Veterans Resource Guide

HUNTING IN WARTIME profiles the incredible stories of Tlingit Native Americans from the village of Hoonah, Alaska who served in the Vietnam War. Their stories confront the complexity of serving a country that systematically oppressed them; a government that forbid the Tlingit language, over-logged their forests, and established laws that robbed returning vets of their ancestral trade as fishermen. Furthermore, their stories expose on a very personal level the human experience of war and it’s lasting effects on veterans as well as their communities. Many vets succumbed to the horrors of alcoholism, PTSD and suicide; while some were able to climb back out to lead the next generation back to their Tlingit heritage (65 min).

A documentary about fighter pilot Jerry Yellin who flew the last combat mission of World War II over Japan. Jerry returned home a hero but led a dark life of survivor’s guilt and daily thoughts of suicide. Married with four sons, Yellin was forced to face his enemy once again when his youngest son moved to Japan and married the daughter of a Kamikaze pilot (58 min).

The Last Season is a heart-warming documentary about the power of friendship and resilience amid life’s hardships. Each September, over 200 seasonal workers, mostly from Cambodian, Lao, Hmong, Mien, and Thai backgrounds, set up camp near Chemult, Oregon, searching for the rare matsutake mushroom prized in Japan. This film follows two hunters, elderly Vietnam veteran Roger Higgins and Cambodian immigrant Kouy Loch, whose bond over shared traumatic experiences has made them almost like family. Roger’s war trauma pushed him to a life of self-made work in the forest, while Kouy’s survival as a Khmer Rouge slave laborer honed the foraging skills he now uses to earn a living. As Roger’s health declines, Kouy must hunt alone, highlighting themes of friendship, nature, and the changes that come with time in a beautiful and reflective portrayal of these men’s lives (81 min).

Winner of an Emmy and an Independent Spirit Award, WHERE SOLDIERS COME FROM is an intimate look at the young men who fight our wars and the families and town they come from. Returning to her hometown, Director Heather Courtney gains extraordinary access following these young men as they grow and change from teenagers stuck in their town, to National Guard soldiers looking for roadside bombs in Afghanistan, to 23-year-old veterans dealing with the silent war wounds of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and PTSD (91 min).

This documentary tells the story of the Vietnam War from the perspective of five Vietcong veterans: a soldier, an officer, an informant, a guerilla, a My Lai survivor and the leader of the Long Hair (all women) army.

Using rarely seen North Vietnamese archival footage, animated illustrations and interviews set in homes, villages and prisons, THE AMERICAN WAR gives voice and character to Vietcong veterans. They tell us why they served. Directed by an American veteran of the Iraq War, Daniel Bernardi, we experience Vietcong memories of the TET Offensive, of the My Lai Massacre, of torture at the ends of the South Vietnamese army, of PTSD, building the Ho Chi Minh Trail - and of forgiveness (52 min).

Korengal is a powerful documentary that revisits the Korengal Valley in Afghanistan, one of the deadliest regions for U.S. troops, to explore the intense emotions, fears, and bonds forged by soldiers during combat. Directed by Sebastian Junger as a follow-up to Restrepo, the film goes beyond combat scenes to reveal how the experience of war profoundly affects soldiers' minds, shaping their lives both on the battlefield and after they return home. Through candid interviews and raw footage, Korengal provides an unfiltered look at the psychological and emotional toll of war (84 min).

After Action is a compelling PBS series that offers an intimate look into the lives of U.S. military veterans as they transition from active duty to civilian life. Hosted by Air Force combat veteran Stacy Pearsall, the show features candid discussions with veterans from various branches and backgrounds, exploring themes of resilience, identity, mental health, and the challenges of reintegration. Each episode provides a raw and heartfelt look at the unique experiences of those who served, shedding light on the diverse realities of military life, the toll it can take, and the strength veterans find in sharing their stories. Through open conversation, After Action fosters understanding and connection, highlighting the courage of veterans as they navigate life after service (14 60 min Episodes).

Going to war is confusing, but it’s nothing compared to coming home. Academy Award nominee Sebastian Junger, author of The Perfect Storm, accompanied two combat veterans and a photojournalist on a 300-mile walk along the railroad lines from Washington D.C. to Pittsburgh. Sleeping under bridges, bathing in rivers and dodging the police, they encounter a country they no longer feel a part of. Recreating the closeness of soldiers in combat, they reflect on the intoxication of war and how to bring vets home (88 min).

A collection of short (5-10 minutes) documentaries highlighting the problems and possibilities that veterans face as they transition to civilian life.

The War After is a powerful 70-minute documentary that follows nine U.S. veterans as they transition from active duty to the challenges of civilian life. Through the voices of young men and women from diverse backgrounds and military branches, the film explores their journeys from intense and sometimes harrowing service experiences to the highs and lows of finding independence at a large liberal arts university. As thousands of U.S. service members return from Iraq and Afghanistan, The War After offers a timely, personal view of the American service experience, providing a unique perspective on reintegration (67 min).

This moving documentary follows two Iraq veterans, Tom Voss and Anthony Anderson, both tormented by depression for years after they returned home and pushed to the edge of suicide. The two embark on an extraordinary journey – a 2,700 mile walk across the country from Wisconsin to California, in order to reflect on their haunting experiences of war and to ultimately, save themselves (98 min).

Walking 6000 miles, Marine Veteran Jonathan Hancock confronts unprocessed trauma from war. Jon's insight and humor gives a uniquely positive approach to the post-war topic. A hopeful story of resilience meant to inspire all audiences (98 min).

Today, more soldiers are lost to suicide than on the battlefield. After serving their country overseas, many military veterans in their darkest moments turn to the unique services of the Veterans Crisis Line to help with traumas like post-traumatic stress, depression, homelessness and drug dependence. This 40-minute documentary is an intimate look at the vital work of several responders who provide life-saving intervention and desperately needed referrals through the 24-hour Veterans Crisis Line, which provides support and hope to active and retired service members. Directed by Ellen Goosenberg Kent (Wartorn: 1861-2010, Alive Day Memories: Home from Iraq), and produced by Dana Perry (Boy Interrupted), the film focuses on the intense, and at times chilling, calls received by the crisis line and the dedicated work of the responders and rescue coordinators who help distraught veterans find reasons to live (40 min).

Healing A Soldier’s Heart follows four Vietnam veterans with severe PTSD as they return to Vietnam in hopes of healing from their wartime traumas. Guided by psychotherapist Dr. Edward Tick, they confront painful memories by visiting the very sites where they fought and witnessed loss. This powerful journey, which Dr. Tick calls a "willful descent into hell," brings the veterans into contact with Vietnamese culture and the compassion of former enemies, leading them toward forgiveness and spiritual peace. The film traces their transformation from haunted, struggling individuals to healed warriors, offering profound lessons for veterans of more recent wars and a poignant exploration of war's enduring psychological toll (73 min).

Bob Woodruff traces the stories of veterans, surgeons, researchers, rehab experts, and families, from battlefield to military hospitals, from hi-tech research centers to rehab facilities, to homes and workplaces - where this new generation of wounded warriors have a chance to live another life, after combat and after critical injury (56 min).

A documentary highlighting the resourcefulness of seven amazing women who represent the first wave of mothers, daughters and sisters returning home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Portraying the courage of women veterans as they transition from active duty to their civilian lives, this powerful film describes the horrific traumas they have faced, the inadequate care they often receive on return, and the large and small accomplishments they work mightily to achieve. Through compelling portraits, we watch these women wrestle with prostheses, homelessness, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Military Sexual Trauma. SERVICE is an eye-opening look at the specific challenges facing women veterans with a special focus on the disabled (55 min).

To Be of Service is a heartfelt documentary that delves into the lives of military veterans grappling with PTSD and the healing partnerships they form with service dogs. These dogs provide not only practical assistance but also emotional grounding, helping veterans cope with symptoms such as anxiety, hypervigilance, and social withdrawal. Through intimate interviews and moving scenes of daily life, To Be of Service highlights the transformative power of these bonds, showing how companionship and unconditional support help veterans reconnect with society and reclaim hope for the future (87 min).

This short documentary follows the struggles of a diverse group of veterans. VOICES OF RESILIENCE offers inspirational examples of veterans who are opening up to ancient practices of yoga and meditation, warriors who are searching – and finally finding themselves – on a path towards inner peace (15 min).