Combat veterans have started long-distance hiking on wilderness trips across the country as a way to transition to civilian life. Having time in nature can help veterans process the war. A non-profit, Warrior Expeditions, sponsors dozens of combat vets each year to walk the Pacific Crest, the Continental Divide and the Appalachian Trail. They hike with other veterans who can support each other since they have been through similar experiences. Listen to hear from veterans who have hiked over 2,000 miles together and their reflections on the journey.
Story Length: 5:21
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December 11, 2015
3:52
All ground combat jobs in the U.S. military will be open to women starting next year. The U.S. Defense Secretary said that it made no sense to exclude half the American population from serving in combat. He believes the individual contributions of women will enhance combat effectiveness. There is opposition to this decision from Marines who wanted infantry jobs closed to women. Listen to this story about the pros and cons of this decision. Then debate with your students: Should women hold combat roles?
Read MoreNovember 9, 2014
3:21
The National Mall in Washington, D.C. has long honored the fallen of American war heroes, but what about those who survived but lost parts of themselves to war? The first memorial honoring disabled veterans opened Sunday, October 5, 2014 after twenty years of fundraising and advocacy by disabled veterans primarily from the Vietnam war. This public radio story brings you the voices of disabled veterans and analyzes the impact of war and the memorial that honors these veterans.
Read MoreDecember 9, 2013
9:02
FDR proclaimed that December 7, 1941 will go down in infamy. On that day, 2,000 U.S sailors at Pearl Harbor died from a surprise Japanese attack which started America's involvement in WWII. This veteran witnessed both the beginning and the end of the war.
Read MoreNovember 11, 2012
19:17
On this Veterans Day take time with your students or children to share some voices of soldiers who fought and died in Vietnam. This is a compelling story using old reel to reel recordings of a US Marine in the Vietnam War. Note: You can stop playing at 7:46 and still have a very good sense of the story.
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