Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans: What did you leave behind?

When we hear about what U.S. forces are leaving behind in those countries, the conversation tends to focuses on bases, equipment and the fitness of local security forces. But the men and women who served there have often left more personal things behind.

If you're an Iraq or Afghanistan veteran, we want to hear what you left behind. It could be anything; a physical object or something less tangible. Help us to tell a different kind of story about America's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. We also want to hear about what you kept.

What you share here is confidential unless you tell us we can use your information (there is a checkbox for that below).

Also, we will not share your personal information with any other entity.

* indicates required field

First Name *

Last Name *

E-mail *

City *

State or Province

Country *

Postal Code *

Phone

When did it all begin for you? What year were you first deployed? *

Were you sent to Iraq or Afghanistan on your first deployment? *

What year did your first deployment end? *

How many times have you been deployed to Iraq and/or Afghanistan? *

Did you deploy to Iraq, Afghanistan or both? *

WHAT YOU LEFT BEHIND

In as few words as possible, describe what it was that you left behind.
It could be anything, from any deployment -- a physical object or something less tangible. We'll ask you to write in more detail further down the form *

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Did you leave this thing behind in Iraq or Afghanistan? *

What can you tell us about this thing you left behind?
Be as specific as possible. No detail is too small. *

What branch of the military were you serving in at the time? *

If you answered "other," please enter branch here:

What was your rank at the time?

If you have an original photo to illustrate the thing you left behind, please upload it here. (No larger than 10MB, please!)

Please share some details about this photo: names, date, location, and the story behind it.

WHAT YOU KEPT

What about a thing that you've held on to? Please use as few words as possible.

Again, it could be anything -- a physical object or something less tangible.

characters remaining

Is this thing you kept from Iraq or Afghanistan?

What can you tell us about this thing you kept?
Again, please be as specific as possible. No detail is too small.

What branch of the military were you serving in at the time?

If you answered "other," please enter branch here:

What was your rank at the time?

If you have an original photo to illustrate the thing you kept, please upload it here. (No larger than 10MB, please!)

Please share some details about this photo: names, date, location, and the story behind it.

PERMISSION TO PUBLISH

May we publish your insights (and any uploaded pictures) and attribute them to you? Your comments may be edited for length or clarity. *

Yes

Contact me first

Help us to identify you in a way that represents your current military service by entering your rank (abbreviated version) and full name here:

Example: Sgt. 1st Class Jane Doe or Command Ret. Sgt. Maj. John Doe *

A PHOTO OF YOU

If you have an original photo of yourself while deployed (or back at home), please upload it here.

Please share some details about this photo: names, date, location, who took the photo, and the story behind it.

Finally, a few questions to help us get to know you better.

In what year were you born?

What is your race or ethnicity?

What do you do for work?

Thank you for taking the time. A reporter or producer may contact you to find out more about your experience. If you have any questions please contact Public Insight Network Senior Reporter Jeff Severns Guntzel at jsguntzel@americanpublicmedia.org.

Your Information

By completing this form, you become part of American Public Media's Public Insight Network (PIN). American Public Media and any other PIN newsroom listed on this form may contact you for help with current and future news coverage.

This submission may be shared with journalists at American Public Media and other news organizations collaborating on reporting. It will not be used for marketing or fundraising purposes, and we will never quote you without first getting your explicit permission.

If you give us permission to publish your submission, we may edit before sharing it on-air, in print or online. We reserve the right to reuse or republish your submission, or to withhold your submission from publication. You must be 13 years or older to provide a submission.

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