In this episode, Heriberto "Eddie" Arambula, PhD, recounts his military journey and the profound impact it had on his life. Enlisting in the US Army in 2002, Eddie was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, and deployed to Iraq in 2004, where he experienced intense combat. He was part of the unit featured in the National Geographic series "The Long Road Home,", https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1210820/ based on Martha Raddatz's acclaimed book, https://www.amazon.com/Long-Road-Home-Story-Family/dp/B0016493S4 Eddie reflects on the challenges and transformations he faced, particularly during the 48 hour battle in Sadr City on April 4, 2004. Eddie emphasizes the importance of storytelling and sharing experiences to help veterans heal and find support. He discusses the significance of connecting with other veterans and Gold Star families, overcoming fears and barriers, and finding support through therapy and education. Eddie highlights the need for inclusive spaces in higher education for veterans and the role of community engagement in a successful transition. The conversation explores how acknowledging and taking action on personal situations can help achieve goals. It also underscores the power of storytelling in addressing mental, emotional, physical, spiritual, and social well-being. Eddie shares insights on his current projects, including a book compiling stories from USC alumni and a journal for veteran students, concluding with a powerful message about the importance of community and sharing stories. Chapters 00:00- Introduction and Setting the Stage 03:01- Eddie Arambula's Military Journey: From Enlistment to Deployment 08:00- The Intense Combat Experience: Eddie Arambula's Deployment to Iraq 11:52- The Long Road Home: The Power of Storytelling 24:26- Healing and Connecting with Veterans and Gold Star Families 31:19- Overcoming Fears and Barriers in the Healing Journey 35:09- The Need for Inclusive Spaces in Higher Education for Veterans 39:23- The Power of Storytelling in Bridging the Gap 46:20- Community Engagement: A Key to Successful Transition 53:07- Acknowledge to Action 55:29- Addressing Mental, Emotional, Physical, Spiritual, and Social Well-being 57:28- Current Projects and Future Plans 59:42- Owning and Sharing Your Story 01:07:45- The Power of Community and Engagement 01:09:28- Leaning on Community and Sharing Stories 01:11:14- Moving Forward as a Community 01:17:34- The Power of Community and Keeping Veterans Alive 01:21:01- Who's Next?
