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

Series

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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

National Native American Veterans Memorial celebrates a complicated tradition of service
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: The National Native American Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. opened in November. The monument incorporates water for sacred ceremonies, benches, and lances where visitors can tie cloths for prayers and healing., Credit: Ron Cogswell / Flickr
Native Americans join the military at a high rate, but some struggle with the military's role in displacing and subjugating Indigenous people throu...

Bought by KMXT, Texas Public Radio, WUSF, North Country Public Radio, and KRZA


  • Added: Dec 04, 2020
  • Length: 03:31
  • Purchases: 5
Tragedies at Fort Hood have led the Army to rethink its response when soldiers go missing
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: Demonstrators gather in San Antonio in July, shortly after Vanessa Guillen's body was found near Fort Hood., Credit: Jolene Almendarez / American Homefront
Advocates say the Army is too quick to write off soldiers as deserters when they don't show up for duty. That can delay searches when a service mem...

Bought by WAMC Northeast Public Radio, KPCC, Colorado Public Radio, Texas Public Radio, and WUSF


  • Added: Nov 19, 2020
  • Length: 03:45
  • Purchases: 5
A 95-year-old veteran remembers fighting WWII in the Pacific - and racism at home
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: 95-year-old World War II veteran Luther Hendricks poses with some of his military honors. He was a member of the Montford Point Marines, a group of African-American troops who trained at a segregated camp in North Carolina., Credit: Hendricks family
President Roosevelt opened all branches of the military to Black troops in 1941, but for African-American service members like Luther Hendricks, ra...

Bought by WUSF, WAMC Northeast Public Radio, Colorado Public Radio, KPBS, Texas Public Radio and more


  • Added: Nov 09, 2020
  • Length: 03:41
  • Purchases: 6
Slowly and cautiously, the VA is reopening its medical clinics
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: Medical personnel care for a patient in the parking garage of the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital in Tampa. Much of the emergency department has been relocated outside., Credit: Ed Drohan / James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital
Medical facilities run by the Department of Veterans Affairs are reopening at a slower pace than many civilian health systems. But the VA has recen...

Bought by Colorado Public Radio, KPBS, and Texas Public Radio


  • Added: Oct 26, 2020
  • Length: 03:21
  • Purchases: 3
COVID-19 has upended the business model of American Legion posts, but Legionnaires are innovating
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: Comedian Fernando Sanchez warms up attendees of American Legion Post 397's comedy night Oct. 10. The Monterey Park, Cal. post has turned to events like this to raise money during the pandemic., Credit: Robert Garrova / American Homefront
American Legion posts across the country serve as a community hub for veterans and their families. But the pandemic has put the future of many post...

Bought by KRZA, Texas Public Radio, WUSF, KPBS, and Colorado Public Radio


  • Added: Oct 22, 2020
  • Length: 03:08
  • Purchases: 5
Amid continued anger about Vanessa Guillen's death, critics say the Army often ignores sex crimes
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: Josey Garcia, Pharaoh Clark, and Jourdyn Parks hold a banner as they march through San Antonio in July, shortly after Vanessa Guillen's body was found near Fort Hood., Credit: Jolene Almendarez / American Homefront
Following Guillen's killing, the Army launched an independent investigation into the climate of Fort Hood, but critics say the problems are systemic.

Bought by WAMC Northeast Public Radio, KPBS, Texas Public Radio, WUSF, and Colorado Public Radio


  • Added: Oct 20, 2020
  • Length: 03:49
  • Purchases: 5
Despite a reprieve from the Trump Administration, Stars And Stripes faces an uncertain future
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: A soldier in Logar Province, Afghanistan reads about the capture of Osama Bin Laden in a 2011 issue of the Stars and Stripes., Credit: Christopher Hall / Georgia National Guard
The 159-year-old military newspaper, which is published by the Department of Defense, has been targeted for elimination by some Pentagon leaders.

Bought by WUSF, KPCC, and Texas Public Radio


  • Added: Oct 06, 2020
  • Length: 03:32
  • Purchases: 3
For military children, changing schools in a pandemic presents new challenges
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: At General Clarence Tinker K-8 School on MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., about four in five students are attending classes in person., Credit: Danielle Quilla / U.S. Air Force
Most military children are used to moving and changing schools. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, it can be especially hard to make friends and fee...

Bought by WAMC Northeast Public Radio, KPBS, Texas Public Radio, KMXT, and Colorado Public Radio


  • Added: Sep 29, 2020
  • Length: 03:32
  • Purchases: 5
Why are there so few Black admirals in the Navy? Some blame a culture of discrimination
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: Rear Adm. Alvin Holsey (left) speaks with Ensign Dimitri Foster aboard the USS Lake Champlain in 2018. Holsey - one of the Navy's few Black admirals - heads the One Navy Task Force., Credit: Craig Z. Rodarte / U.S. Navy
A Navy Task Force is looking at why only a handful of African Americans reach top jobs. It's also examining discrimination in all aspects of Navy l...

Bought by WUSF, KPCC, Colorado Public Radio, and Texas Public Radio


  • Added: Sep 10, 2020
  • Length: 03:44
  • Purchases: 4
In a little-discussed program, the VA is helping veterans deal with race-based stress
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: The Department of Veterans Affairs in St. Louis is one of several VA locations that have held small group sessions to help veterans deal with race and mental health., Credit: Department of Veterans Affairs
A group of VA psychologists across the country have formed race-based stress and trauma support groups for veterans of color.

Bought by WAMC Northeast Public Radio, North Country Public Radio, Texas Public Radio, WUSF, KPBS and more


  • Added: Sep 03, 2020
  • Length: 03:47
  • Purchases: 6

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