Testimonials
Participants were surveyed immediately following the program.
Overall, the program brought opposing views on war, the military, and the meaning of military service into dialogue, and provided a rich humanities experience that led to a deeper understanding of the nuances and connections between military experiences.
Results demonstrate that the program:
- fostered an appreciation for humanities materials and methods as a means to promoting self- and shared reflections;
- helped participants build critical thinking, reading, listening, and facilitation skills;
- created a group dynamic that a allowed for rich dialogues;
- highlighted the nuances of military experiences;
- encouraged participants to share their personal experiences;
- revealed connections between military and civilian perspectives;
- provided a space for processing personal, and sometimes difficult, experiences;
- encouraged participants to connect to and understand the resources available to veterans; and,
- motivated participants to continue building social connections.
Findings
Post-Program
Appreciation for Humanities Materials and Methods
Respondents shared their thoughts and appreciation for the materials explored in the program. Many wrote in detail about encountering perspectives that paralleled their own, were different from their own, or shed light on a topic. Whether they agreed or disagreed with the perspectives shared, their responses demonstrated that the materials explored were successful in spurring important dialogue among the group. Ninety percent of respondents agreed they were “able to see parallels between [their] experiences and issues raised in the readings”:
90% of respondents agreed they were “able to see parallels between [their] experiences and issues raised in the readings”.
Dispatches reflected my experience of The American War In Vietnam. What It Is Like To Go To War: Strongly disagreed with author’s perspective and experience about war. Themes of honor, courage, loyalty not very relevant for a draftee or anti-war participant to war.
Karl Marlantes’ book, What It Is Like to Go to War, was extremely meaningful to me. He expressed many of the same emotions that I experienced, before, during, and after combat. I have read 40+ books on the Vietnam war, and his work is the first piece of literature that accurately and honestly reflected my own feelings.
Another respondent wrote that the materials also facilitated group reflections through which they were able to see their shared experiences:
I enjoyed reading most of the books. The variety of books, and the varied thinking of the authors, were all important to me. I liked the inclusion of the “homecoming” as we all experienced something important during that process. It was good to learn that most of the others had similar feelings during the experience of returning from the war to civilian life.
Looking forward, 81 percent of respondents agreed that the “program has motivated [them] to read more widely.”
John McCain’s book stood out to me. If it weren’t for this program, I may never have picked up any of the books and McCain’s was one of the most memorable. I appreciated his first hand account as a Prisoner of War. My only exposure to P.O.W.s has been through film, which tends to not be entirely accurate.
Other respondents felt motivated to write as a means to sharing their experiences:
I have a desire to begin writing about my life, telling my story.
I found that my own desire to describe my experiences in writing is shared by many of the other combat veterans.
85% of respondents agreed “this program helped [them] to recognize connections across disciplines in the humanities.”
Eighty-five percent of respondents agreed “this program helped [them] to recognize connections across disciplines in the humanities.” Across qualitative reflections, many respondents wrote about this program being a powerful humanities experience they will carry with them:
I guess the main idea that was demonstrated most vividly to me was our central contention: that of the commonalities of the military experience across time and place. It really is true, even more than I thought was the case going in. It was fascinating to see the participants, some of whom were initially skeptical regarding the relevance of the Iliad to latter day conflicts/warriors, come on board by the end of the program. Basically the ideal Humanities experience.
I broadened my perspective on a number of themes. It was valuable to read the readings and then hear how others interpreted them. This deepened my appreciation of the material and the themes.
This was probably–no, certainly–the most intellectually and emotionally rewarding academic experience I have ever had. The extended nature of the program required coming to terms with both the texts and each other in ways that were at times perilous and ultimately wonderful. The texts were the ideal template on which to draw the participants out about their experiences. Three cheers for the Humanities, they really do work!
Skills Acquired from the Program
The structure of the program also facilitated skill-building, including critical thinking and reflection, engaged listening, and close reading and reflection. Eighty-four percent of respondents agreed “this program has improved [their] ability to reflect on and think critically about the humanities.” One participant wrote about the different texts explored and how they generated different types of discussions among participants, demonstrating a recognition of how the humanities materials explored can spur critical conversations:
Each text reference utilized in the program had its own unique quality and reflected such in the discussions, some more so than others (Faith of My Fathers was too unique an experience for most to associate with). Themes regarding Homecoming and Loyalty created some of the most intense dialogue during our sessions.
Another respondent wrote about feeling challenged by the materials and the class while encountering new literature and perspectives:
I knew next to nothing about the Iliad prior to this class. I appreciate reflecting on the various responses to the lessons. The class was a challenge for me and it was a dose of discipline.
94% of respondents agreed “this program encouraged [them] to take a closer look at [their] own habits of thinking.”
Ninety-four percent of respondents agreed “this program encouraged [them] to take a closer look at [their] own habits of thinking,” and 63 of respondents agreed they are “more confident about taking part in thoughtful discussions with others than before the program.” Qualitative responses suggest that the program’s emphasis on perspective taking and varied experiences was impactful for participants:
I spent a lot of time examining homecoming from different perspectives because of this program.
I have been in Honors programs in school my entire life where we read and discuss literature. This was the first Veteran-centric program and I enjoyed it all the more because of that. I have often said that I have no trouble talking with other folks, but it is entirely fluid when I approach other Veterans; no matter the service. I am still serving in the military and I work full-time on a military base. I will be more intentional and more aware of other Veterans’ backgrounds and experiences from now on.
I have not spoken with career military folks much in the 50 years I’ve quietly (too quietly) spoken out about our country’s export of violence. Getting to know so many who were “career” or had similar experiences to me with different perspectives, gave me new insights. I got to like them and worked hard to put their experiences in their context. I listened and learned and came away with an understanding of, and an appreciation for, dedication. Also a fearful sadness for how misused that dedication has been.
One discussion leader wrote about the growth they experienced personally and professionally from their training and experience of the program:
Where do I begin? From training through the GI film festival, this has been by far the greatest academic/professional project I’ve been part of. The caliber of the people involved has helped me tremendously in many aspects of my life. Just being a part of such an amazing group boosted my confidence and helped me get over a lot of professional anxiety. The discussion group meetings themselves helped me hone my ability to foster deep conversation and to set conversation up to flow around themes, and the readings were perfectly chosen to aid me in that endeavor. This made the discussions flow smoothly, and with every new meeting, my confidence grew further. Being in the discussion groups also gave me a space to process some of my own regrets, and not only was I able to share those ideas safely, I found that I was not alone. More than that, though, I learned that despite that, I also had common ground with people who did not necessarily share those regrets. The humanities provided such different perspectives that the tone for safely disagreeing had been set. I can’t say enough about how this experience has changed my life, and the reality is I probably don’t even know all of the ways yet. But I do know that I will be more confident and better able to facilitate discussion.
88% of respondents agreed this “group was a safe and supportive place for discussion.”
Group Dynamics
Results suggest that the group was able to maintain a productive dynamic for dialogue, despite the challenging topics addressed and experiences explored. Eighty-eight percent of respondents agreed this “group was a safe and supportive place for discussion.” One respondent wrote about how the materials explored led to tense moments, and what they learned from the group working through those moments:
I have been working for five years helping veterans to tell their stories. This course gave that work an immeasurable boost in terms of hearing so many new stories in the context of the literature which we read. It was the ideal Humanities course: read and analyze great texts, and then relate them to your own experience. The diversity of experiences and perspectives led to, at times, some tense moments, but we worked through them as a group and ended up at a better, slightly more enlightened place, than we started. An unforgettable academic experience for me, probably the best in my career. I sure hope the participants got as much out of the program as I did.
Many expressed appreciation for the group dynamics in learning more and connecting with others:
The best thing was just having the chance to get to know the others, both leaders and participants.
I enjoyed hearing other’s perspectives of the same reading and events. This allowed me to process and grasp the material at a deeper level.
Some participants wrote about encountering entirely new viewpoints for the first time:
Well, it wasn’t a positive, but I was confronted with the incredible thinking of a couple of career military “lifers,” including a mother of two very little children who left them to go to a war zone. She came from a military background, and felt a sense of duty that was more important than her family. I knew there were people like that, but it was the first time I had ever confronted someone’s thinking. I feel very sorry for her. In fact, I also came away feeling very sorry for Karl Marlantes and John McCain too. Their acceptance of militarism is very disappointing and unconscionable to me.
To a small extent I realized that the Vietnam vets still harbor an anger at the military as if today’s military is the same at 50+ years ago. Part of that may be due to how they were treated not only by the public but by the VA in handling their post-war issues.
Overall, it was clear that the variety of experiences and perspectives was a positive aspect of the program that led to richer dialogues and richer takeaways for participants.
There are not enough opportunities for people to share their war experiences in supportive environments where people come together because they want to learn together. Allowing civilians into the conversation was so valuable because we gained empathy and understanding. The veterans realized that we would not judge and that we were truly interested in their experiences. This was a multi-generational program and the different perspectives were fascinating. It was important to have discussions between those who were drafted to Vietnam and those who rushed to sign-up in the post-911 era. Both groups of veterans were surprised by how the others felt. I was very please that at tense moments of conversation the discussion leaders were able to use the readings to drills down on the experiential level and get all of us to look at the similarities of experiences as well as differences. Kudos to this group, no one was judged for their ideology or perspective; it made coming to the group a pleasure.
Yes. Such programs are important because they bring together veterans from different wars (Vietnam and Iraqi Freedom) whose experiences were radically different. The Vietnam vets tended to be more critical and suffered greater trauma than more recent vets. Having these vets talk to each other across generations was a wonderful feature of this program. Each group learned a great deal from the other.
81% of respondents agreed that they would like to keep in touch with those they met through this program.
Finally, 81 percent of respondents agreed that they would like to keep in touch with those they met through this program.
[When asked what stood out to them the most about the program] Community with other participants.
Foremost I got to meet many new friends. Secondly I was able to discuss topics with people who shared similar experiences and thoughts.
Nuances of Military Experiences
The program emphasized connections and nuances across military experiences. Ninety-one percent of respondents agreed “this program offered an opportunity to talk about the variety of challenges veterans/service members may have experienced,” and 82 percent of respondents agreed “this program invited [them] to think about issues related to military service [they] had not considered.” Across qualitative questions, respondents wrote about the value of hearing from different perspectives. Veterans appreciated hearing about the diversity of experiences, and civilians appreciated learning about the nuances of military service:
One theme that gave rise to a lot of discussion was homecoming and life on the home front while the service person was called to deploy. I did not realize the significant sacrifices made by families left behind. A former marine recounted his deployments by discussing how old his son was each time he left. He was very proud of being a marine and doing his job well, but in his voice you could hear a sadness for how much he missed as his son grew. He said it got progressively harder to leave as his son grew older and would beg him not to go. It also got harder to quickly reestablish a bond when coming home as his boy grew older. We had a few military wives in our discussion group who expressed pride in their husband’s work, but they too said it was lonely and difficult when partners deployed. Listening to these stories gave me new perspectives on military families and helped me to realize that the families of active duty military need as much support as veterans do. Those who find networks of support are far better off than those families and individuals trying to do it alone. Again, I was grateful for this program and the support it provided for people to express these feelings.
Yes! So many I will miss some here. For Vietnam specifically, and this was stark, I had no idea the wide mix of for and against the war in people who joined voluntarily. The same goes, really, for those drafted, but I had never considered that people who disagreed still went, and even if I had I never would have dreamed of all the different reasons for doing that.
I encountered a perspective that showed how women experience war differently from men. While I suspected such was the case, this program showed clearly and concretely how and why that was the case.
88% of respondents agreed “This program helped [them] consider perspectives and experiences of service members that were different from [their] own.”
Eighty-eight percent of respondents agreed “This program helped [them] consider perspectives and experiences of service members that were different from [their] own”:
As a volunteer for service, I came to appreciate the degree of loyalty displayed by those veterans who were drafted into the service. Despite not wanting to be in Vietnam, their loyalty to their comrades resulted in a high level of performance and a willingness to put themselves at risk for others.
It was so interesting to hear everyone’s individual experiences and acknowledge how they would have done things different. I have always been an open person and try to understand rather than judge but this program shed light on things in the military that I knew nothing about so I am grateful for that.
This allowed me to get firsthand info from Vietnam vets how they were affected by the war. If I had not gone to college I might have been one (probably would have since African American males were drafted at a high rate). I lived through that period as a spectator not a combatant. The military that I joined 5 years after our involvement in Vietnam had been changed to a certain extent due to the war.
The discussions allowed us to explore the fact that no two people share the same experience and as a society we need to stop “pigeon-holing” veterans into one all-encompassing category. ● I appreciated the variety of experiences of the others, and felt some gratitude that I had not experienced some of the same experiences like jail or divorce. I didn’t experience any great changes to my life, but I did gain broader insights and appreciation of the experiences of others.
Not sure I heard entirely new perspectives so much as I heard familiar ones articulated in a way and to a degree that was new. Most particularly, I came away from the program with a much stronger sense of the perspectives of the Vietnam Veterans Against the War, as we had several of them in the group.
Another respondent wrote about recognizing connections of veterans experiences across time:
I enjoyed hearing the experiences of those veterans who served in a combat role during the various Middle East wars. I found that their emotional experiences paralleled my own.
81% of respondents agreed “this program gave [them] opportunities to consider and share experiences from [their lives].”
Sharing Experiences
The dialogues program encouraged participants to share their experiences, fostered an appreciation for listening to the stories of others, and opened additional pathways for some participants to consider sharing their stories further. Eighty-one percent of respondents agreed “this program gave [them] opportunities to consider and share experiences from [their lives].”
Heidi Kraft’s “Rule Number Two: Lessons I Learned in a Combat Hospital.” This book spoke to the struggles that men and women face in a combat zone, and helped us to see, in some cases, gender does not matter (the trauma of combat hits everyone). The book gave rise to deep and passionate discussion on combat trauma, and the importance of seeking help after coming home when things “don’t feel right.” It was fantastic that Dr. Kraft joined the discussion group during one session. She did not talk about her book as much as she joined our conversation and shared her stories and experiences. The discussion was so memorable because it exemplified the value of this program: We learn from one another when we come together to share our stories.
One respondent wrote about how readings and discussions helped them to discuss aspects of their experiences they had never shared previously:
Karl Marlantes’ book allowed me to openly express in the group and to myself feelings about my conduct in combat that I have never admitted before. The group experience helped me to confirm my feeling were not unique; others too had such experiences.
And another respondent wrote about how their participation in the program helped them feel more ready to process their experiences through the lens of their family:
An opportunity to share my own professional, personal, and academic thoughts, experiences, and expertise in a constructive way while learning just as much from my fellow discussion leaders and the discussion participants. A deeper readiness to explore my experiences through the lenses of my family.
81% of respondents agreed “this program helped [them] recognize common patterns (e.g. honor, sacrifice) across military service and non-military experiences.”
Connections Between Military and Civilian Experiences
Eighty-one percent of respondents agreed “this program helped [them] recognize common patterns (e.g. honor, sacrifice) across military service and non-military experiences”
Courage/Heroism in ALL its iterations not just military. There are many types of heroes and courage in everyday life. Also, the military/government needs to consider other options to war.
Military service is like non military service.
The program helped me appreciate the views other individuals, both civilians and veterans, who had not experienced combat.
I always try to keep an open mind and did learn much about what was common to all who served-in combat especially-and what we as civilians could share that was similar but different. We need this common ground to get the dialogue going.
Many civilians were able to form a new level of understanding that will inform their future work and relationships:
As a civilian, I became more aware of the traumas suffered by soldiers during and after involvement in a war. I also became more sympathetic to their often silent plight. I also came to understand how important it is for soldiers to write about their experiences whether they publish those experiences or not.
I better understand the impact of war on our society. In addition, I see that a lot of veterans have become mentally damaged from their time being at war. Participating in this program, I plan to support veterans and empathize with them.
The knowledge and understanding that this program has given me is priceless. Listening to the stories of combat veterans has changed me; I now feel a deep appreciation for military members from Vietnam to Iraq. Most of us do not understand what it means to ask someone to go to war. As a society we must take more responsibility for the conflicts we send men and women into.
The stories the veterans told were powerful. It made me realize that veterans do have help, but do not often reach out because of pride, or other reasons. But this program made me want to continue helping veterans and be involved in that community.
66% of participants agreed “this program helped [them] make sense of some of [their] more challenging experiences.”
Processing Personal Experiences
Survey results suggest that the program helped participants process their own experiences, recognize commonalities across military experiences, recognize diversity across military experiences, and helped civilians develop a deeper understanding of veterans’ experiences.
Sixty-six percent of participants agreed “this program helped [them] make sense of some of [their] more challenging experiences.” When asked what stood out to them the most in the program, one veteran respondent reflected on their experience of becoming anti-war, and how the program helped them reflect on their personal stance in relation to their previous military service:
Heroism. Because the more we (with our myriad of different views) discussed, the more we seemed to all agree that heroism need not be mired in political discussions of righteousness or virtue of the conflict in which they took place. This helps for people like me who have since become antiwar and have often felt conflicted about our part in it. The thing we did was brave, and whether the larger geopolitics were “good” or not does not change that.
81% of veteran respondents agreed “this program has made [them] more likely to ask for help if [they] need it.”
Asking for Help and Connecting to Resources
Eighty-one percent of veteran respondents agreed “this program has made [them] more likely to ask for help if [they] need it,” and 56 percent of respondents agreed that they “learned about other resources for veterans through participating in this program.” At the same time, non-veteran participants wrote in open-ended reflections that they learned more and walked away with a greater understanding of the challenges veterans face in asking for help:
Communication in general but specifically feelings and asking for help. I learned that many military members have a hard time sharing their experiences but it is typically to protect those they love but that comes at a cost to their own mental health. As hard as it is for family to deal with that lack of communication and understanding, it affects children on another level, especially if they are left out of important conversations.
That many people who are struggling aren’t comfortable with asking for help. As a society I feel that we can make it easier by normalizing counseling and talking about feelings and our own perspectives because in sharing you find common interests or thoughts which you may have believed you were alone in feeling.
69% of post-survey respondents agreed that “this program has motivated [them] to seek other opportunities to connect with others through group activities.”
Encouraging Social Connections
Though many respondents in the pre-survey reported that they were already involved with similar groups, 69 percent of post-survey respondents agreed that “this program has motivated [them] to seek other opportunities to connect with others through group activities.”
When asked what they got out of participating in the program, one respondent wrote about feeling less alone because of their participation:
Being able to share with fellow veterans in an understanding environment where both vulnerability and open expressions were tolerated and encouraged. I have not noticed changes beyond being able to put some things in order, understanding I am not alone, and being able to move forward with a renewed energy. I use the following statement to keep things in perspective “Now, creates our future Past.”
Another respondent wrote about the program encouraging them to continue to seek out spaces where they can explore these topics:
I was very engaged prior to the discussion group. However, the program encouraged me to continue to explore the topics more deeply with others.
88% of respondents agreed that they would recommend this program to others.
Support for Continued Programming
Promisingly, respondents showed strong support for this type of programming to continue, suggesting the value they see in them.
Eighty-eight percent of respondents agreed that they would recommend this program to others. When asked if they thought programs like this should be offered to veterans in other communities, they responded positively:
All veterans would benefit from the chance to take part in a program such as this, especially the combat vets. But it can only happen when they are ready for it. It would, in my view, go a long way in beginning to address the issues many veterans face in civilian life.
I think this is valuable for veterans and non-veterans in any community.
I think this was an important program for me and I told all of my Veteran and non-Veteran friends, family members, and coworkers about it. I think Veterans of all ages from any period benefit from it.
It is important. Any veteran or person that is willing to attend would benefit from it. more guidance re: critical thinking about war, particularly recent American wars would be useful. I started reading War: How Conflict Shaped Us, by Margaret MacMillan – A very different perspective I’m working on digesting. Thanks for the experience!
Truth be told, I would like to see this program (or one much like it) be made available to every veteran who wants it, especially the combat vets. It would go far, I think, in beginning to address some of the challenges they face as civilians.
Yes! I think all veterans, particularly combat veterans, would benefit from programs like these and I wish they were everywhere! If our society hopes to diminish the incredible, largely-ignored social costs of soldiers returning from war with no real transition back into society, they’re going to have to start talking about these things. Marlantes wrote that when the little boy asks what it is like to go to war, if you do not answer him, you cannot truly come home. Veterans are taught to bottle it all up. It’s not polite to talk about. But we all go to war. We all benefit from it. And society should take its portion of the solution, and programs like these seem perfectly suited for it. The reading gives civilians the language they need to discuss it, and the safe place gives veterans an outlet. The two together can have an immense impact on our communities if this project was any indication.