The Homefront

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have become the longest wars in American history, resulting in multiple deployments and long separations for soldiers and their families in this era of all-volunteer armed forces. Newsman Bob Woodruff (who was badly injured covering the war in Iraq) hosts this PBS-aired documentary by filmmaker Gabrielle Tenenbaum that examines how these wars are affecting the home front. Many soldiers hail from military families, and they understand that they really have two families: the spouses and children back home, and their battle buddies. Soldiers, wives, and children describe the "family business" of competing loyalties between duty and family, lamenting the "empty seat at the table," saying goodbyes, and missing births, as well as the joy of coming home and reintegrating, reconnecting, and catching up. The Homefront addresses many types of military situations, including the case of a special ops soldier caught up in the "Black Hawk Down" action, who fervently hoped that his family wouldn't see his body being dragged through the Somali streets. Also covered here are families coping with returning soldiers' anger and other symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, tribulations unique to female soldiers, and the disrupting call-up of state national guard units. Above all, the families of volunteer soldiers must deal with a general public that is far removed from their problems and concerns. (As one interviewee puts it, civilians "don't speak jarhead," and may not always appreciate their sacrifice.) Featuring input from veterans' advocate Jill Biden, as well as top military brass, this poignant, powerful, and timely documentary is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (S. Rees)