American Homefront Project

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The American Homefront Project is reporting on military life and veterans issues. We're visiting bases to chronicle how American troops are working and living. We're meeting military families. We're talking with veterans -- in their homes, on their jobs, at school, at VA hospitals -- to learn about the challenges they face.

Support for the American Homefront Project comes from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, as part of CPB's ongoing effort to expand coverage of local, regional, and national issues. Additional support comes from our partner public radio stations -- North Carolina Public Radio-WUNC, Texas Public Radio, KPBS-San Diego, St. Louis Public Radio, and WSHU-Fairfield, Conn.

Series

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2022 American Veteran 
4 Pieces

In commemoration of Veteran’s Day, the American Homefront Project collaborated with the PBS documentary series "American Veteran" to profile men and women who have served in the U.S. military.

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American Veteran 2021 
5 Pieces

In commemoration of Veteran’s Day 2021, the American Homefront Project collaborated with the PBS documentary series "American Veteran" to profile men and women who have served in the U.S. military.

Pieces

Instead of medals, the Pentagon is offering certificates to vets who were exposed to radiation
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: Observers watch an explosion during Operation Hardtack in 1958. 35 nuclear tests were conducted in the Pacific, exposing troops to radiation., Credit: Nevada National Security Site
The new certificate recognizes as many as 550,000 veterans who were exposed to nuclear weapons tests between 1945 and 1992. But the certificates le...

Bought by KRPS, KRZA, KPBS, KPCC, Texas Public Radio and more


  • Added: Aug 05, 2019
  • Length: 03:41
  • Purchases: 6
In 1969, the military thought it had eliminated racism in its ranks. Then troops began rioting
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: Black and white Marines served side by side during the Vietnam War, as seen in this 1966 photo of a firefight with the Viet Cong. But racial tension was not uncommon throughout the armed services., Credit: U.S. Marine Corps
Camp Lejeune, N.C. was the first of several bases to experience racial violence during the Vietnam War. It led to major reforms in military racial ...

Bought by Texas Public Radio, KPBS, WUSF, Colorado Public Radio, and North Country Public Radio


  • Added: Jul 19, 2019
  • Length: 03:56
  • Purchases: 5
The VA is using video games to help disabled vets recover and reconnect
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: Army veteran Mike Monthervil (left) uses an adaptive controller to play video games as his VA recreational therapist Jamie Kaplan watches., Credit: Stephanie Colombini/American Homefront
Some VA medical centers have realized that helping vets get back in the game can also help with their recovery.

Bought by Texas Public Radio, Colorado Public Radio, and KPBS


  • Added: Jun 19, 2019
  • Length: 03:54
  • Purchases: 3
Scientists are trying to measure the value of outdoor service work for transitioning veterans
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: Veterans and their families demolish a wooden foot bridge in Biscayne National Park., Credit: Niall Macaulay / American Homefront
Congress is considering legislation to encourage "outdoor therapy" for veterans with injuries or post-traumatic stress. Volunteer groups are alread...

Bought by KPBS, Colorado Public Radio, WUSF, Texas Public Radio, and KPCC


  • Added: Jun 07, 2019
  • Length: 03:55
  • Purchases: 5
A fallen Vietnam veteran has returned home. The water he drank helped identify his remains
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: 52 years after he died in a Vietnam plane crash, Raul Guerra's memorial service was held at Risher Mortuary in Montebello, Cal., Credit: Libby Denkmann/American Homefront
Raul Guerra was adopted, so his DNA couldn't be matched to blood relatives. Scientists instead turned to an emerging technique that linked his bone...

Bought by KMXT, KPBS, North Country Public Radio, Texas Public Radio, WUSF and more


  • Added: May 29, 2019
  • Length: 03:48
  • Purchases: 6
'Every box was smashed': After thousands of complaints, the Pentagon is reforming military moves
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: Christopher and Andrea Cacho's wedding picture was among the many possessions damaged when the Army moved them from Kentucky to Virginia., Credit: Andrea Cacho
After years of complaints, the Pentagon is trying to reform the way it manages the moving process for military families. The current system is plag...

Bought by Texas Public Radio, WAMC Northeast Public Radio, WUSF, WRST-FM Oshkosh, KPBS and more


  • Added: May 02, 2019
  • Length: 03:48
  • Purchases: 7
The Army Has A Message For Soldiers: Even Where Marijuana Is Legal, Don't Use It
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: A poster at Fort Carson, Col. reminds soldiers that even though recreational marijuana is legal in Colorado, it's prohibited under military rules., Credit: Dan Boyce / American Homefront
Recreational marijuana use is now legal in ten states, but it remains off-limits to service members ... and some military communities don't want it...

Bought by KRZA, KPBS, WRST-FM Oshkosh, Texas Public Radio, KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio and more


  • Added: Apr 10, 2019
  • Length: 04:02
  • Purchases: 6
After success in Florida, the use of virtual reality to treat PTSD is expanding
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: Therapist Keith Smith demonstrates virtual reality equipment at the University of Central Florida. Smith uses virtual reality to help treat veterans' post traumatic stress disorder., Credit: Stephanie Colombini / American Homefront
The University of Central Florida is using virtual reality to treat post-traumatic stress disorder. It's worked well enough that the Pentagon will ...

Bought by WRST-FM Oshkosh, North Country Public Radio, KPBS, Colorado Public Radio, KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio and more


  • Added: Mar 26, 2019
  • Length: 03:46
  • Purchases: 7
The Air Force is trying new strategies to battle a constant problem: Birds on airfields
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: Wildlife biologist Kory McLellan shoots off pyrotechnics to scare birds away from the airfield at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa., Credit: Mariette Adams / U.S. Air Force
Fireworks, drones, and habitat relocation projects are among the ways that Air Force biologists are fighting the expensive and potentially deadly p...

Bought by Texas Public Radio, KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio, KPBS, KPCC, Colorado Public Radio and more


  • Added: Mar 18, 2019
  • Length: 03:54
  • Purchases: 6
The Pentagon has settled a lawsuit over allegedly defective earplugs. Now veterans are suing, too.
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: Gen. William J. Gothard (right) receives a spent shell casing as part of his 2014 retirement ceremony at Fort Jackson, S.C. Gothard says his 36 years of service left him with hearing loss and tinnitus., Credit: Shantelle Campbell / U.S. Army
The settlement with earplug manufacturer 3M has focused attention on service-related hearing loss, one of the most common health problems among vet...

Bought by KPBS, WUSF, Texas Public Radio, WRST-FM Oshkosh, KPCC and more


  • Added: Mar 11, 2019
  • Length: 04:00
  • Purchases: 6

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People who work with American Homefront Project

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Dave DeWitt
Reporter/Producer, WUNC
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Adam Hochberg (Admin)
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Brent Wolfe
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KPBS News
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KPCC BoardOperators
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Shahla Farzan
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Jonathan Ahl
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Dan Katz