The Last Deployment Project, with Christopher Robinson

In this conversation, Heather A. Warfield talks with Chris Robinson, a Marine Corps veteran and creator of The Last Deployment Project. They discuss his initiative to capture the oral histories of veterans involved in the Afghanistan withdrawal. The project aims to provide a platform for veterans to share their experiences and Robinson emphasizes the importance of inclusivity, allowing not only service members but also those who supported the mission in Afghanistan to share their stories. The conversation also touches on the therapeutic power of storytelling, the overwhelming nature of the experiences shared, and the potential for pilgrimages as a healing journey for veterans.

Takeaways:

*The Last Deployment Project aims to capture the stories of veterans involved in the Afghanistan withdrawal.

*Chris Robinson, a Marine Corps veteran, initiated the project to provide a platform for veterans to share their experiences.

*Robinson has conducted 67 interviews, focusing on the wide-ranging impacts of the withdrawal.

*Storytelling serves as a therapeutic outlet for veterans, allowing them to process their experiences.

*The project is inclusive, inviting not only service members but also those who supported the mission.

*Interviews are open-ended, allowing veterans to share as much as they need without time constraints.

*The emotional weight of the stories shared can be overwhelming for both the interviewee and the interviewer.

*Pilgrimages and outdoor experiences can serve as alternative therapeutic interventions for veterans.

Christopher Robinson was born and mostly raised in Southeast Louisiana. He graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University (SELU) with a Bachelors in English (Concentration in Creative Writing) in May 2016. Three days later, he was on Parris Island, SC for Marine Corps Recruit Training. By October 2016, Robinson was an 0352 (Anti-Tank Missileman) serving with the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion in Camp Lejeune, NC. He completed his active service in May 2020, and almost immediately started graduate studies at SELU. While there, Robinson started what would become The Last Deployment Project in October 2022. By December, he had conducted ten interviews that would become the core of his thesis: The Last Deployment Project - Voices from HKIA. He graduated with a Masters in History in May 2023 and has continued the work with the project ever since.  In August 2024, Robinson finalized a deal with the Casemate Group with the intention to publish a book about the 2021 Afghanistan Withdrawal for August 2026 (5th Anniversary).  Earlier this year (2025), he was accepted into the history doctoral program at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM), starting in the fall.  He is married, and he and his wife are expecting their first child in July (2025).