The Soviet Afghantsi (Anna Reich)

The term Afghantsi refers to military veterans of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan during the 70s and 80s. Largely ignored and forgotten by the governments of former Soviet-bloc countries, these veteran’s stories are often equally overlooked. In this episode, the guys interview Anna Reich, the author of I Try Not to Think of Afghanistan. The book is a collection of years of research done by Anna collecting the accounts of former Soviet soldiers who fought in Afghanistan, specifically Lithuanians. She discusses the complexities of their experiences, the challenges they faced, and the way their stories are perceived in Lithuania. She also touches on the differences between American and Lithuanian veterans, the impact of violence and combat on individuals, and the varying perspectives on war and its effects.Music provided by Quincy Ledbetter (https://www.qledbetter.com/).Artwork provided by Megan Weaver (https://meganweaverart.com/).Special thank you to our premium members. If you’d like to support the show and listen ad free, you can become a premium member by clicking subscribe in your Apple podcast app or visit https://thebaggagepodcast.com/support to sign up or to gift a membership to someone. A percentage of all proceeds go to charity.If you have questions, comments, or a good story, email us at [email protected] in this episode:Leleka FoundationLeleka Foundation is a volunteer-driven organization that operates with minimal overhead, maximizing the impact of every donation. By leveraging our personal resources, we ensure that 96-97% of all donations go directly to life-saving programs. Leleka was founded in December 2014 when several Ukrainians in the United States joined their efforts with several volunteer initiatives in Ukraine to procure and supply medical and first-aid supplies to paramedics, ambulances, and hospitals. Since February 2022, Leleka has focused on the urgent supply of critical medical supplies and protective gear to Ukraine’s defenders and civilians.The Dear Jack FoundationThe Dear Jack Foundation provides impactful programs benefiting adolescents and young adults (AYA) diagnosed with cancer and their families to improve their quality of life from treatment to survivorship. Through programs and strategic partnerships, Dear Jack addresses the physical and emotional needs of AYA cancer patients, survivors and their families. One-on-one patient support and wellness programs allow the Dear Jack Foundation to empower patients, survivors and their caregivers in their healing and to provide assurance that they are not alone in their cancer journey.The Dear Jack Foundation