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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

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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Previously


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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Homeless Veterans
looking for help

September 16, 2009

Caption: Stand Down Registration

Every September for the past 16 years in Philadelphia, an overnight weekend event called Stand Down has been held to provide homeless veterans with free medical and social services. As part of our Impact of War Series, Stephanie Marudas reports on the problems homeless veterans face and what the government is doing about it.


Captions: Larry Kidd (left) and Rob Hajek (right).



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The new GI-Bill

September 2, 2009

Caption: Rutgers Camden undergraduate student Bill Brown (left) helped rally for passing of Post 9-11 GI Bill and seeking further education benefits for veterans. Rashad McCloud (right), Wharton Business School MBA candidate in his apartment he's paying with funds from the VA under the Post 9-11 GI Bill.


The Post-9/11 GI Bill kicked in August and veterans who served after September 11th 2001 are starting to take advantage of it. The new benefits include tuition up to the most expensive public institution in a veteran's home state, or for that money to be applied towards tuition at a private institution. As part of our Impact of War Series, WHYY's Stephanie Marudas follows two Iraq veterans benefiting from this new bill.



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Democracy in action in Iraq

August 26, 2009

For the past six years, the world has watched Iraq's fledgling Democratic government struggle to take shape. As Scott Detrow reports for our Impact of War series, soldiers in the Pennsylvania National Guard are getting a first-hand look at that process, as they work alongside Iraqi legislators.

Caption: Taji council members at work.



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