American Homefront Project

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The American Homefront Project is reporting on military life and veterans issues. We're visiting bases to chronicle how American troops are working and living. We're meeting military families. We're talking with veterans -- in their homes, on their jobs, at school, at VA hospitals -- to learn about the challenges they face.

Support for the American Homefront Project comes from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, as part of CPB's ongoing effort to expand coverage of local, regional, and national issues. Additional support comes from our partner public radio stations -- North Carolina Public Radio-WUNC, Texas Public Radio, KPBS-San Diego, St. Louis Public Radio, and WSHU-Fairfield, Conn.

Series

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2022 American Veteran 
4 Pieces

In commemoration of Veteran’s Day, the American Homefront Project collaborated with the PBS documentary series "American Veteran" to profile men and women who have served in the U.S. military.

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American Veteran 2021 
5 Pieces

In commemoration of Veteran’s Day 2021, the American Homefront Project collaborated with the PBS documentary series "American Veteran" to profile men and women who have served in the U.S. military.

Pieces

National Guard troops are arresting migrants in Texas. Critics say they're not qualified to do it.
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: The governor of Texas is continuing to ramp up his controversial border security initiative. Texas National Guard troops have been deployed to Mexican border to help law enforcement agents arrest migrants who enter U.S. illegally. As Carson Frame report, Credit: Carson Frame / American Homefront
Texas Governor Greg Abbott continues to ramp up his controversial border security initiative. The state has sent troopers and National Guard member...

Bought by WRFA-LP, KUT, and Texas Public Radio


  • Added: Dec 09, 2021
  • Length: 03:55
  • Purchases: 3
For these veterans, poetry and prose help treat the moral injury of war
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: George Pettigrew leads a virtual Reader's Theater event for Kansas City veterans. Among those who read their original works Heather Smoot, who served in the Air Force., Credit: Missouri Humanities
In Kansas City, the Moral Injury Association of America sponsors a writing group that’s worked with thousands of veterans and family members since ...

Bought by KPBS, KUT, WRFA-LP, Texas Public Radio, and KCUR


  • Added: Dec 02, 2021
  • Length: 03:47
  • Purchases: 5
Fly-fishing programs catch on as therapy for troops and veterans recovering from trauma
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: Around the country, groups are teaching wounded troops and veterans to fly fish. While there's not much research on the therapeutic benefits, some say the experience helps them heal., Credit: Studio Macleod
Around the country, groups are teaching wounded troops and veterans to fly fish. While there's not much research on the therapeutic benefits, some ...

Bought by KJZZ, KPBS, WRFA-LP, KRPS, Texas Public Radio and more


  • Added: Nov 23, 2021
  • Length: 03:49
  • Purchases: 7
Driving buses, giving vaccines, patrolling the border: Is the National Guard asked to do too much?
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: A member of the National Guard drives a school bus van in Chelsea, Mass. in October. Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker activated the Guard to address a shortage of drivers as the school year began., Credit: Jesse Costa / WBUR
The National Guard is being tasked with a growing number of missions, and critics argue that heavy deployments are straining the force.

Bought by KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio, KPBS, WRFA-LP, North Country Public Radio, KMXT and more


  • Added: Nov 18, 2021
  • Length: 03:47
  • Purchases: 6
Robert E. Lee once served as West Point's Superintendent. Should the school still display his portrait?
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: Dignitaries - including Robert E. Lee's great grandson, Hanson E. Ely III (right) - unveil a portrait of the Confederate general in West Point's library in 1952. The portrait is one of several images of Lee that still are displayed at the military academy, Credit: From the 1952 book "The Sesquicentennial of the United States Military Academy: An Account of the Observance." / U.S. Military Academy
Congress ordered Confederate names and images to be removed from military installations. But what about portraits of Lee before he joined the Confe...

Bought by KUT, Texas Public Radio, WRFA-LP, KMXT, and KRPS


  • Added: Nov 09, 2021
  • Length: 03:40
  • Purchases: 5
For the first time, the VA is helping some veterans with PTSD get service dogs
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: Army veteran Scot Pondelick said Venus, his PTSD service dog, has helped him feel more comfortable spending time in public and around groups of people., Credit: Chris Haxel / American Homefront
Congress has mandated a pilot program that will pay to train service dogs and place them in veterans' homes.

Bought by KCUR, WRFA-LP, KMXT, KUT, and Texas Public Radio


  • Added: Nov 02, 2021
  • Length: 03:19
  • Purchases: 5
In hot real estate markets, buyers using VA mortgages can have a hard time competing for homes
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: Real estate agent Leslie Alford said the housing market near Ft. Riley, Kansas has been "crazy" this year,” with “a whole lot less houses for sale, a whole lot more competition for them, and higher prices.”, Credit: Courtesy Leslie Alford
Troops and veterans sometimes are hurt by misconceptions about VA mortgages, or they encounter sellers who don't want their home to go through a VA...

Bought by WRFA-LP, Texas Public Radio, KRPS, and KUT


  • Added: Oct 19, 2021
  • Length: 03:34
  • Purchases: 4
American Veteran: She joined the Army to learn to cook. She ended up a prisoner of war
From: American Homefront Project
Series: American Veteran 2021
Caption: Specialist Shoshana Johnson, veteran of the U.S. Army, Credit: Insignia Films
Shoshana Johnson was the first Black female prisoner of war in American history. The trauma of that experience has stayed with her for years.

Bought by KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio, KPBS, KGOU, RadioStPete Florida, KBBI Alaska and more


  • Added: Oct 17, 2021
  • Length: 04:00
  • Purchases: 12
American Veteran: How 'The Reaper' made peace with the aftermath of war
From: American Homefront Project
Series: American Veteran 2021
Caption: Army veteran Nick Irving., Credit: Ben Bloodwell
Nick Irving earned a reputation as one of the deadliest Army Rangers in history. But civilian life was far less straightforward.

Bought by KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio, KGOU, North Country Public Radio, KPBS, KBBI Alaska and more


  • Added: Oct 17, 2021
  • Length: 04:00
  • Purchases: 10
American Veteran: From eager recruit to conscientious objector
From: American Homefront Project
Series: American Veteran 2021
Caption: Private First Class Clifton Hicks, veteran of the U.S. Army., Credit: Amanda Lalezarian
After joining the Army in response to the 9/11 attacks, Clifton Hicks found the reality of war was nothing like the movies he’d grown up watching.

Bought by KPBS, KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio, RadioStPete Florida, KBBI Alaska, KUT and more


  • Added: Oct 17, 2021
  • Length: 04:00
  • Purchases: 8

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People who work with American Homefront Project

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Dave DeWitt
Reporter/Producer, WUNC
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Adam Hochberg (Admin)
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Brent Wolfe
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KPBS News
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KPCC BoardOperators
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Shula Neuman
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Shahla Farzan
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Jonathan Ahl