American Homefront Project

GroupAccount image
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, KCUR-Kansas City, and WSHU-Fairfield, Conn.

Series

Series image
American Veteran 
5 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.

Pieces

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 KPBS, WRFA-LP, North Country Public Radio, KMXT, and KUT


  • Added: Nov 18, 2021
  • Length: 03:47
  • Purchases: 5
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
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
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
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
American Veteran: 'So different than what we thought it would be'
From: American Homefront Project
Series: American Veteran
Caption: 1st Lieutenant Edie Meeks, veteran of the U.S. Army., Credit: Insignia Films
Serving as a nurse in Vietnam, Edie Meeks struggled to balance compassionate care for her patients with the anger she felt about the war.

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


  • Added: Oct 17, 2021
  • Length: 04:00
  • Purchases: 8
American Veteran: His mom hoped he'd patrol Coney Island. Instead, he was a witness to history.
From: American Homefront Project
Series: American Veteran
Caption: Frank DeVita, veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, holds a picture of himself in uniform when he served in World War II., Credit: Amanda Lalezarian
70 years after he worked a landing craft off the coast of France on D-Day, the memories of World War II still haunt Frank DeVita.

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


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

Actions

Playlists

none

People who work with American Homefront Project

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