The Impact of War

The Deserters is Charles Glass' second book relating to World War II. His last book, Americans in Paris, told the story of the U.S. citizens who remained in the French capital after the 1940 German invasion.

WWII 'Deserters': Stories Of Men Who Left The Front Lines

5:11pm June 17, 2013

In his new book, journalist Charles Glass explores the little-known history of thousands of American and British soldiers who deserted during World War II. Glass describes how the strain of war can push a soldier to the breaking point — and how the line between courage and cowardice is never simple.

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National

Pentagon Hopes Brain Tissue Research Will Help Prevent Injuries

6:12pm June 14, 2013

More than 260,000 cases of traumatic brain injury have been reported by American service members sent to Iraq and Afghanistan. Now the Department of Defense has created a tissue bank where the brains of deceased service members will be studied, in an effort to treat and prevent brain injury from combat. Melissa Block speaks with the director of the brain tissue repository, Dr. Daniel Perl.

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Op-Ed: Midnight Meals Are Key To Military Morale

4:59pm June 03, 2013

Midnight dinner service will be canceled at Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistan in June. Officials say it's part of the drawdown process, and though it might not sound like a big deal, former U.S. Army paratrooper David Brown says Marines at Camp Leatherneck stand to lose more than just food.

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A Grim Task: Military-Death Notification

2:11pm May 27, 2013

Among the many thousands of men and women who chose to serve in the military, few volunteer for the duty of death notification. As the nation honors those killed in the line of duty, those who work intimately with the families of the fallen share their stories. (Originally broadcast May 29, 2006.)

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Photographer Tim Hetherington during an assignment for Vanity Fair Magazine at the Restrepo outpost.

Sebastian Junger: 'Which Way' To Turn After Hetherington's Death

11:53am April 18, 2013

In a new documentary premiering on HBO, the journalist explores the life of his friend, the war photographer Tim Hetherington. The two collaborated on the 2010 documentary Restrepo, and Junger was profoundly changed after Hetherington was killed by shrapnel in Libya in 2011.

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Remembering Iraq: How Personal Stories Square With Press

3:31pm March 20, 2013

NPR's Neal Conan talks with Iraq veterans about how the media coverage and the national conversation around the 10th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq resonates with their personal experiences.

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What's Changed For Same-Sex Partners In The Military

5:10pm February 21, 2013

Outgoing Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced the extension of some military benefits to same-sex partners of service members. While the Defense of Marriage Act is law, however, gay military partners are not entitled to all of the same benefits as their straight counterparts.

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National

Op-Ed: It's Time To Recognize The Valor Of Cyber Warriors

2:47pm February 19, 2013

Outgoing Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced that the military will award a new medal to recognize exceptional accomplishments in areas including drone and cyber warfare. Brookings Institution senior fellow Peter Singer argues that this is an important step in recognizing the changing nature of war.

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A French military drone takes off in December 2010 from a U.S. airbase in Bagram, Afghanistan.

The Sticky Questions Surrounding Drones And Kill Lists

3:17pm February 12, 2013

Scott Shane, a national security correspondent for The New York Times, speaks with Fresh Air's Terry Gross about the drone-related stories he has helped break, including the revelation that President Obama personally approves targeted strikes against suspected terrorists.

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During the Vietnam War, more than 58,000 Americans died, as well as more than 2 million Vietnamese soldiers and civilians.

War And Foreign Policy Through The Eyes Of Vietnam Veterans

3:25pm January 30, 2013

by NPR Staff

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmed Sen. John Kerry as the next secretary of state. Former Sen. Chuck Hagel is set to become the next secretary of defense. Critics and supporters of the men point to their service in Vietnam as a critical qualification.

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