Longest War: The Post-9/11 Veterans Podcast

Lee Wagner | Dangerous Normal Life

On episode 55 of Longest War: The Post-9/11 Veterans Podcast, we talk with Iraq War veteran Lee Wagner about joining the Marines, deploying to Iraq, both sides of active and reserve duty, the value of military work experience, and why we should not talk about the veterans’ suicide rate.

(This episode contains explicit language or subject matter)

 

 

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

Lee Wagner of Freeport, Pennsylvania kicked around a bit after high school and then followed his big brother into the Marine Corps during the mid 90s.  When his reserve support unit was called up to Iraq in 2003, he was among the first to invade the country.  In the early days of the war, long before IED warfare demanded more heavily armored vehicles, Lee and his support unit traveled the country side delivering ammunition and fuel in unarmored vehicles–leaving them vulnerable to the everyday threats of SCUD attacks, mortar fire, and small arms firefights, not to mention whatever kind of industrial-type accident that could happen on a daily basis, such as exploding tanker trucks.

War is often not what you see in the movies, Lee jokes, it’s not all intense combat and battle scenes.  Instead, much of the time is spent just routinely going about your daily job.  Normal, almost.  A dangerous normal life, where anything could go wrong at any moment–and kill you.

On episode 55 of Longest War: The Post-9/11 Veterans Podcast, we talk with Iraq War veteran Lee Wagner about joining the Marines, deploying to Iraq, both sides of active and reserve duty, the value of military work experience, and why we should not talk about the veterans’ suicide rate.

This episode was recorded June 28, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Host: Nick Grimes.  Guests: Lee Wagner, with Lauren DelRicci.  Audiography: Kevin Farkas/The Social Voice Project; recordist: Nick Grimes.  Music (available on SoundCloud.com): Pipe Choir Records (“Response Data”), The Daily Loops Project (“21-03-13 Daily Loops”), a.m.c. (“ smooth vibration#17 2_los as schrenza”). ©Longest War: The Post-9/11 Veterans Podcast. Veterans Breakfast Club.  All rights reserved.

 

ABOUT THE PODCAST

Rather than judge, our aim is to understand the experiences of post-9/11 veterans through their stories, in their own words.  That’s why the Veterans Breakfast Club launched its Post-9/11 Veterans Storytelling Project creating communities of listening around post-9/11 veterans and their stories ensuring that their experiences will be shared with and appreciated by the public.  The Longest War podcast is an extension of this effort, featuring stories and conversations with post-9/11 veterans and others with similar experiences.

 

 

 

 

 

Andy Nigut | Now I Understand

On episode 54 of Longest War: The Post-9/11 Veterans Podcast, we talk with Vietnam veteran Andy Nigut about becoming a Marine, being severely wounded in combat, learning to hate war, discovering delayed stress syndrome, and welcoming fellow combat veterans home.

(This episode contains explicit language or subject matter)

 

 

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

When Andy Nigut first saw his face after the wounding, he was horrified.  A Vietnamese rocket propelled grenade had removed nearly 80% of his jaw and most of his teeth.  He breathed through his neck, and his tongue was stitched down.  He couldn’t scream, even if he wanted to.  “I was not prepared for what I saw,” he now says, after many long years of recovery.

Despite the everyday reminder of the Vietnam War, Andy Nigut holds no animosity to toward his former enemy–their government, yes, and ours. It’s almost beyond comprehension, that war, and why so many your men and women were there, dying and leaving parts of their bodies in a foreign land.

But understanding the plight of his Vietnam “brothers and sisters,” as Andy refers to his generation of fellow warriors, is something Andy has made a career of as veterans counselor–and simply being there for someone else who’s “been there” and struggling to make sense of their experiences.

This episode was recorded January 9, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Host: Nick Grimes.  Guests: Andy Nigut, with Mary Kay Nigut.  Audiography: Kevin Farkas/The Social Voice Project; recordist: Nick Grimes.  Music (available on SoundCloud.com): Pipe Choir Records (“Response Data”), Delta Centauri (“Page”), Audio_02, J-TRIP (“New Trolla Test”), Subi (“Beatbreaker”).  ©Longest War: The Post-9/11 Veterans Podcast. Veterans Breakfast Club.  All rights reserved.

 

ABOUT THE PODCAST

Rather than judge, our aim is to understand the experiences of post-9/11 veterans through their stories, in their own words.  That’s why the Veterans Breakfast Club launched its Post-9/11 Veterans Storytelling Project creating communities of listening around post-9/11 veterans and their stories ensuring that their experiences will be shared with and appreciated by the public.  The Longest War podcast is an extension of this effort, featuring stories and conversations with post-9/11 veterans and others with similar experiences.

 

 

 

 

 

The Abernathy Family | No Justification

On episode 53 of Longest War: The Post-9/11 Veterans Podcast, we talk with three generations of the Abernathy family of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, about serving in the army during WWII through the War in Iraq, geo-political causes of war, leadership through love, and war’s impact on humanity.

(This episode does not contain explicit language or subject matter)

 

 

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

Four generations of the Abernathy family have served in every major armed conflict and the Cold War since World War I.  Thomas Cross served as an army infantryman during WWII, being among the first Americans to enter Germany.  Thomas’ daughter Denise joined the army in the 1970s and served during the height of the second great period of the Cold War.  Thomas’ grandson, Father Paul Abernathy served with the army during the initial invasion of Iraq in 2003.

The Abernathy family’s personal experience with war leaves them uniquely qualified to judge its usefulness and ultimate affect on America, nations around the world, and humanity itself.  And they conclude:  There is no justification for war.

This episode was recorded June 9, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Host: Nick Grimes.  Guests: Thomas Cross, Denise Abernathy, Fr. Paul Abernathy.  Audiography: Kevin Farkas/The Social Voice Project.  Music (available on SoundCloud.com): WOWA (“They Say”), Alexander Nakarada (“Jack the Lumberer”).   ©Longest War: The Post-9/11 Veterans Podcast. Veterans Breakfast Club.  All rights reserved.

 

 

ABOUT THE PODCAST

Rather than judge, our aim is to understand the experiences of post-9/11 veterans through their stories, in their own words.  That’s why the Veterans Breakfast Club launched its Post-9/11 Veterans Storytelling Project creating communities of listening around post-9/11 veterans and their stories ensuring that their experiences will be shared with and appreciated by the public.  The Longest War podcast is an extension of this effort, featuring stories and conversations with post-9/11 veterans and others with similar experiences.

 

 

 

 

 

Brian Castner | The Walk

On episode 52 of Longest War: The Post-9/11 Veterans Podcast, we talk to former Air Force EOD officer and bestselling author Brian Castner about classified rumors, being EOD cool, the evolution of IEDs, American ego, and acceptance of violence and grief.

(This episode contains explicit language or subject matter)

 

 

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

Brian Castner is former Air Force explosive ordnance disposal officer and combat veteran of the Iraq War. He is a noted author, appearing in the New York Times, WIRED, Esquire, The Atlantic, Foreign Policy, and on National Public Radio.  He is most noted for his war memoir, The Long Walk, which was adapted into an opera and named a New York Times Editor’s Pick and an Amazon Best Book.  His other works include Disappointment River, and All the Ways We Kill and Die.

This episode was recorded January 24, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Host: Nick Grimes.  Guest: Brian Castner. Audiography: Kevin Farkas/The Social Voice Project.  Music (available on SoundCloud.com): Delta Notch (“Ellie’s Song”), Pipe Choir Records (“The Interesting Actual”), Paul Paik (“Mood Indigo”).  ©Longest War: The Post-9/11 Veterans Podcast. Veterans Breakfast Club.  All rights reserved.

 

 

 

ABOUT THE PODCAST

Rather than judge, our aim is to understand the experiences of post-9/11 veterans through their stories, in their own words.  That’s why the Veterans Breakfast Club launched its Post-9/11 Veterans Storytelling Project creating communities of listening around post-9/11 veterans and their stories ensuring that their experiences will be shared with and appreciated by the public.  The Longest War podcast is an extension of this effort, featuring stories and conversations with post-9/11 veterans and others with similar experiences.

 

 

 

 

Souroth Chatterji | Use of Force

On episode 51 of Longest War: The Post-9/11 Veterans Podcast, we talk to former army medic and combat veteran of Iraq Souroth Chatterji about illegal aliens, easy duty in Iraq, and his thoughts on community policing and the use of force after seven years with the Pittsburgh police.

(This episode contains explicit language or subject matter)

 

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

Without knowing any English at the age of 12, Souroth Chatterji came to the United States from India with his mother and brother.  He would overstay his visa, technically classifying him as an illegal immigrant, but that didn’t stop him from joining the US Army (National Guard) and serving multiple tours as a medic in Iraq.  After returning home and earning a degree from the University of Pittsburgh, he joined the Pittsburgh Police Department in 2012.  After seven years, Souroth resigned from law enforcement to pursue interests in community engagement.

On this episode, we talk with Souroth about his experiences in Iraq and how his deployments were different.  We also talk about the role of veterans in civilian law enforcement, the use of deadly force, community policing, and social justice issues.

This episode was recorded June 28, 2018, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Host: Nick Grimes.  Guest: Souroth Chatterji. Audiography: Kevin Farkas/The Social Voice Project.  Music (available on SoundCloud.com): JemB || Ashh Ist (“[Deep Inside] Smooth in a Jazzlander”).  ©Longest War: The Post-9/11 Veterans Podcast. Veterans Breakfast Club.  All rights reserved.

 

 

ABOUT THE PODCAST

Rather than judge, our aim is to understand the experiences of post-9/11 veterans through their stories, in their own words.  That’s why the Veterans Breakfast Club launched its Post-9/11 Veterans Storytelling Project creating communities of listening around post-9/11 veterans and their stories ensuring that their experiences will be shared with and appreciated by the public.  The Longest War podcast is an extension of this effort, featuring stories and conversations with post-9/11 veterans and others with similar experiences.

 

 

 

 

Timothy Jones | There’s Hope

On episode 50 of Longest War: The Post-9/11 Veterans Podcast, we feature a special cross-over presentation of the inaugural episode of the MST Podcast, sponsored by the Veterans Breakfast Club.  Host Lauren DelRicci talks with navy veteran Timothy Jones about his MST experience being raped and suffering the fallout among his peers after reporting the crime.  Timothy shares his powerful story of survival from sinking to the depths of despair, rising with hopefulness, and realizing healthfulness within a community of supportive fellow veterans in Pittsburgh.

(This episode contains explicit language or subject matter)

 

 

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

Timothy Jones is a navy veteran and survivor of military sexual trauma.  While stationed in Japan, he was raped by a Marine.  Although Tim reported the crime, his peers hazed and harassed him to the point where he was removed from this duty station and eventually discharged from the navy.  His assailant was eventually convicted and sentenced to six months in the Brig.

In this episode, Timothy shares a powerful story of survival.  From sinking to the depths of despair and then rising with hopefulness, he now realizes healthfulness within a community of supportive fellow veterans in Pittsburgh.  But everyday is a struggle, he admits, but through it all there’s hope for a better day today than yesterday.

This episode was recorded May 22, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Host: Lauren DelRicci.  Guest: Timothy Jones.  Podcast Producer: Kevin Farkas.  Audiography: Kevin Farkas, Nick Grimes.  Music (available on SoundCloud.com): Panda Dog Music (“The Return of Bossa”), Zom V (“LuvStep 2011 Mini Mix”), 9 Smooth Vibe (“Soul Lounge Mix”).  Additional sound (available on Youtube):  Dept. of Defense (“Sexual Assault – Retaliation,” “Get Consent”). ©MST Podcast/The Social Voice Project, Inc. All rights reserved. ©Longest War Podcast/Veterans Breakfast Club. All rights reserved.

 

ABOUT THE PODCAST

Rather than judge, our aim is to understand the experiences of post-9/11 veterans through their stories, in their own words.  That’s why the Veterans Breakfast Club launched its Post-9/11 Veterans Storytelling Project creating communities of listening around post-9/11 veterans and their stories ensuring that their experiences will be shared with and appreciated by the public.  The Longest War podcast is an extension of this effort, featuring stories and conversations with post-9/11 veterans and others with similar experiences.

 

 

 

 

 

Tim O’Brien | Making Sentences Is Hard

On episode 49 of Longest War: The Post-9/11 Veterans Podcast, we talk to Vietnam veteran and noted author Tim O’Brien about memory and truth in war, making sense of absolutes, and how veterans can deal with experience through writing and storytelling.

(This episode contains explicit language or subject matter)

 

 

Tim O’Brien is best known for The Things They Carried, a collection of short stories based on his experiences serving during the Vietnam War.  He was drafted into the army and served from 1969 to 1970.  Prior to his arrival in Vietnam, his unit had taken part in the infamous My Lai Massacre—an event that profoundly affected his unit’s experiences with the Vietnamese people. “We all wondered why the place was so hostile,” O’Brien recalls. “We did not know there had been a massacre there a year earlier. The news about that only came out later, while we were there, and then we knew.”

O’Brien is the author of several works related to the war, including Box Me Up and Ship Me Home, If I Die in a Combat Zone, and Going After Cacciato, which won the National Book Award for Fiction. He has appeared in numerous documentaries about Vietnam, including Ken Burns’ 2017 series, The Vietnam War.

 

ABOUT THE PODCAST

Rather than judge, our aim is to understand the experiences of post-9/11 veterans through their stories, in their own words.  That’s why the Veterans Breakfast Club launched its Post-9/11 Veterans Storytelling Project creating communities of listening around post-9/11 veterans and their stories ensuring that their experiences will be shared with and appreciated by the public.  The Longest War podcast is an extension of this effort, featuring stories and conversations with post-9/11 veterans and others with similar experiences.

This episode was recorded May 22, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Host: Nick Grimes.  Guest: Tim O’Brien. Audiography: Kevin Farkas/The Social Voice Project.  Music (available on SoundCloud.com): Standingwave Master (“101814 traditionalkoreandrumdance”), Alexander White (“Warm It Up”), Jonathan Nield (“Get Them Out”). Other sounds (available on YouTube.com: President Lyndon B. Johnson (“Why We Are in Vietnam”), Movieclips (“Thou Shall Not Kill,” from the movie Born on the Fourth of July (1989, Universal Pictures).  Cover photo: © 2012 Larry D. Moore (CC BY-SA 3.0).  ©Longest War: The Post-9/11 Veterans Podcast. Veterans Breakfast Club.  All rights reserved.

 

VBC at Night | Heinz Field

On episode 48 of Longest War: The Post-9/11 Veterans Podcast, VBC presents an evening of live veterans storytelling at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, featuring the stories and voices of Matt Landis, Leonard Hammonds, LaShaundra Hammonds, Craig Williams, Jake Wheatley, Paul Abernathy, and many others.

(This episode does not contain explicit language or subject matter)

 

 

Those who served since the attacks of September 11, 2001 are called post-9/11 veterans.  They number more than 3.7 million and make up nearly 18% of the total veteran population.  Nearly 12% of all veterans in Pennsylvania served since 9/11.

Compared to WWII, Korea, and Vietnam-era veterans, post-9/11 veterans are young and more racially, ethnically, and gender diverse.  The number of women who’ve served since 9/11 is more than double any previous generation. More than 25% of post-9/11 veterans have a service connected disability, with far more suffering from the psychological trauma of war.  About half of all post-9/11 vets served with someone who was killed.  The suicide rate among post-9/ll veterans is alarming.

Yet, post-9/11 veterans are among our nation’s best, brightest, patriotic, and productive citizens.  As President Obama said, “Across our country, veterans who fought to protect our democracy around the globe are strengthening it here at home. Once leaders in the armed forces, they are now pioneers of industry and pillars of their communities.”

At war or home, the post-9/11 veteran experience is certainly unlike any other.  The particular social, economic, and political issues facing our young veterans are, naturally, of our time.  Their stories bear this out, revealing experiences that are far more complicated than we assume, understand, or oftentimes accept.

Rather than judge, our aim is to understand the experiences of post-9/11 veterans through their stories, in their own words.  That’s why the Veterans Breakfast Club launched its Post-9/11 Veterans Storytelling Project creating communities of listening around post-9/11 veterans and their stories ensuring that their experiences will be shared with and appreciated by the public.

The Longest War podcast is an extension of this effort, featuring stories and conversations with post-9/11 veterans.

____________________________________________________________________

This episode was recorded December 14, 2017 at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Host: Nick Grimes.  Featuring the voices and stories of Matt Landis, Leonard Hammonds, LaShaundra Hammonds, Craig Williams, Jake Wheatley, Paul Abernathy, and many others. Executive Producer: Kevin Farkas.  Audiography: Kevin Farkas, Jon Stile.  Music (available on SoundCloud.com): Dot Legacy (“Like a Doll”). Other Sounds (Available on YouTube.com): Thomas Barnett (“Touchdown/Annoying Sound”), Young Blade (“Blak & Gold *2016 Pittsburgh Steelers Anthem*). ©Longest War: The Post-9/11 Veterans Podcast. Veterans Breakfast Club.  All rights reserved.

 

 

Frankia Bernstein | I Saw So Many Things

On episode 47 of Longest War: The Post-9/11 Veterans Podcast, we talk with US Marine Corps combat veteran Frankia Bernstein about joining the military after 9/11, one less terrorist in the world, seeing things in boot camp that can’t be unseen, and providing life to the marines.

(This episode contains explicit language or subject matter)

 

 

Those who served since the attacks of September 11, 2001 are called post-9/11 veterans.  They number more than 3.7 million and make up nearly 18% of the total veteran population.  Nearly 12% of all veterans in Pennsylvania served since 9/11.

Compared to WWII, Korea, and Vietnam-era veterans, post-9/11 veterans are young and more racially, ethnically, and gender diverse.  The number of women who’ve served since 9/11 is more than double any previous generation. More than 25% of post-9/11 veterans have a service connected disability, with far more suffering from the psychological trauma of war.  About half of all post-9/11 vets served with someone who was killed.  The suicide rate among post-9/ll veterans is alarming.

Yet, post-9/11 veterans are among our nation’s best, brightest, patriotic, and productive citizens.  As President Obama said, “Across our country, veterans who fought to protect our democracy around the globe are strengthening it here at home. Once leaders in the armed forces, they are now pioneers of industry and pillars of their communities.”

At war or home, the post-9/11 veteran experience is certainly unlike any other.  The particular social, economic, and political issues facing our young veterans are, naturally, of our time.  Their stories bear this out, revealing experiences that are far more complicated than we assume, understand, or oftentimes accept.

Rather than judge, our aim is to understand the experiences of post-9/11 veterans through their stories, in their own words.  That’s why the Veterans Breakfast Club launched its Post-9/11 Veterans Storytelling Project creating communities of listening around post-9/11 veterans and their stories ensuring that their experiences will be shared with and appreciated by the public.

The Longest War podcast is an extension of this effort, featuring stories and conversations with post-9/11 veterans.

____________________________________________________________________

This episode was recorded September 14, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Host: Lauren DelRicci, with Nick Grimes. Guest: Frankia Bernstein. Executive Producer: Kevin Farkas.  Audiography: Kevin Farkas, Jon Stile.  Music (available on SoundCloud.com): LD50 (“Promo_Mix-201103”), Forgotten Dreams (“Live at Night of Museums”). ©Longest War: The Post-9/11 Veterans Podcast. Veterans Breakfast Club.  All rights reserved.

 

 

Derrick Clark | I See Myself

On episode 46 of Longest War: The Post-9/11 Veterans Podcast, we talk with US Navy veteran Derrick Clark about opportunities given and taken away by the military, what it means to be an operational yeoman, documenting war, mentoring today’s youth, and racism inside and outside the military.

(This episode contains explicit language or subject matter)

 

 

Those who served since the attacks of September 11, 2001 are called post-9/11 veterans.  They number more than 3.7 million and make up nearly 18% of the total veteran population.  Nearly 12% of all veterans in Pennsylvania served since 9/11.

Compared to WWII, Korea, and Vietnam-era veterans, post-9/11 veterans are young and more racially, ethnically, and gender diverse.  The number of women who’ve served since 9/11 is more than double any previous generation. More than 25% of post-9/11 veterans have a service connected disability, with far more suffering from the psychological trauma of war.  About half of all post-9/11 vets served with someone who was killed.  The suicide rate among post-9/ll veterans is alarming.

Yet, post-9/11 veterans are among our nation’s best, brightest, patriotic, and productive citizens.  As President Obama said, “Across our country, veterans who fought to protect our democracy around the globe are strengthening it here at home. Once leaders in the armed forces, they are now pioneers of industry and pillars of their communities.”

At war or home, the post-9/11 veteran experience is certainly unlike any other.  The particular social, economic, and political issues facing our young veterans are, naturally, of our time.  Their stories bear this out, revealing experiences that are far more complicated than we assume, understand, or oftentimes accept.

Rather than judge, our aim is to understand the experiences of post-9/11 veterans through their stories, in their own words.  That’s why the Veterans Breakfast Club launched its Post-9/11 Veterans Storytelling Project creating communities of listening around post-9/11 veterans and their stories ensuring that their experiences will be shared with and appreciated by the public.

The Longest War podcast is an extension of this effort, featuring stories and conversations with post-9/11 veterans.

____________________________________________________________________

This episode was recorded November 14, 2017. Host: Nick Grimes. Guest: Derrick Clark. Executive Producer: Kevin Farkas.  Audiography: Kevin Farkas.  Music (available on SoundCloud.com): Ron Gelinas Chillout Lounge (“LANDR-Over The Horizon”), Nikolai Kozlov (“New Acoustic”).  Other sounds (available on Youtube): American Forces Network (Sasebo) (“Yeomen Still Play a Crucial Role in Today’s Navy”)  ©Longest War: The Post-9/11 Veterans Podcast. Veterans Breakfast Club.  All rights reserved.