The COMPASS Podcast

The Burden and Gift of Conscience

In this episode, Glen and Scott discuss lawful and unlawful orders, the blurring of the lines between them, and the ethical responsibilities of service members.  They consider the gift and burden of an intact conscience, the struggles to discern right action in the midst of war, and the weights carried by many in the aftermath.  The conversation acknowledges that our moral sense runs deeper than legalities and permission.  “I was just following orders” is not sufficient.  Glen says, “When you are in pain, excuses don’t help.”  We must acknowledge the deep humanity of our service people and make a societal commitment to sharing burdens, tending wounds, and righting wrongs.

Gradually, Then All at Once

Scott and Glen welcome Jeff Vagle, whose range of military experience includes service as a United States Marine deployed in the “War on Drugs,” as a military contractor supporting Armed Forces missions in Afghanistan, and as an intelligence officer for an Army National Guard Unit.  Jeff offers considerable insight and reflection on the breadth of veteran experience.  He relates the discovery of his own moral injury in the years following his service.  His testimony moves us to consider pain carried by those who have witnessed death and atrocity. He and Glen discuss the risks of moral injury for drone operators and other people participating in war remotely. Jeff identifies the people and resources that have been critical in “saving his life” and accompanying him on his journey of healing, highlighting key elements to post-traumatic growth.   There is a great deal of encouragement for fellow veterans here.
 
Links and References:
The Stephen A. Cohen Military Family Clinics  www.cohenveteransnetwork.org
Grossman, Dave. (1995.)  On Killing: the Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill
  in War and Society.   New York, NY: Little, Brown, and Co.  
Boudreau, Tyler E.  (2008).  Packing Inferno: the Unmaking of a Marine.  Port 
   Townsend, WA:  Feral House.

It All Means Something

In Vietnam, “Don’t mean nuthin” was a common expression of deep despair, depression, and darkness.  In this podcast, Glen reflects on his war experiences and the years since, recovering and revealing  many things that have truly “meant something.” Taking time for grief, tending to the violence done to the soul as well as the body, honoring the experiences and humanity of others—these have been vital. “You have to accept reality, talk about it, tell your story, and influence people to glorify war less and be more soulful in our decisions to go to war.”
Recorded in proximity to Veterans Day, Scott and Glen talk about veteran suicide and other war-related factors that take more lives than combat itself.   Scott describes The Witting Tree, a moving public witness to the reality and cost of veteran suicide that began in one local faith community and has proliferated throughout the country.
  

A Woman’s Journey Into War

Listen to this rich, extended conversation with Chanel Santiago, U.S. Army and Combat Veteran who served in Iraq.  Her storytelling and reflection unpack a journey that begins on the day after her high school graduation, takes her to the war zone in Iraq , a harrowing initial event, missions covering a million miles of road, eventually coming home to serve other veterans in a regional Vet Center.  
Chanel provides us with remarkable description and detail that will offer listeners vital insights into veteran experience.  She articulates the experiences of a woman in combat, the priority of trust, the struggles of homecoming, and the discovery of her own PTSD more than a decade after returning.  Her narrative is filled with hope.

The Long Journey Home with Steve Gunn

Scott and Glen welcome Steve Gunn, an army veteran who served as a medic in the Ripcord campaign, the last major confrontation between US and North Vietnamese forces in the war. Steve discusses his experiences as a medic in the war zone,  his personal struggle of veteran homecoming, and what it meant to eventually begin a journey of personal healing after “thirty years of stuffing” his war experiences.  He articulates the role tears played in claiming and tending inner wounds that he hadn’t realized he was carrying.  He describes  the importance of two journeys back to Vietnam with fellow veterans, and what he discovered.

Encounters with Truth

Glen and Scott discuss the origins of COMPASS, the importance of authentic veteran testimony, the power of storytelling, and what is involved in creating a safe space for sharing that serves as both sanctuary and crucible. Disengagement between veterans of war and the people in whose name they have served has been longstanding. Parades are more common than receptivity and deep listening. What can communities do to honor veterans by welcoming the fullness of their stories and the hard-won wisdom of their journeys?