Military Memoirs
"The worst thing was the silence-that was even worse than the noise because we never knew what was going to happen."
"You just can't even imagine the horrors of war."
This was my favorite part of the project and entailed talking with the heroes who made this project possible. After eight interviews, I have learned so much about life in the military and what real American heroes have endured. Many spoke about their time with comrades and funny stories that made the time memorable. Few chose to talk about their combat experiences, and one veteran explained to me that it was mandatory that he not discuss it. After medical treatment and months of horrible flashbacks, talking about war would only undo what he fought so hard to forget. For this reason, the interviewees did not have to answer questions that made them uncomfortable. Nonetheless, each enjoyed talking about their MOS (military operation specialties), and some of their crowning moments in service.
The interesting parts were the contrasts between the accounts given. With race, two affluent white individuals gave no account of racial tensions and stated that racism was not even a concern. The individual stated that the classes that taught diversity did not help any of them. These individuals never knew racism, and always looked at people as people. An African-American man gave the complete opposite account. He stated that racism was always an issue, and that he endured harsh treatment and names such as, “nigger,” and “coon.” He broke down into tears during the interview as he recounted the terrible situations he had been placed into. However, he had friends, and they cared for him, giving him encouragement. He still gives all his credit to God for giving him strength, allowing him to overcome difficulties, and come home alive when wartime seemed dim.
Another interesting part were the sexual harassment accounts. One woman had minor problems while serving and as a retired vet, feels that the VA is seeking victims and making it a bigger issue than it needs to be. However, she did say that no women deserves to be treated in such a terrible manner. Another woman felt that this was a problem that was not being addressed enough. She was a victim of sexual assault and experienced the hurt and shame firsthand. She feels that the military needs to do something to take care of the women and promptly address these concerns.
Many, however, had common sayings. Many believe that friend in the military is totally different from what it means in the civilian world. To us, it means someone who comments on our social media pages or eats lunch with us. To military individuals, it means to the death. No matter what happens, they will not abandon each other in the middle of the storm and will do everything to protect each other. That is why so many of them valued their friends, thinking about them, praying about them, and seeking the ones that helped them deal with the perils of war. One veteran explained that their deaths were what made the military so hard on so many. A military individual could watch a friend die and would have to quell that pain by moving on. It was traumatic. For reasons like these, many come back home with severe emotional trauma.
They chose this path because it meant something to all of them. The military gave some a sense of direction, was a family thing, was a direct response to the draft, and allowed them to give back to their country. It was important to each veteran, and each put their entire heart and mind into serving this country with dignity and pride.
The interesting parts were the contrasts between the accounts given. With race, two affluent white individuals gave no account of racial tensions and stated that racism was not even a concern. The individual stated that the classes that taught diversity did not help any of them. These individuals never knew racism, and always looked at people as people. An African-American man gave the complete opposite account. He stated that racism was always an issue, and that he endured harsh treatment and names such as, “nigger,” and “coon.” He broke down into tears during the interview as he recounted the terrible situations he had been placed into. However, he had friends, and they cared for him, giving him encouragement. He still gives all his credit to God for giving him strength, allowing him to overcome difficulties, and come home alive when wartime seemed dim.
Another interesting part were the sexual harassment accounts. One woman had minor problems while serving and as a retired vet, feels that the VA is seeking victims and making it a bigger issue than it needs to be. However, she did say that no women deserves to be treated in such a terrible manner. Another woman felt that this was a problem that was not being addressed enough. She was a victim of sexual assault and experienced the hurt and shame firsthand. She feels that the military needs to do something to take care of the women and promptly address these concerns.
Many, however, had common sayings. Many believe that friend in the military is totally different from what it means in the civilian world. To us, it means someone who comments on our social media pages or eats lunch with us. To military individuals, it means to the death. No matter what happens, they will not abandon each other in the middle of the storm and will do everything to protect each other. That is why so many of them valued their friends, thinking about them, praying about them, and seeking the ones that helped them deal with the perils of war. One veteran explained that their deaths were what made the military so hard on so many. A military individual could watch a friend die and would have to quell that pain by moving on. It was traumatic. For reasons like these, many come back home with severe emotional trauma.
They chose this path because it meant something to all of them. The military gave some a sense of direction, was a family thing, was a direct response to the draft, and allowed them to give back to their country. It was important to each veteran, and each put their entire heart and mind into serving this country with dignity and pride.
"[The best part of the military was] discovering the lengths I could go to to accomplish something- the internal fortitude I didn't know I had."