Veterans Archives

President Donald Trump speaks during a swearing-in ceremony for Robert Wilkie (R), to become secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Social Justice

President Trump Pushes the Department of Veterans Affairs Toward Increased Privatization

The administration is determined to use a new law to expand the private sector's role in veterans' health care—a move that end up being costly for former service members.

Isaac Arnsdorf

Viewfinder: Remembering Fallen Soldiers in D.C.

A Vietnam War veteran points to names of fallen soldiers on the wall of the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C., on November 12th, 2018.

Pacific Standard Staff

Social Justice

What American Veterans Face in 2018

Homelessness, a chaotic VA, PTSD, and a shrinking cohort are just some of the challenges for the group—and the country.

Emma Sarappo

The seal of the Department of Veterans Affairs

News in Brief

Lawmakers Call for Accountability After the VA Mishandles Thousands of Sexual Trauma Cases

A bipartisan group of lawmakers united on Monday to call for action from both Congress and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Jack Herrera

A South Korean woman touches the engraved name of her older brother who died during the Korean War at Seoul National Cemetery on June 6th, 2018, in Seoul, South Korea. South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Wednesday that his country will push for recovery of remains of the fallen soldiers who died during the 1950-53 Korean War. South Korea marked its 63rd Memorial Day anniversary amid emerging improved relations with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea as the first-ever U.S.-DPRK summit has been scheduled for June 12th in Singapore.

News in Brief

Viewfinder: Commemorating Fallen Soldiers During South Korea’s 63rd Memorial Day

A South Korean woman touches the engraved name of her older brother who died during the Korean War at Seoul National Cemetery.

Pacific Standard Staff

U.S. Army soldiers salute during the national anthem during the an anniversary ceremony of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 on September 11, 2011 at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan. Ten years after the 9/11 attacks in the United States and after almost a decade war in Afghanistan, American soldiers paid their respects in a solemn observence of the tragic day.

Social Justice

Rethinking Our Approach to Mental Trauma

A conversation with psychologist Ken Falke, who uses the concept of post-traumatic growth—which emphasizes that there can be positive consequences to trauma and suffering—to help combat veteran suicide and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Ethan Walker

News in Brief

How Americans Can Do More for Retired Soldiers

Despite some positive trends, society needs to do more to help ease service members back into civilian life.

Ethan Walker

U.S. President Donald Trump gives the pen he used to sign an executive order supporting veterans as they transition from military to civilian life to Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin.

News in Brief

Inside the Turmoil Within Trump’s Department of Veteran Affairs

In what has become a staple of this administration, infighting, backstabbing, and lack of leadership is plaguing potential legislative progress within the VA.

Isaac Arnsdorf

Touring the Vietnam War Memorial Wall with Dang Thi Hong Nhut during an event bringing together victims of the use of Agent Orange, a defoliant widely used by the U.S military in the war in Vietnam.

News in Brief

Key Veterans Affairs Official Downplays the Risks of Agent Orange

At a meeting in March, a lead analyst in the VA's compensation service was critical of the media, scientists, and the VA's own administrative tribunal for taking positions that differ from his.

Charles Ornstein

A veteran walks through Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, on May 29th, 2017.

News in Brief

Viewfinder: Paying Memorial Day Respects in Virginia

A veteran walks through Arlington National Cemetery on May 29th, 2017.

Pacific Standard Staff