Veterans are integral to the fabric of the Miami Valley, bringing unique perspectives shaped by military service across all branches—Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and Space Force. WYSO's veterans coverage goes beyond traditional military stories to explore the full spectrum of post-service life in southwestern Ohio.
Through our Veterans' Voices series, supported by Wright-Patt Credit Union and the Montgomery County Veterans Service Commission, we spotlight veteran entrepreneurs launching small businesses, advocates fighting for better services, and community leaders using military skills in civilian roles. Our reporting examines both the challenges veterans face—from navigating healthcare systems to overcoming transition depression—and the innovative solutions they create.
We cover veteran-specific issues affecting our region, including housing, employment, mental health resources, and educational opportunities. Stories range from recent service members adjusting to civilian life to Vietnam-era veterans sharing historical perspectives, reflecting the generational diversity within the veteran community.
Our veteran contributors, including graduates of WYSO's Community Voices training program, tell their own stories and those of fellow veterans. This approach ensures authentic representation of military experiences while building bridges between veteran and civilian communities.
Whether exploring veteran-owned businesses, military family dynamics, or policy impacts on local veterans, this coverage recognizes military service as just one chapter in the ongoing stories of remarkable individuals contributing to the Miami Valley's strength and resilience.
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Ohio Navy veteran Candise Baker says she found healing from military sexual trauma through her art. "My hands are busy, then my mind is free." -
Army veteran Gladys Lawrence has discovered painting, drawing, and creative expression through Ohio VA's Whole Health Program, finding healing through multiple art forms. -
MilitaryHeather Seymour directs Ohio's Veterans Arts Initiative, offering classes in painting, music, leathercraft, and more to support veteran mental health and reduce suicide. -
Ohio Army veteran Leni D. Anderson taught himself to paint after leaving the military. His work has appeared at the Smithsonian, Kennedy Center, and galleries worldwide. -
Marine Corps veteran Zack Sliver turns his military experiences into folk rock music through Operation Encore, a nonprofit connecting veteran musicians with the industry. -
The initiative, known as Operation Evergreen, is a partnership between the Ohio Department of Agriculture and the Ohio Christmas Tree Association. -
Air Force veteran Daniel King uses lens-based art and workshops to help fellow veterans express complex feelings. He showcased his work at Ohio's Veterans Art Exhibition. -
Will Davis with The Eichelberger Center for Community Voices tells WYSO listeners about the focus of the new season of Veterans' Voices. -
A runner's memoir by a man who has run marathons on every continent. Bob Welbaum shares his adventures from Antarctica to the Great Wall of China at age 77. -
Bill Short and Willa Seidenberg discuss their decades-long project documenting Vietnam War GI resistors, including rare interviews with Donald Duncan and Howard Levy. -
B-24 pilot Frank Lampe flew combat missions in China-Burma-India Theater, then piloted his bomber home via global route. He lived 101 years, representing fallen comrades. -
The bill signed into law on July 4 makes major cuts to the program that began in 1939 with the First Food Stamp Program. SNAP cuts will reduce the budget by $186 billion dollars over nine years.
