the ordeal at home. Many of the women will become the sole heads of their households. They're turning to each other for strength. Cynthia Berger talked with the one woman who everyone relies on.
When soldiers head off to war, the military chaplain's job is to help their families with everything from child care to funeral arrangements. In the latest installment of our Impact Of War series, we visit one man who is both a chaplain and a young soldier's father. He'll be the spiritual guide for the ones left behind when the 56th Stryker Brigade deploys in the fall. WHYY's Susan Phillips reports. Listen to the mp3 »
Behind the scope: Training with the snipers
July 23, 2008
Serving with U.S. forces in Iraq is dangerous for anyone, but snipers face unique risks often spending a good deal of time alone in hostile territory. Snipers also bear a heavy burden with responsibility for the safety of other soldiers. As the 56th Stryker Brigade of the Pennsylvania National Guard prepares to deploy to Iraq, intensive training is underway for all soldiers - including the snipers. WITF's Scott Detrow has this segment in our "Impact of War" series. Listen to the mp3 »
The vehicle that gives the "Stryker" Brigade its name
June 25, 2008
The 56th Stryker Brigade of the Pennsylvania National Guard is expected to deploy to Iraq by the end of this year. The brigade is one of six units in the nation with the new Stryker vehicles. Troops across the state have been training to fight Iraqi insurgents at Fort Indiantown Gap in Lebanon County. In our continuing Impact of War series, WPSU's David Klatt reports. Listen to the mp3 »
Preparing families to deal with the dangers of war
June 18, 2008
Soldiers have been heading to war in Iraq for more than five years. News stories follow the battles, the casualties, the policy debates. But who are these soldiers and what motivates someone to join up and fight? The 56th Stryker Brigade of the Pennsylvania National Guard is getting ready to deploy by the end of the year. These soldiers leave behind jobs, wives, husbands, and children. As part of our Impact of War series, WHYY's Susan Phillips has the story of one family trying to balance the hope of improving their lot with the dangers of war. Listen to the mp3 »
Serving for both God and Country
June 11, 2008
In this week's installment of our Imapct of War series, we bring you the story of Father Bert Kozen. Father Kozen has taken a leave from his church to train with the Pennsylvania National Guard for an expected deployment in Iraq. Pamela Varkony has a profile of the Chaplain. Listen to the mp3 »
From college campus to war zone
June 4, 2008
College and university students across Pennsylvania have wrapped up the spring term but many are not heading back home. One in every four members of the Pennsylvania National Guard is a student. Later this year, some of them will be heading to Iraq with the 56th Stryker Brigade. From WPSU, Cynthia Berger reports. Listen to the mp3 »
Introducing the 56th Stryker Brigade
May 28, 2008
Nearly 4,000 members of the Pennsylvania National Guard are preparing to be deployed to Iraq. The 56th Stryker Brigade combat team is expected to deploy this winter for what's scheduled to be a year-long mission. WHYY, in conjunction with other public radio stations in Pennsylvania, will follow members of the brigade, their families and their local communities throughout this deployment.
Listen to the first report from Scott Detrow. Listen to the mp3 »
Related content from WHYY's Behavioral Health Desk
Cells connected with fear identified
July 15, 2008
New research from Rutgers University is shedding light on how the brain processes fear - the findings could ultimately lead to new treatments for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. From WHYY's Behavioral Health Desk, Maiken Scot reports. Listen to the mp3 »
War vets face increased risks of heart disease
July 10, 2008
A new study examined a possible link between Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD and Heart disease in veterans - and found strong evidence that the two are connected. From WHYY's Behavioral Health Desk, Maiken Scott reports. Listen to the mp3 »
About
The Impact of War at Home
About 4,000 members of the Pennsylvania National Guard's 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team are expected to deploy to Iraq later this year. Hundreds of these men and women live in the Philadelphia area. They include business owners, computer programmers, teachers, students and cooks, and they are wives, husbands, and parents. As the soldiers gear up for war, their family members prepare for their absence. Over the next year, in conjunction with National Public Radio and three other Pennsylvania public radio stations, WHYY will tell the stories of these soldiers, their families and how they cope emotionally, and financially, with the absence of their loved ones.
Additional coverage on the effects of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts on soldiers and their families can be found at War Torn - a series by The New York Times. The articles and multimedia tell the stories of veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan who have committed killings, or been charged with them, after coming home.
