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