Veterans
Documentaries covering a variety a topics on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Some of these listings are available outside of the library, and some have information on where to rent, purchase, or borrow.
A tremendously moving testament to the need for services for veterans suffering from PTSD, this Academy Award-winning documentary exemplifies the power of a small group of people willing to lend an empathic ear. Available on HBO and Amazon Video
Follows the journeys of five combat veterans from different generations of American wars as they sign up, go into battle, and eventually change their minds about what it means to be a good soldier. Available streaming at Mid-Continent Public Library AND on Prime Video
From his embed with US Marines Echo Company in Afghanistan, photojournalist and filmmaker Danfung Dennis reveals the devastating impact a Taliban machine-gun bullet has on the life of 25-year-old Sergeant Nathan Harris. The film seamlessly transitions from stunning war reportage to an intimate portrait of one man's personal struggle at home in North Carolina, where Harris confronts the physical and emotional difficulties of re-adjusting to civilian life with the love and support of his wife. Available on DVD and streaming at Kansas City, Johnson County and Mid-Continent Public Libraries AND Docurama and Prime Video
U.S. policy forbids women from serving in military units whose primary objective is direct ground combat. This documentary makes public, for the first time, the hidden history of a group of female Army support soldiers who became the first women in American history to be sent into direct ground combat, fighting alongside their male comrades in some of the most violent counterinsurgency battles. Told through intimate accounts and interviews with military commanders, the film follows five 'lioness' women who served together for a year in Iraq. Together the women's narratives form a portrait of the emotional and psychological effects of war from a female point of view. Available at Kansas City, Johnson County and Mid-Continent Public Libraries AND Prime Video
After the Pearl Harbor attack, Ben Kuroki would be the first Japanese-American war hero, surviving 58 missions as an aerial gunner. But he found himself at the center of controversy, as the lone spokesman against the racism faced by the thousands of Japanese-Americans. Available at Mid-Continent Public Library
This documentary chronicles the deployment of a platoon of U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley, starting in 2007. The movie focuses on a remote 15-man outpost, Restrepo, named after a platoon medic who was killed in action. It was considered one of the most dangerous postings in the U.S. military. This is an entirely experiential film: the cameras never leave the valley; there are no interviews with generals or diplomats. Available at Kansas City and Johnson County Public Libraries AND Netflix
A contemplative portrait of Ron 'Stray Dog' Hall: biker, Vietnam Vet, and lover of small dogs. Stray Dog joins thousands of bikers on a cross-country ride to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. Available on Prime Video
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