Comments and further questions from graduate students in France after a joint presentation by Joe Urgo and Lyle Rubin, November 2024

Thank you for your involvement, your touching testimonies, and approaching the topic with factualism and truthfulness. My question for you would be: Considering the current global political climate, where shifts toward far-right and authoritarian ideologies are increasingly apparent, how do you foresee such trends impacting military institutions whether in terms of training regimens, funding priorities or even the potential invocation of martial law as tensions rise?

Thank you to Joe and Lyle for sharing your experiences and the important reminders for activism with the need of a clear, uniting goal.

Thanks for sharing your experiences. It was truly interesting to have a new point of view about what we all know from a European point of view. It helps us understand in a whole new light the wars in Vietnam and Afghanistan. I think it’s amazing to be able to talk about it but I’m impressed about the factual precision, even more when we all know that it’s a sensitive subject. How did you muster the courage to talk about these events? When you spoke of the terms Talib and Haji which were used to dehumanize the “enemy,” reflecting on the use of language to depersonalize the “enemy,” how did this impact your perception of the people after you returned to the USA?

Notes sent to Joe Urgo after a presentation made in October 2024 at a private college in NYC that included streaming a short video of the Vietnam Winter Soldier hearing

Thank you, We Are Not Your Soldiers, for the powerful and meaningful presentation to our class. I was previously unaware of the effects and trauma individuals face while entering the military and the immediate desensitization the military puts young people through to operate more violent tactics. The video sharing of the horrible things soldiers were encouraged to do to incite violence and create a dangerous mob mentality was genuinely terrifying. The thoughtful words spoken and understanding of the work We Are Not Your Soldiers put into ending war and helping those in the military to rethink their reasoning for joining truly inspired me to take action. I look forward to staying updated with the organization and helping however possible!

Thank you for coming in last Thursday to present… Overall the presentation was a thought-provoking experience that challenged many conventional narratives about military service and the personal implications of war that I see often within society. Hearing firsthand accounts from veterans from the documentary who chose to speak out against the glorification of military life was both eye-opening and moving and really cemented my already existing views on the military and the changes that need to be made to it. Their stories revealed the complexities of their experiences by highlighting themes of disillusionment, the impact of violence on mental health, and the often-overlooked consequences of militarization in society. This presentation served as a crucial reminder of the need for critical engagement with the realities of war and the importance of listening to diverse voices, particularly those who have lived through its harsh realities. It reinforced the idea that empathy and understanding are vital in fostering a more informed and compassionate perspective on issues of conflict and service… I feel really strongly that every human should be treated with equality and humility. Along with that I believe it’s the most vulnerable populations that need the most help and are the most overlooked. Thank you for bringing all these issues surrounding the toxic aspects of the military  to our class’s attention because I think it’s often a topic that’s overlooked.

The WANYS visit to my class was truly an important learning experience. Our guest speakers came in thoroughly prepared with information that was not only necessary to impart, but personal to their lives. Many of us found ourselves confronted with new knowledge of our national history, which is all too often brushed aside by the status quo. It quickly became a personal experience to all of us as residents living in this country. The WANYS speakers were additionally great at facilitating discussion and encouraged a deeper conversation in the class on how to move forward with change. This was definitely a thought-provoking encounter that reminded us to critically examine what we view as normal and to foster relationships with hopeful movements for bettering our country.

Comments received from students at a Long Island NY college after a presentation by Brittany Ramos DeBarros in September 2024

During the presentation of “We Are Not Your Soldiers,” I felt inspired. The speaker explained their experiences after signing a life commitment until the age of 30 at only 17 years old. They said, “My trauma is nothing compared to the trauma I helped enact.” What is the mission of the U.S. military? Is the government doing everything it can to make sure this mission is carried out morally? Having to strip off your humanity just to “help” this country and later realizing that you aren’t doing much helping is frustrating.

Something that stood out to me this week from the presentation, the speaker talked about how she joined the military to help people but it was quite the opposite of what she had expected. She talked about the realities of what happens in the military and what they do which was shocking to hear. Something else I found shocking was how she signed a contract at 17 years old that binds her until she’s 30. It shows how systems of power can bind individuals in ways they might not understand at the time.

From Brittany’s presentation, I was struck by her experience of war, and what the United States was involved in, “weapons hurting people physically. It is social and political violence. It destroys the infrastructure and fabric of society where it happens. And here we are, carrying this out in someone’s home, in someone’s village, with absolutely zero regard for the lives that we are impacting every single day.” The role of our military as described by Brittany had a devastating impact on love, home and belonging for the Afghan people. War brought violence and destruction to their homes and villages. Military operations replaced love with fear and insecurity. The sense of belonging was destroyed, leaving many displaced and traumatized.

In “We Are Not Your Soldiers,” Brittany Ramos DeBarros talked about her personal experiences in the military and her realization of its reality. What stood out to me from her presentation was the severe backlash she endured from the military and her community and, despite that, she continues to fight for the greater good. In relation to today’s Palestine protests, I know of people who have lost job opportunities for speaking out and heard on the news of people being killed by the imperialist power. (Six-year-old Wadea Al-Fayoume was killed for simply being Palestinian by a white man). Her specific comment that no matter what you do to help in the fight against imperialism and the fight for liberation stood out to me as well, as every seed you plant is a service to the future generation.

Something that has stuck with me is the statistics on the amount of sexually-abused women in the U.S military and how war is portrayed versus how it actually is conducted within the U.S military.

Comments on evaluation forms by students at a public college in NYC after presentation by John Burns which included showing “Collateral Murder,” November 2023

I liked how blunt it was. Oftentimes, when talking about the after effects of war and time spent in the military, people sugarcoat the horrific aspects veterans still deal with on a day to day basis.

I loved listening to all of the responses given by John despite them being positive or negative. It was intriguing learning about events that may be concealed from the general public such as the treatment of women within the military field.

I really liked learning from a first-hand experience about what it means to be in a war and learning how the military has subjected our soldiers to dire situations. Just seeing the emotion transmitted from Mr. John Burns, is what I really liked about this presentation. Additionally, the video was both impactful and very knowledgeable. The only thing I disliked about the presentation was the fact that it was online. If it was in-person it would’ve been more intriguing.

I liked his honesty and how he was not afraid to show his emotions. It was so uncomfortable for me to watch that video because I never thought being in the military was that bad. My views did change a lot from that video and from what the presenter was discussing.

I liked the information given with the video shown at first and the presenter going more into depth.

I loved how detailed John was explaining thoroughly the experiences that made and shaped him into what he is today. I knew much about what he spoke about and it only made me think even more about how guys and gals are treated in the service.

I was aware of a lot of the topics that were discussed, but the video with the attack on those children revealed by Wikileaks was really awful and shocking. I always had a general distrust of the military, but now that distrust has grown.

I really loved how open John was. I appreciated the honesty which was honestly a breath of fresh air. I was not aware of how traumatic and damaging the army is. My views on our military have changed a lot.

Comments on evaluation forms by Adelphi University students after John Burns made a presentation, October 2023

I learn things better visually so I appreciate that they had a video prepared instead of just talking the entire time. I actually had no idea about the information that was presented. The information was much different from the lighthearted videos you would see on social media apps like TikTok.

My views on the military definitely changed because I did not know about the high suicide status and how the military did not care about the mental health of these soldiers.

I liked how powerful the presentation was. I really felt how personal this was for John.

He kept it real and had no filter making the class more comfortable to ask questions.

I think it is simply just crucial for people my age to be knowledgeable on these events, although it can be emotional and extremely impactful. It is the truth and real to what is happening beyond what we may know right now, because it isn’t something that is just going to go away.

Comments and further questions from graduate students in France after a joint presentation by Joe Urgo and Will Griffin, April 2023

Thank you for taking the time to share with us your experiences in the military. For young people studying security it is so very important to attend to presentations showing the other side of the ledger. I  think your level of detail and your anecdotes were much appreciated as they concretized your stories. Moreover, I am certain some students, including me, would have liked to talk longer with you in a less Q&A-type of format. Two hours was good enough for the formal presentation but a continuation (at the pub?) would have been most welcomed if the ocean did not separate us. Thanks again.

I would like to thank you for your interesting and enriching presentation, especially for students in international security, like us. Your experience brings a special and sincere feel to the subject. Following this presentation, I have a question to ask you: Since the Winter Soldier investigations, what has been the position of the American state, faced with the emergence of various anti-war movements of veterans? Has there been any dialogue, any listening, on the part of the various American governments or the US Army? And has there been an evolution in the relationship between the anti-war veterans’ movements and the US government over the past fifty years?

I’m a movie fan and I’ve seen many films about the war in Vietnam and see how much this war has affected the country and its citizens. How do you explain the extent of the protest against the war in Vietnam? In this perspective, the 2003 Iraq war was based on a State lie about the presence of weapons of mass destruction. To send troops for a false reason seems to be as serious as the “betrayal” Joe mentioned during the presentation about Vietnam. However, I did not feel the same impulse of protest after 2003. How do you explain the extent of the protest against the war in Vietnam and not the same impulse with the Iraq war?

Your testimonies on the training and deployment of the soldiers are edifying and terrifying, as well as the difficulty to live after war. What can be done to change this or do you think this is inherent to war?

First of all, I would like to thank you for giving such an interesting presentation. My question is about American public opinion, in particular in the Army, about the support for the war in Iraq and then in Afghanistan. Can you tell us more about the atmosphere that prevailed during these periods, in the media and especially in the daily life of Americans? 

Thank you very much for your intervention. It is very interesting to have insight from people who lived through what we, as international relations students, would consider a big part of history.

Joe, Will, thank you very much for your presence and your speeches today, both were really interesting and it is not every day, in France, that we can be in touch with US veterans. We well understood that you were against war and that the USA were a super militarized country through your examples to always have more soldiers to deploy all over their800 bases. My question is the following: Don’t you think that if the USA was not doing this kind of communication, and deploying its forces “to maintain peace”and I insist on the brackets, another country would act like your country and use the same policies?

Comments on evaluation forms after John Burns’ visit to an Alaska high school class, March 2023

“I enjoyed the honesty and clear coating on getting your own evidence. Showing care for our opinions and options yet still pointing out inconsistencies… I knew through boot camp and basic training you go through intense mental strengthening, but the point brought up that it is also a sense of desensitization makes sense and is horrifying at the same time. The video showed clear mental anguish shown through some of the accepted casualties. I knew about [some] but didn’t know how severe and under the rug mass amounts of it could be, along with other atrocities. It did change my view due to my want to join the Marines, but hearing about the possibility of being a pawn, or back of the fridge is frightening, along with the severe mental health problems vets and other service members can go through without proper help that they were promised.”

“I knew that there was stuff that was pushed under the rug, but I didn’t realize how much was under the rug.”

Comments received after Joy Damiani’s visit to North Carolina community college students, April 2022

“I really liked how passionate she was about the topic. She made me feel really connected to her.”

“I liked how real she was about everything. She answered questions without holding back.”

“I had never genuinely considered joining the military, but have thought about it in passing. I am definitely not joining now, both for the sake of my mental health, and also so that I don’t support an organization that does so much harm.”

“In my own life, I plan to go into film-making (especially documentary film-making) and I feel like covering many of the travesties committed by the United States within its military and in how it treats those who have worked within the military would do some amount of good.”

“I never wanted to join but I am still on the draft list, ready to be shipped at any moment.”

“I liked how she did not hold back on anything she said. Even though I may have not agreed with everything she said, I respect how she was not afraid to express how she feels.”

“What Joy had to say definitely peaked my interest to try to learn more about what really goes on not only in the military but in America. We are not a perfect country like we like to portray ourselves and we need to change.“

“I understand that this subject can be difficult for some people, but it is important that it is talked about. The more we attempt to dust things under the rug, the more we are numbing ourselves to the truth.”

Some thank yous sent to Miles Megaciph from NYC high school students in April 2022

“Thank you so much for sharing your story. I learned a lot and I have talked to many recruiters but no one has been as honest as you have been. I appreciate it so much. I have to say you are one of the most brave people I know.”

“Thank you for your amazing story-telling and answering our questions no matter the pain it brought.”

“Thank you for being real and expressing what it was like. Thank you for sharing your music. It was great!”

“Thank you so much for sharing and turning an uncomfortable traumatic event into an inspiring lesson.”

Some thank yous sent to Joe Urgo from NYC high school students in June 2021

“Thank you, Joe, for coming to our class to speak. I’m sure it was a very hard thing to talk about and I appreciate people who do hard things to benefit other people. Thank you for your nobility.”

“Thank you for granting us the opportunity to share Joe’s experience in the Vietnam War. It is really brave for Joe to be able to tell us the events that happened during the war, and I feel honored that I was one of the people who was able to hear his story.”

“Your stories are awesome and so important. Thank you for coming and sharing them with us.”

“I was shocked to hear how a game out of boredom could easily kill some innocent people. And Joe’s story about Black men refusing to salute the flag and the racism toward the Black people and Vietnamese were very meaningful and also made me question the true image of war. Even today, there are still similar stories like how Black athletes refuse to stand for Pledge of Allegiance. Very glad that Joe can come and talk about his experiences during the Vietnamese war…”

“…I was shocked … to hear that they even killed children. I was sad to hear that…”

Some of the thank yous sent to Joy Damiani after she spoke to four eighth grade classes at a NYC middle school in May 2021

“We … really appreciate you taking your time to speak with us about your experience in the military and the Iraq war. I think your first hand account was deeply moving and eye opening to my classmates and me. The way you talked about your post traumatic stress was really relatable as I have had family members with PTSD. I’m glad you’re writing music to cope with your trauma. I have seen first-hand that a creative outlet can really help. I wish there were more people like you describing how war has affected people. We are so lucky to have had someone like you speak at our school, it has given me a lot of real insight to war and the military. I’ve never really heard a veteran’s first-hand account so this was a necessary eye opener. Thanks so much for speaking with us, I know it can be stressful talking about trauma, so I really appreciate your honest conversation with us.”

“…I’ve learnt how horrible the military is, how they treated Iraq and its people. It’s scary how America has so much power, it endangers so many others, mostly the innocents….”

“… I can see how your music has helped you throughout all of these years. Music is a powerful thing that can express lots of emotions in different ways. And the fact you are expressing your emotion in your music is so inspiring to me because I always wanted to be a person in the performing business and to know that someone who has gone through hell and back is making music, is so amazing. I have watched “Don’t know much about Star Wars” and it was so true in all the ways possible. You made it such a clear message that it made sense to me about how you felt….”

“…I was impressed by what you had to say. I’ve never really interacted with veterans, especially ones who share the same views on the military as you. It was very eye-opening. Before you came, I knew kind of surface level things about the military, like how it’s glorified in the media and has an enormous budget… It amazed me to learn about how the military can just lie to you and keep people deployed longer than what their contract states, that’s pretty messed. I didn’t know that recruiters can just gloss over the truth to convince people to enlist, they should tell people what they’re signing up for. I also never really thought about why we have such a large military or why we spend so much. It never occurred to me that it was excessive… I’m sorry I’m kind of repeating myself, it’s just that there’s so much to think about and I’m kind of stunned even though I know I shouldn’t be. I’m not surprised about how much the government lies to us because I already knew that, but at the same time I am surprised about how much information the U.S. government hides from its citizens. It’s crazy and I want to thank you for the work you’re doing. I think it’s important for people to know about this, especially when it’s coming from someone who was on the inside. Maybe one day more people will start to see how much the military is lying to us and how we can make positive change. Thanks again!”

“…I loved how open and honest you were even when talking about such a sensitive topic, and how you both shared and showed us that we should be able to talk and have our own opinions as well. I am excited to further learn about war and form even more of my own opinions. Once again, thank you for sharing your experience and starting off our unit.”

“…as a woman hearing you speak about the government’s wrong-doings really changes and inspires me… You spoke a little bit about some of your colleagues who tried to rape you, and I was really surprised, because in the world we live in we don´t get to hear what really happens especially from a woman. That was a turning point for me, and it really moves me to see you write and share about it….”

“…You were so informative on the foulness and horrors of the military. I truly believe because of you I will never consider the military as a career option. As you mentioned you have PTSD so I can only guess the difficulties talking about your time in the military can cause and I appreciate your bravery. I will admit I was surprised to listen to a veteran so anti-war and anti-military. It really was refreshing. I find it appalling how the military takes advantage of so many people and then discards them. It’s disgusting….”

“…The information you gave my peers and me gave us a different perspective on the military and America. I never had a lot of knowledge on the veterans’ point of view because I always hear the same wording of ‘service to our country’ but not the damage we did to other countries… The experience you went through at such a young age makes me believe that the government isn’t valuing our human lives. Based on what I heard this could happen to anyone….”

“…Some things that stood out to me were how the U.S. government owned you and could call you back even after the time you had signed up for was finished and how horrible the conditions were for you, other people fighting in the war, and the people who lived in Iraq and were getting bombed….”

Some of the thank yous sent to Will Griffin from a NYC high school, May 2021

“Thank you Will for giving us a lot more of information about the military. The slides literally blew my mind, the amount of money used for the military and the amount of wars the US has been in.”

“It was truly wonderful to listen to your experiences and your knowledge on the military. I was very unaware and shocked that I would have a higher chance of dieing by suicide than dieing in battle. I also love how you did your research, gave us a whole list of wars that happened, and showed us a list on the amounts of bombs dropped in 2016.”

“Thank you for your amazing presentation. I am truly grateful you were able to zoom with us and teach us new things. Your presentation led to me doing even more research on the military so thank you.”

“I really appreciate your effort in trying to make the world better and I hope more and more people will support your ideas.”

“I have seen you present before and I learned that we spend a lot more on the military budget than I realized. I like your analogy of how we as U.S citizens are the fish and the U.S military is the water. I think it’s also interesting to see the governments lack of consideration for it’s soldiers – low income and allowing its soldiers to die from PTSD and mental thoughts as well as women who get sexually harassed. Thanks a hundred for speaking out for what you believe in (it’s more than what I could do) and I hope to see you present again sometime in the future.”

“It was a pleasure to hear Will speak from his point of view because we had a lot of common ideas and agreements. I already knew the truth about the military but the presentation really did make me understand more deeply about the general systems. And Will’s background also made the talk more relatable and meaningful.”

“Thank you so much for being honest about the the disguise and manipulation of the U.S. military! It’s nice to see such honest people especially as a Muslim Palestinian woman.”

Some thank yous sent to Joy Damiani from a NYC high school, April 2021

“I learned that in the military most women are treated unfairly. I was also kind of surprised to learn that soldiers fought in the war for other people’s profit. I liked your presentation because you were very honest about what you have been through in the military.”

“Thank you for coming in and sharing your story. It takes a lot of courage to do that.”

“Something new I learned from Joy’s presentation was how Joy described the military as giving up your body, mind and soul to them – something I was unaware of… My favorite part of Joy’s presentation was how she took the time to share her own experiences and she took the time to answer student questions.”

“Thank you for telling us your experiences in the military even though it was hard to remember those horrible times. But thanks to you, some of us could try to convince our friends or family members who are planning to join the army what kind of things might happen to them or they can prepare for anything that tries to come there way.”

“It’s so hard to speak about something that was hard and gave you a hard time but, you did it. You’re extremely strong.”

“Thank you Ms. Joy (I know that’s your first name but I also want to be respectful so I just put what ever came to my mind first, sorry) for opening my eyes to the true corrupt identity of the military. About 6 years ago I was thinking of joining the military because I had so many influential people in my life telling me it was fun and a really great experience over all. I know that what they said is hogwash and flawed. Thanks to you and the previous speaker on this topic, I now know 100% that it is not worth it at all. Thank very much, for taking the time out of your day to influence us.”

“I really appreciate your dedication, and I hope you won’t stop trying to make the world a better place.”

“I was intrigued by how you talked to us about how the military sugar-coats everything and makes it seem perfect for your situation and then your whole life turns around because they tell you to fabricate everything and hide the truth from not only Americans but also your comrades. I was actually very surprised how you incorporated your military experience in your music.”

“It is horrible that people are mistreated in the military because of their race, sexuality, and gender. I appreciate how honest you were and how you didn’t sugarcoat anything.”

“Thank you for doing what many unfortunately won’t and denouncing military service for what it is – prostitution – selling your body, mind and soul.”

Some of the notes to Miles Megaciph from students at a large NYC high school, February 2021

“Thank you, Miles, for sharing with us your experience and journey from a former Marine to what you have become today. From the presentation, I learned about the importance of a war-free and violence-free country and the measures that should be taken to strive for one. I am greatly thankful to have been able to get a chance to meet and hear from you.”

“Thank you for this incredible opportunity!! Everything I learned is honestly so shocking. I had no idea there was such horrible mistreatment in boot camps and in the military. This makes me realize how a first hand experience in such an environment can majorly impact someone. I like how real Miles kept it and there was no sugar coating.”

“Thank you so much for your presentation, and taking the time to speak with us on Friday. I was surprised by the discrimination and abuse that are faced by soldiers in boot camp, and thought that Miles’s rap was so amazing and passionately sung.”

“Thank you for your amazing presentation that you gave us on Friday. I was horrified by the facts you stated about the military and changed my outlook on the military. I had no clue people would join the military to hurt other people in a foreign country that they were supposed to protect. I learned a lot from you guys and from now on I will start seeking the truth behind things I think are unjust and unfair.”

“Thank you for being here, and sharing your thoughts and experience. I can imagine the bravery it took to confront this traumatic experience and rebel against it with actions. The world needs more people like you!”

“I would like to personally thank you for bringing awareness to the horrors committed by the US and its troops. I would like to thank you also for being transparent and vulnerable enough to share these experiences with us.”

“Thank you so much for coming into our Zoom class and teaching us about the military. We all really appreciate you taking the time to talk to us. One thing I really liked was your song, how you put so many of your thoughts into one song.”

“Thank you so much for visiting our class and sharing your music and stories! What you’re doing is super important and impactful. This is the first time I have heard someone who was in the U.S military speak up about the real, raw truth. I think a lot of times people just want to know the surface of things because that’s what’s easiest. All I’ve known is that the military is an honorable, good and noble act that represents our country. Which to an extent it is; but what you don’t hear about is the abuse of power, trauma, the real and raw things that go on. The things that, as Miles says, makes you question your morality. So I appreciate you telling us your truth, because it’s refreshing and eye-opening.”

“Although I do not plan on entering the military, I have relatives who served in the military… I learned today how brutal and scary the military could be… When one of my relatives who was in the military came back from war, he would not speak to anyone about the war because of how traumatic it was. I never knew why it was traumatic but now I do and I can grasp an understanding of what it was like.”

“Thank you for opening our eyes about the situation and being brave enough to speak on it publicly. It takes a lot of courage to talk about a sensitive topic like this to a bunch of high school students, going to the army, discrimination and racism. Doing my own research to see if it was really true, I saw that many have gone through the same things as you.”

“Thanks for taking time out of your day to spread your wisdom to our class. Knowledge like yours that was displayed is something that simply can’t come from research and reading. It’s straight from experience and from the heart. You made it very easy to understand and you did a great job performing your songs.”

Letters to John Burns from NYC high school students, November 2019

“Learning the reality of American heroes twisted my gut. I’ve always struggled with learning the value of a life beyond my own (meaning I’ve never seen the world around me, but not in a conceited way, I promise). If I didn’t meet a person or connect with them, it didn’t really feel like they exist. But I’ve learned every person struggles, asks questions, learns to love.

When I watched those bodies fall on the screen, the father screaming for his child, I felt a punch to my gut. It hurt. It hurt because I asked myself what if that was my father and sister on the screen? What did their family feel when they returned home but only one could speak?

Being a soldier never seemed so fun, I’ve never been the type to do everything someone else told me. But a child’s blood on my hands? The pain beyond my own of what I did? No one kills without thinking twice about what they’ve done. I can barely stand to look at roadkill, let alone a limp body.

I can’t bear to think what so many soldiers struggle with. Replaying the moment a thousand times in your head. But it wasn’t your hands or theirs. It was the whole system. The blood doesn’t stain anyone’s hand but theirs….

Thank you for creating a change and sharing it with me and hundreds of other kids with an unclear future…. I wish I could show my genuine gratitude. But I want you to know you’ve made a great impact…. Thank you.” – Nour

“Thank you for coming to our class…. Your viewpoint on this subject matters a lot and I have also learned from your experiences. Thank you. It might’ve been tough sharing your experiences and that took a lot of willpower and courage to do.

Before you came in, I was usually not skeptical about any of the U.S. things such as the military or any other programs. Now, I believe I should not fully trust what others tell me without doing research on my own.

I hope that you can continue teaching others about your viewpoints and give them this information.” – Ginny

“My mother and father both served in the military like you did and they have had their fair share of traumatic experiences because of it like you. Hearing your story was inspirational. Thank you for sharing it. The death of your friend at boot camp and the way the military treats people with some issues going on mentally really stuck with me. The reason for this is because my mom went through a similar traumatic experience in boot camp where a woman with depression decided to take her life in the bathroom and my mom was there to find her. I wrote this because I think it’s crazy how several people pass away before going to war because of horrid reasons.” – Leah

“…I never knew that because you ask for help you’re considered weak. You make a whole bunch of sacrifices to get treated badly.

About a year ago three recruiters were talking to my friends and me. They told me that in the Army I would be a nurse and be a lead on surgeries, that I didn’t need to go to college, they would teach me everything in the Army. When I’d leave after five years, I still didn’t need to go to college. I would get a job in the hospital. But, they told me, if I wanted to go to college, they would pay. And, they said they would put in money for a house… I was determined to look into it.

Then you told us about what actually happens in the Army and my mindset changed. Thank you for saying the truth and letting people know what they are getting into before they actually do it.” – Brianna

“Your visit to my school made me realize that there is always another side to everything. Seeing the movie clips and hearing first-hand how much pressure soldiers feel on a day-to-day basis really opened my eyes. Hearing you talk about your personal experiences in the military made me gain a lot of respect for you. I really want to thank you for your visit because just being able to talk about it boggles my mind.” – Maria

“You provided us an alternate view on the military that contradicts the excessive pro-military advertisements that many of us teens today see almost everywhere. There are also probably a million more experiences of the military that aren’t heard of that expose the reality.” – Mohammed

“You have helped give me and some friends I told about you a better understanding of what goes on behind closed doors. Your speaking about your personal experiences and trauma makes you stronger than most soldiers. I understand that it must have been hard to speak up but it is greatly appreciated. Thank you.” – Faith

From a large New York City high school, November 2019

“Thank you for providing me with a new perspective. This truly opened my eyes to the workings of the world. ”

“Thank you for coming and for making me realize we aren’t always the good guys. I saw a new POV.”

“Your presentation opened our eyes. Continue to open other eyes!”

“Thank you for being able to stand up about uncommon opinions.”

“I like how honest and open Will was about this topic. Also, I liked how he talked about his experiences with his father, boot camp, being an anti-war activist and his experience with the countries he was in for months.”

“I liked when Will explained how many bombs per 12 minutes to show how many bombs the U.S. is dropping on innocent civilians..”

“The presentation was awesome. Personally I really like the whole entire presentation, how we are at war with 7 countries was really quite interesting and really messed up.”

“I’m in JROTC. Last year I was thinking about getting involved in the Army when I grow up because of the benefits. Now, I’m not even thinking about it any more because I don’t want to endanger innocent people or experience life in the military as a woman.”

From a large very diverse New York City high school, October 2018

“As a man, Miles wasn’t afraid to show emotion.”

“Miles Megaciph was clearly very passionate about what he was talking about and that is admirable. I want to be just like that with something I pursue in the future.”

“I never really gave any thought to joining the military before but now the thought won’t even cross my mind. It seems so… evil, corrupt.”

“If young people can receive more education based on history, focusing on the causes of wars, then the chances of wars will decrease.”

From a New York City student in a high school for recent immigrants, October 2018

“Thank you so much for sharing the experiences in your life and advice on how to keep our minds open, knowing what is right or wrong. What you said really touched me and even made me think about my own problems or issues going on right now. Seeing a leader like you inspires every cell in our bodies.”

From New York City high school students, March 2017

“Thank you for coming to our school. I appreciate that Lyle (the veteran) shared his experience with us. It opened my eyes about the military because I didn’t know any of the stuff you shared with us. Your story made me realize how cruel the military can be. Also, you’re brave and kind-hearted for thinking about other people’s lives. The pamphlet also was very helpful because I’m a girl and even though I never thought of going into the military, I have many friends who wanted to go. But now that I shared the information with them, they know what happens there and now they won’t go.”

“Not too long ago my dad called me and asked, ‘Did you sign any papers for the Army?’ I told him no, I hadn’t and asked him why he was asking me such a question. He then told me that he received a letter from the Army asking me if I want to join the Army. I was thinking about it for a while because it says that if I join I will get help from the Army for college. I also heard customers in the store talking about making a living after you finish the Army which added more to my thinking. However, listening and understanding your story, I feel like there are other ways to get to college. I also understand what it means to join the military. Once you do, your body is not yours. It will only be used for the military. If something happens to you, your family might get money and that’s it.”

“I really appreciate you guys coming and taking your time to educate us about the military. I always hated war and I always asked myself why people fight and who benefits from war. I think you guys answered that and now I feel like countries that have more money are spending all their money on arms and not on their people. I’ve been against the wars for a long time but I never knew there was someone else or a whole community that is against the wars and helping stop people from going to war.”

“I always thought that the military was a place where men get stronger, responsible and respectful. However, your story and what you told us made me realize how bad it is. Honestly, I still believe that is different is certain places, but now I have many doubts. If I had to advise someone about going in the military, I would say no. Thank you so much for opening my mind. I thought you go there to fight for your country in a way that you can be honored. But no, I’d rather stay home instead of being part of discrimination and dehumanization. They should stop discrimination but they are teaching it. I think it’s so wrong to be part of this thing. People shouldn’t die due to wrong teachings. Thank you again. It was really helpful.”

“Many people like me have been blind-sided by the military. There is a sense promoted by the military to show people that joining that military is a form of love of a person for his country. You guys have exposed the truth that goes on behind closed doors. Many people are offered many military privileges which make them want to join the military. Telling people the truth about what really goes on during the wars and at the camps is such an eye-opener to a lot of us. Once again, thank y’all.”

“When the veteran told about how they use the word ‘haji’ at boot camp, I got offended because, as a Muslim, I can’t watch and look at others make fun of my religion. Overall, I thank you for inspiring me and revealing the truth about the military.”

“I am grateful for you letting me know about what’s going on in the military. Honestly, I never knew until you told me. I have to let my brother know about this because he has a plan of joining the Army. At first I thought the Army was a good career for my brother until I realized how racist it is to other people.”

Note on JROTC, June 2016

For the first time since we began the program in 2008, we were able to schedule a speaker for students enrolled in Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (J-ROTC) classes in 2015 and 2016.  Some very thoughtful questions were asked of the veteran about the “Collateral Murder” video which had been viewed by those students. “Why did they kill children?” “Why did they talk about people in Iraq in such a messed up way?”

From university students in New York City, February 2016

“I liked that this class was taught by someone with real experience in the military and life after it.”

“I liked how honest the speaker was.  He did not shy away from the truth.”

“I thought the presentation was extremely enlightening and even shocking –  the info was honest and hit home.”  Regarding the “Collateral Murder” video: “I did not have this perception and it frightened me that I hadn’t seen it.”

“I was not fully aware but had envisioned the military to be cruel.  The presentation did not change my views but allowed me to further express anger towards the military and war.”

“I was not fully aware of the realities and was deeply disturbed (by the video).  It made me question the good intentions of the military.”

“I like how honest John (the veteran) was.  It was really refreshing to hear someone speak from the heart about issues concerning men and women in the military.”

“I knew that there’s always more than the government lets on.  The presentation confirmed what I thought about the military.  There’s needless violence and a lack of support for the troops.”