Top 10 Movies That Deal With Veteran Issues

This Veteran's Day why not take a break from your favorite TV show and watch a movie that looks at the issues that affect Veterans?  Below are 10 wonderful choices that all look at different aspects of life post-war.  Some are new and some are old. Some are narrative and some are documentary. But all of the films shed light onto the great service our soldiers perform and the fact that we really need to make sure we provide them with the resources they need when they return.

As always, let me know if I missed any important or favorite films in the comments.

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10. When I Came Home -  A poignant look at homeless Vets in America and the challenges they face, When I Came Home is a film that highlights the ways in which our system much change.

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9. Standard Operating Procedure - What happens when soldiers are stuck in sticky moral situations? How does society judge them? Who is to blame? Errol Morris breaks it down as only he can.

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8. Friday Night Lights (Season 1) - I've only seen Season 1 so this might change or be more important in future seasons but watching quarterback Matt Saracen manage taking care of his Grandma and football while his Dad in Iraq says a lot about the different types of support families with soldiers need.  The video below doesn't have sound but you can get a feeling for what is going on. Also, his father's desire to stay in Iraq says a lot about how hard it is to adjust to civilian life.

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7. The Messenger - This film may focus on those who don't come back but it makes a point about how families deal with loss and how soldiers handle the potential risk of being in the military.

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6. The Ground Truth - An important examination of everything soldiers go through with a focus on how hard it is to adjust to normal life, The Ground Truth makes a very strong case for needed policy changes when it comes to Veteran support.

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5. Born on the Fourth of July - One of the most famous stories of life as a Veteran.  Powerful and hard to watch.

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4. The Best Years of Our Lives - An old fashioned Hollywood tale of 3 soldiers that return and the different experiences they have.  An epic, classic film.

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3. Waltz With Bashir - A hypnotic look at the memories soldiers store and what they need to forget to get on with their lives. So beautiful and so ugly.

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2. Brothers - A powerful and harsh look at the fears and problems soldiers face when they return home after performing actions that they are not mentally equipped to handle.  The trailer  for the original Danish film is below (the films is AMAZING) but do take note that an American remake is due out soon.

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1. Winter Soldier - The film about being a Veteran. See this.