The Stories Vietnam Veterans Never Told with Filmmaker Sid Holmes

Filmmaker Sid Holmes joins Untold Valor to discuss The Wait, his powerful documentary chronicling the lives of Vietnam veterans beyond the battlefield. Rather than beginning with combat, Sid explores who these men were before they served, revealing how childhood, military service, and the journey home shaped the rest of their lives. The conversation highlights the importance of preserving veterans' stories, the healing power of sharing difficult experiences, and why no veteran should ever suffer in silence. Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode: The Wait – Why Sid created his Vietnam documentary Vietnam Experience – Following veterans from enlistment through homecoming Healing Through Storytelling – Why sharing experiences can be therapeutic From Film to Stage – Turning veteran stories into a live production Hope & Resources – Encouragement for veterans to seek support 0:00 – Intro 1:19 – Why Sid wanted to tell Vietnam veterans' stories 3:20 –Why the film begins with childhood 9:16 – Veterans opening up through conversation 10:37 – Powerful veteran stories 14:06 – The many different paths that led men to Vietnam 16:30 – Adapting The Wait into a stage play 19:39 – Sid's message to veterans and their families Sid Holmes Learn more about Sid HERE EPISODE LINKS Check out Sid’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@afamreport/videos The Weight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_zOZMAf8ec The Stage Play: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wo3VIMzNmg8&t=9s Articles about The Weight: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1keX1Q6MLqv-3SUyOAWOzvSL1rkEOcDHi/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_dh3HkLuX2rtSi906LQKjOsZQ8zhY563/view?usp=sharing MORE RESOURCES Need immediate help? Contact the Veterans Crisis Line via phone, text or online chat. Dial 988 then Press 1 or text 838255 or use the online chat at https://bit.ly/3OunXzg Voice & Vision: https://bit.ly/3miwFoy CompeerCORPS: https://compeerfriends.org/compeercorps Be a Volunteer for CompeerCORPS: Voice and Vision, Inc | CompeerCORPS Volunteer Application Be a Peer for CompeerCORPS: Voice and Vision, Inc | Compeer & CompeerCORPS Referral Application Information on how to apply for VA Healthcare Benefits from anywhere in the USA: https://bit.ly/40PtrrN or call 877-222-8387 (M-F 8am-8pm EST) To apply for veteran’s benefits and find resources in Pennsylvania veterans need to contact their County Office of Veterans Affairs as listed in this document: https://bit.ly/3m8PBWS View more about PA’s resources for veterans: https://bit.ly/416cf0Q