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The Impact of War series is made possible by generous contributions from Richard P. Brown, Jr. and Suzanne and Ronald Naples.

The Impact of War

The War on the Big Screen

January 20, 2010

Caption: From left: Iraq war veteran Rick Lund and Afghanistan war veteran Chris Marvin are now graduate students at University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business. Both have gone to see recent movies set around the wars.

At the recent Golden Globe Awards ceremony, Actor Kevin Bacon won best TV mini series actor for his role in HBO's Taking Chance. Three other movies about the American wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were also up for nominations. As part of our Impact of War Series, Stephanie Marudas talks with Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans about how they connect to these films.

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Previously

Part II: Military spouses and their networks of care

November 18, 2009

As soldiers go off to war, their spouses remain on the home-front and face new everyday challenges alone. But support groups, often led by other military spouses, are in place to help them. As part of our Impact of War series, we continue the story about the Pennsylvania National Guard 56th Stryker Brigade's deployment to Iraq and recent return home. Stephanie Marudas has the story.

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Part I: Families facing transitions

November 11, 2009

Caption: From left: Greg (in cap) and Wendy Wright. Preston and Debbie O'Connor. Standing outside the O'Connor's home in a town north of Allentown. Greg and Preston recently returned from Iraq with the Pennsylvania National Guard's 56th Stryker Brigade.

The Pennsylvania National Guard's 56th Stryker Brigade returned home from Iraq in September after a nine month deployment there. On this Veterans' Day, the brigade's 4600 members are now readjusting to life back home. As part of our Impact of War series, Stephanie Marudas spoke with two brigade members and their spouses.

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College bound veterans

November 4, 2009

The Veterans Upward Bound program in Philadelphia helps veterans of all ages brush up on basic academic skills before applying to college. Veterans, who served in the military after 9-11, consider this federally-funded program a stepping stone to higher education, the new GI Bill benefits, and future employment. WHYY's Stephanie Marudas reports as part of our Impact of War series.

Caption: Iraq war veteran and MBA student Kyle Seibolt tutors a Gulf War veteran at Veterans Upward Bound program. Seibolt is a member of the Veterans Club at Penn's Wharton Business School.

Caption: Injured Iraq War veteran Charles Schaeffer (in white long sleeve shirt) at tutoring session getting help. He's in the Veterans Upward Bound program, and taking classes to brush up on his skills before applying to college.

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Soldiers wait for G.I. Bill payments

September 29, 2009

The nation's new G.I. Bill is having a few problems, like not getting the money out on time. Similar to its predecessor after World War II, the program provides war vets the chance to go to college with the federal aid dollars. Thousands of dollars in education benefits are stalled. WHYY's Susan Phillips reports.

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Related content from WHYY

Behavioral Health Desk:

Program aims to reach vets seeking mental health treatments

November 30, 2009

Stigma and shame continue to prevent some military veterans from seeking help for mental health issues. From the Behavioral Health Desk, Maiken Scott reports on a new program that aims to break through the barriers.

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Voices in the Family:

Post Traumatic Growth

August 10, 2009

With soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, we hear a lot about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Psychologists are also interested in a different response to trauma; post-traumatic growth. Many survivors report personal growth and development in the aftermath of trauma - and say they have found happiness and fulfillment they wouldn't have known otherwise. Dan Gottlieb will discuss this newly emerging field, and explore what we can learn from it. Joining Dr. Gottlieb will be Dr. Richard Tedeschi, who coined the term "Post Traumatic Growth." He is a professor of Psychology at UNC Charlotte.

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Thomas Childers - Soldier from the War Returning

May 22, 2009

All members of the Greatest Generation were not happy, healthy and prosperous. The World War Two veterans experienced alcoholism, homelessness and unemployment as they tried to live out the rest of their years back home in the States. University of Pennsylvania Historian THOMAS CHILDERS describes the painful, shattered personal stories of three broken families, including his own, of The War's aftermath. His research reveals 10,000 veterans a month were being diagnosed with what we now call Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Childers new book is called, "Soldier from the War Returning: The Greatest Generation's Troubled Homecoming from World War II."

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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.