How Volunteering for Veterans Shaped the Direction of One Student’s Life

Elizabeth DePompei speaks with DAV life member and former Air Force combat photographer Stacy Pearsall about the highs and lows of her more than 10 years in uniform and her PBS show dedicated to sharing veterans’ stories far and wide.

As DAV unveils its newest women veterans report, a group of women veterans gathers to discuss the facts, figures, and paths forward for our sisters in arms. You can read the report, "Women Veterans: The Road to Mental Wellness," at www.WomenVeterans.org. The DAV document is the third to focus on women veterans in the last decade, and the first to focus exclusively on mental health.

DAV 1st Junior Vice Commander Coleman Nee reflects on his recent trip to climb Africa's tallest peak with other disabled veterans. DAV's Elizabeth DePompei gets to the bottom of how they got to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. 

Brian Buckwalter speaks with Jacob Weber about how his relationship with his Vietnam veteran grandfather sparked an enduring passion for volunteering for veterans. Now a college student and a top recipient of a DAV scholarship, Jacob continues to serve but also wants to make a career out of helping veterans.

Rob Lewis speaks to Robert Spangle, a Marine and fashion photographer, on how clothing and dress impact Afghan men as they navigate living with armed conflict. 

Matt Saintsing speaks with Mark Bowden, author of "Black Hawk Down," to discuss the book's impact 30 years later and the heroism exhibited during the Battle of Mogadishu. 

Brian Buckwalter speaks with Marine veteran Carrie Roeger, a business owner and vetpreneur, on how DAV helped grow her restaurant and bar and what other veteran entrepreneurs need for success.

In this episode, Rob Lewis sits down with DAV Membership Director Doug Wells to discuss the value and opportunities of DAV membership. 

DAV's Elizabeth DePompei speaks with Army veteran Ginger MacCutcheon, DAV Department of Ohio's 2nd Junior Vice Commander on her experience with military sexual trauma. This episode contains descriptions of violence that may be unsuitable for younger audiences. 

DAV's Brian Buckwalter sits down with Sebastian Junger, author of Tribe and other works, to discuss the civilian-military divide and what veterans should know about fostering community.  Brian and Sebastian participated in a DAV Distinguished Speaker Series at Harvard Law School. That panel can be found here: https://www.legalservicescenter.org/presenting-the-dav-distinguished-lecture-series-bridging-the-gap-sebastian-junger-on-the-dangers-of-the-military-civilian-divide/