Topic: Minority Veterans

How Being “In on the [Racist] Joke” Silences Service Members
Service members often feel compelled to laugh along at racist jokes and comments.

Facing It. “The Harder I Held on, the Further I Felt From Home.”
Drew Pham grieves for the family of the man he killed at war. His peers and commanders told him it was a good kill, but how can a kill be “good”?

The Repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell “Changed Everything”
Dan Misch spent nights on the Naval Academy bleachers crying and struggling to decide if he should leave or continue serving under Don't Ask Don't Tell.

Brother, Forgive Me. “I Cannot Carry the Consequences of This War Alone.”
In Joe, Drew Pham found a supportive peer and guide. One careless act threatened their relationship, forcing Drew to really consider what Joe means to him.

The Son of Refugees Reflects on How to Lose a U.S-led War
Drew Pham saw his refugee parents in Afghan civilians. Compassion, he thought, was the answer. But a part of his soul hardened as he learned to love war.

A Long-Awaited Reunion for Two Black Veterans
An older incarcerated veteran gets a visit from a former combat infantryman that he served with in Vietnam.

Losing “Pretty Girl” To “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
An investigation into an air traffic controller’s personal life in the era of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell felt like a rippling current of judgement.