Coming Home: A History of War Veterans
From: BackStory with the American History Guys
Length: 00:54:00
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Related Pieces
Piece Description
Most news coverage of the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan focuses on troop movements, suicide bombings, and the various geopolitical developments at work. Only rarely do we hear the stories of individual men and women fighting there, and hardly ever do we hear what it’s like for those Americans when they return home.
Has it always been thus? How have veterans been treated in the aftermath of America’s previous wars? How much depends on the politics of the war – are vets only as popular as the wars they’ve fought in? These are some of the central questions on the table as the History Guys consider the experiences of American war veterans through three centuries of American life.
Highlights Include:
- Historian Rebecca Jo Plant discusses the changing expectations for veterans’ wives and mothers.
- The “Chief of Heritage Defense” for the Sons of Confederate Veterans makes a case for separating the politics of war from our remembrance of its veterans;
- A psychotherapist with decades of experience counseling veterans talks about the history of PTSD, and how psychological trauma was seen in a pre-psychological age
- BackStory listeners call in with their questions and comments about the history of American war veterans.
Broadcast History
This is an update of a show originally produced in October, 2008. All date references are up-to-date. See carriage reports list for history of previous broadcasts.
Timing and Cues
SHOW RUNDOWN
00:00 – 00:59 BILLBOARD
IC: From VFH Radio in Charlottesville, Virginia, this is Backstory.
OC: First, this news.
01:00 – 05:59 NEWS HOLE
06:00 – 18:59 SEG A
IC: This is Backstory, with us, the American History Guys.
OC: We’ll be back in a minute.
6:00-10:27 Intro/”Good War” Veterans
20th Century Guy Brian Balogh interviews three WWII vets
10:28-18:59 Sons of Confederate Veterans
19th Century Guy Ed Ayers interviews SCV “chief of heritage defense” Frank Earnest
19:00 – 19:59 STATION BREAK 1 (MUSIC BED)
20:00 – 39:59 SEG B
IC: This is Backstory. I’m Peter Onuf.
OC: More Backstory, coming up in a minute,
20:00 – 31:47 Listener Calls
Backstory listeners join the Guys on the phone with their questions about the history of American veterans.
31:48 – 38:59 Women on the Homefront
Brian Balogh interviews historian Rebecca Plant about “mom-ism.”
39:00 – 39:59 STATION BREAK 2 (MUSIC BED)
40:00 – 59:00 SEG C
IC: This is Backstory. I’m Peter Onuf.
OC: …at the University of Richmond.
40:00 – 52:26 Our Hearts Were Touched By Fire
The History Guys reflect on the power of war to shape the lives of individuals and nations
52:27 – 57:10 PTSD by any other name
Ed Ayers interviews psychotherapist Edward Tick about the history of PTSD.
57:10 – 58:59 PRODUCTION/FUNDING CREDITS
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