#and then the first guy to talk is a combat veteran from operation enduring freedom in afghanistan like i understand EXACTLY what u mfs did

[francisforever2014]

there’s a divide between civilians and military personnel !! like this post to make it wider

[arplis]

Arplis - News: How Medal Of Honor: Above And Beyond Goes 'Above And Beyond’ For Veteran

s Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond is a VR experience rooted in real-life World War II history. Immersive and highly interactive, the game on its own is an enjoyable experience, but what many might not know is how positive of an impact it has for veterans and shining a truthful light on American history.  For those that may not know, the VR Medal of Honor experience from Respawn Entertainment allows players to step into the role of an agent of the Office of Strategic Services during WWII in a ravished European setting. It offers an enjoyable multiplayer experience alongside a stunningly fleshed-out single-player campaign that offers an honest representation of those moments in war not often explored; the quiet before a mission, the realization that "we're at war" that many soldiers feel in and out of moments of reality — even the easy camaraderie that comes with knowing the person beside you will defend you with their life, even when sometimes the price is just that.  I recently sat down with game director Peter Hirschmann to learn more about the game after playing through the campaign and some of the PvP. As a veteran myself, hearing how the team went 'above and beyond' for veterans and their stories, while also providing meaningful experiences meant to educate without romanticization meant more than many will ever know.  For players, they aren't just getting a game, they're also getting a documentary experience with in-depth short films diving into the stories of real World War II vets, taking them back to the places that have impacted them the most, and listening to their stories with open hearts and open ears. With the Gallery, players can unlock over 90 minutes of real-world experiences of eight surviving WWII veterans. Unlock a mission, unlock an actual piece of history, making Above and Beyond emotionally raw and more than just a game.  "The youngest combat vet from World War II is in their nineties," the director tells us, driving home the idea that first-hand accounts of what actually happened are becoming more and more distant. "The youngest is in their nineties. That means they were teenagers. Gil, who is one of our future guys, was 19. He was a 19-year-old kid on a tank. "Gil tells an amazing story about going through the Harz Mountains on a Chaffee tank. He's in the back and this little boy jumps out and stops the convoy and asks for help. They have to tell him, 'No, we can't take you with us. We're going to a battle. We're going to the next town. You need to stay here. Someone will be along soon'. They drive away and Gil talks about the haunted forlorn look in this little boy's face, just standing on the side of the road as they all rumbled down."  It was upon hearing Gil's story that the team realized that the amazing potential for education and closure if they could bring Gil back to that location. Being 93, there were concerns, but the organization Honor Flight helped make this a reality with the consent of the veterans themselves and with the upmost care. Ensuring that all involved were comfortable, cared for, and safe, the team embarked on one of many journeys explored throughout this entire process tied to Above and Beyond.  For Gil, it was going back to a camp he liberated at 19, a place that he never returned to until this documentary went into production. The team took other surviving veterans to familiar places as well, each given the opportunity to tell their story in their own way, in their own time. Sometimes even giving them a chance to tell their tales to close family members for the first time ever. The documentary houses so many incredibly powerful stories. Stories that show the friendship that endures war (and forms because of it), the losses that come with it, and the side not often seen in mainstream media: the human side. The quieter danger, the moments of reflection, and the parts of history that are a very close reality to many still with us.  One story centers around David, taking him back to a moment in time where he lost his best friend Smitty. Upon returning to that spot, he met with Smitty's family to honor a promise made when the pair entered into he war together, a promise to visit the other's family should one of them fall. David met with his family, telling them their story in a way that was incredible beyond words.  Click here to watch embedded media "When they get there, the mother, who lives there, said to him: "David, this is a hat I made for you." Throughout the rest of our time, he never takes it off. It was this floppy straw hat that she wove herself, and he ever takes it off again the entire time. It's so wonderful. After, they invite him to their home and it's hard for me to talk about it because you can get a little emotional," Hirschmann says tearfully. David, who is "the funniest guy I've ever met," continued to share his story and that of his friendship with Smitty where eventually they find his friend's grave. Out of respect, the team stood back and gave him a moment of privacy as David spoke with Smitty for the first time in decades, laying a picture of Smitty's parents on the grave, and saying his farewells.  The photo, in particular, was important because Smitty's family never visited the grave. "The mom was too distraught. They never came because back then families had a choice to either let their loved ones be buried and turned in Europe; either one of the big cemeteries in the Netherlands or in Normandy, or to be brought back and repatriated. Smitty's mom was so devastated that when it came time to make that decision, Smitty's dad was like, 'No, just let him stay resting in the Netherlands.' The mom was brokenhearted the rest of her life. So for David to go to that grave site and lay a photo of the parents was just, I mean, God, it's hard to recount." The team then took at 360 shot of the gravestone, allowing viewers a chance to witness, and be a part of, a moment of closure with David, a way to pay respect in a powerful way. That being said, the team's most important goal was to capture the emotional truth of these stories without exploiting them, so we made sure that nothing in the game was taken directly from these tales.  Click image thumbnails to view larger version                                                                                                                As a veteran that took part in operations overseas with Operation Enduring Freedom and New Dawn, there is a comraderie that is hard to explain to someone who has never served. These are people that could die, these are people that could watch you die, and everyone's survival is dependenant upon trust. That trust is paramount when building these relationships, and that trust is something that Respawn wanted to convey in the game as well. It's more than just dramatic monologues of existential crisis, it's the small moments when joking about the crap food in the chow hall, or "where did my socks go"? It's the small moments that mean just as much, and it is those small moments that are reflected not only in the game, but in between the lines of the stories being reflected in this documentary series.  Another aspect that Respawn wanted to make sure they paid special attention to is how they portrayed the war. Too many times in war games, the "bad side" is either dramaticized for flair, or romanticized for ... some other reason. There are no occult substories, no quests of endearment. This is the tale of a real war with a real enemy and while that enemy housed real human beings, the ideal that acted as a banner was dangerous, harmful, and evil.  "If you're embellishing the Nazis, if you're embellishing the third Reich, you're reading the wrong history books," says the director emphatically. "So just to make sure we're staying true to that, that's important. For players, and for us, embrace that it's a game. Then to lean into which we haven't done in one of these WWII games, lean into some bad and sad things do happen to the characters, it's all part of a bigger picture." Without falling into any inaccurate tropes, there is the underlying theme of there will be consequences. "As much as that comraderie and that love and being united in a common purpose and fighting against legitimate evil, which is what the Third Reich was, that doesn't steeple away from the fact that there is going to be a price. There are going to be consequences no matter how noble your intentions are. So again, we kept the firewall there between what the vets were telling us and what we were learning and even Colette for godsakes, who was a teenage girl, member of the resistance. There's nothing in Colette's story that transfers over except the fear of the Gestapo and how collaborators were the worst. Just getting those elements into the story without being one-to-one to the story details, but touching on these sort of through-lines. That was the goal. "We made them in parallel," he adds when talking about how the tales of these veterans inspired the game without being an exact replica. "The stories were fuel for us to make the best game possible, because if we just put it out the gallery on Steam and on Oculus store, we might get some nice marks. There might be one or two articles about, 'Oh yeah, you can watch these documentaries.' People would probably look at it as some sort of educational thing. So the game is the hook to get you in. I mean, the whole point is to have fun, but the game is there to get you in the door and to maybe trigger some empathy that, 'Oh, I do want to go hear the real thing.'" That was also a big reason behind the decision to go VR. In VR, everything is a little more real. You are picking up the gun, you are holding your hands up in surrender. You are there. This added yet another layer of complexity to not only the campaign of the videogame itself, but also to the empathetic layers of the documentary itself. Humanizing people that survived a horrific time, a time that was a reality and a cornerstone in our history. "It's all about creating empathy. If you come out the other end of it, knowing more about WWII, which is always one of our secret goals, knowing more about what happened, because it still echoes in our life today, but then really having hopefully some actual empathy for the sacrifices that these guys made. Every player today is different, but if a typical player is a 19 to 24 year old, I don't mean to stereotype, but they're hearing from the folks that were doing these things for real when they were their age. Seeing what others did at their age, knowing some of the horrors they faced, the friendships they made, and the harsh pillars of history, is hopefully a powerful connection. At the end of the day, this was created out of the hope that there will be more empathy." It was a special moment where I could share some of my own stories with the director and tell him from a place that understands how much the level of care that went into this project that means. As a veteran who has lost many friends, as a veteran that has been in positions where I was so sure I was going to die, it's easy to get lost in the more gimmicky representations of war. Does it bother me? No, not really. I'll play every Battlefield game, I'll play every Call of Duty; they're entertainment, that's what they are. But that doesn't mean that this very meaningful and purposeful representation doesn't mean an incredible amount. Everything about Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond felt real. It felt like it was coming from a place of compassion, and coming from a place of honesty. It never felt cheap, it never felt gimmicky, it didn't feel manufactured in the slightest.  When speaking with the game's director, it was easy to see that the passion for empathy and knowledge was there. This wasn't a rush to get buys or pre-orders, this wasn't a play on emotions for a more consumer-driven objective; this was love and respect and real human experience. Respawn did not use these veterans' experiences to sell a game, they used a game to tell their experiences. That nuance makes the world of difference and helps to ensure that history isn't lost, but also that it's not being retold with rose-colored glasses.  Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond is available now for HTV Vive, Valve Index, and the Oculus Rift. You can also play it with the Oculus Quest as long as a Link cable is present. You can also learn more about Honor Flight, the veteran-focused group that helped make this documentary a reality, right here. 

Arplis - News source https://arplis.com/blogs/news/how-medal-of-honor-above-and-beyond-goes-above-and-beyond-for-veteran

[kacydeneen]

US Army Tweet Elicits Heartbreaking Responses From Veterans

Ahead of the Memorial Day weekend, the U.S. Army's Twitter account asked current and former soldiers how serving in the military has impacted their lives.

The tweet was accompanied with a video of Pfc. Nathan Spencer, a scout with the Army's First Infantry Division, who shared how the Army has allowed him to serve something greater than himself, "to give to others, to protect the ones I love and to better myself as a man and warrior."

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The post attracted has attracted thousands of responses, with a number of replies mirroring Spencer's comments on the pride of service. But many more painted a harrowing picture of the toll America's wars have taken on service members and their families.

Tweet after tweet, respondents detailed their struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder, life-long health issues, difficulties with the Veterans Administration and suicide. Some of the respondents also appeared to be family members or friends sharing what they witnessed loved ones endure after service.

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"I am a Navy vet, I was a happy person before I served, now I am broke apart, cant even work a full 30 days due to anxiety and depression, i have Fibromyalgia and nobody understands because I am a guy. I am in constant pain everyday. And I think about killing myself daily," one Twitter user wrote.

[[510469101, C]]

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Not all the replies were related to the toll of combat. Some used the public platform to talk about sexual assault and the plight of gays in the military.

"Sexual harassment every day. Experiencing sexual assault. Protecting others from sexual assault. Sleeping w/ a knife @ night & holding my body against a door as a drunk male banged on our barracks door. A fear that never leaves me. That is how serving has impacted me," wrote Twitter user Hannah Funderburk, who worked at the U.S. Marine Corps, according to her Facebook bio.

[[510470291, C]] 

While NBC could not independently confirm details of the more than 11,000 stories shared, the Twitter thread shed light on the broader issue of the need to care of veterans, better address mental health and the epidemic of veteran suicide. 

The Army responded to the thread in a series of tweets, thanking people for sharing their personal stories and directing those in need of help to call the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 or to visit veteranscrisisline.net. 

"Your stories are real, they matter, and they may help others in similar situations," the Army said in a series of follow-up tweets. "The Army is committed to the health, safety and well-being of our Soldiers. As we honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice this weekend by remembering their service, we are also mindful of the fact that we have to take care of those who came back home with scars we can’t see."

There are 18.2 million veterans in the United States, according to the most recent statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs reported that 11% to 20% of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom veterans, 30% of Vietnam veterans and 12% of Gulf War veterans have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

And it's not just from combat. According to the VA, the experience of military sexual assault can also cause PTSD. Among veterans who use VA health care, 23% of women reported being sexually assaulted in the military. 

A survey released by the Pentagon earlier this month found that the problem is vastly larger and that only a third of those who were sexually assaulted in the military filed a formal report, The Associated Press reported. The Pentagon releases a report every year on the number of sexual assaults reported by troops. But because sexual assault is a highly underreported crime, the department sends out an anonymous survey every two years to get a clearer picture of the problem.

Suicide also impacts veterans at disproportionate rates. According to a report by the VA, veterans are 1.5 times more likely than non-veterans to die by suicide. The report found that between 2005 and 2016, more than 6,000 veterans died by a suicide a year. 

"Suicide remains a top clinical priority," said Peter O’Rourke, then-acting VA Secretary, of the report's findings. "One life lost to suicide is one too many. Suicide is a serious public health concern in the Veteran population and across all communities nationwide. These data offer important insights to help VA to build effective networks of support, communication and care that reach Veterans where they live and thrive."

Veterans experiencing a mental health emergency can contact the Veteran Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 and select option 1 for a VA staffer. Veterans, troops or their families members can also text 838255 or visit VeteransCrisisLine.net for assistance.

Photo Credit: Getty Images This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser. US Army Tweet Elicits Heartbreaking Responses From Veterans published first on Miami News

[scy-chicago]

The Gun Issue

This week’s blog is written by Dion McGill, SCY Communications and Community Outreach Manager, on a new interactive experience on the gun violence debate.

“The gun issue is the single most important issue facing America” – James Clark, 51 - Creator, Better Family Life’s St. Louis Gun Violence De-escalation Centers / St. Louis, Missouri

“Firearms for me is all about freedom” – Kevin Cummins, 58 – Managing director, Advantage Firearms Education and Training / Manchester, Missouri

“I see gun violence every day” – Laura Petrey, 50 – Trauma surgeon / Dallas, Texas

“The gun issue is a woman’s issue.  It is the great equalizer” – Dianna Muller, 48 – Retired police officer; professional shooter; founder, the DC Project / Tulsa, Oklahoma

“The voice of the middle has been drowned out” – Joe Enderby, 36 – Owner, The Prairie’s End Hunt Club / Dallas, Texas

“We just need to work with each other” – Jamison Sweet, 47 – U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and Sound Mixer / St. Louis, Missouri

These are the quotes that greet you to the new Time Magazine interactive experience for their November 18, 2018 cover story, “Guns in America”. I learned about the “Guns in America” cover story after seeing a few acquaintances discussing it on Facebook.  I went to the website and was immediately fascinated, particularly by the multimedia mural, a partnership between Time and the French visual artist JR.  If you’ve never heard of JR, you’re not alone; this was my first time seeing any of the artist’s work as well.  As someone who has worked directly in the area of gun violence prevention, and functioned on the periphery for many more years, I was immediately intrigued by both the mural, and the premise behind the project and cover story.

Time decided to explore the issue of gun violence by visiting three U.S. cities (St. Louis, Washington, D.C., Dallas), and bringing together a variety of people across various spectrums of the gun violence debate.  The daunting task they attempted to tackle was to find common ground amongst 245 people, on one of the nation’s most divisive topics.

Coincidentally, last week members of the SCY team attended the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence’s 34th Annual Lincoln Awards Luncheon at the beautiful University Club of Chicago.  The Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence (ICHV) is the oldest and largest statewide organization in the U.S. working to prevent the devastation caused by firearms.  Since 1982, the Abraham Lincoln Award has been presented to deserving individuals who embrace that mission.  This year, the ICHV honored State Senator Don Harmon and State Representative Kathleen Willis with the Lincoln Award for their tireless work over the years to make Illinois a safer place.  One of several measures that passed this year is SB 337, the Combating Illegal Gun Trafficking Act, which Governor Rauner has already stated he will veto when it comes to his desk. It’s important to note that the bill received bipartisan report, and even Republican Senator Chris Nybo publicly called on Governor Rauner to sign this measure.  SCY has been an advocate of this bill from its inception, and we certainly encourage all Illinois residents to explore the bill, and to reach out to Governor Rauner asking him to sign this important and needed legislation.  

Also honored at the Lincoln Luncheon with the Community Empowerment Award were the BRAVE Youth Leaders of St. Sabina Church’s Violence Prevention Council.  These young people, whom I’ve had the pleasure to work with over the past few years, have been at the forefront of youth violence prevention and advocacy and activism in Chicago.  I was very happy to see them honored.  

In light of the recent shooting in Philadelphia at the Tree of Life Synagogue, this exploration by Time Magazine feels exceptionally timely.  While I think everyone can agree that citizens should feel safe and secure to practice their religion in their chosen house of worship, opinions quickly diverge as to exactly how this problem should be addressed. Some citizens, the President of the United States included, immediately advocate for more guns, including guns in houses of worship, whereas another segment of society truly believe that too much access to gun plays a key part in these types of attacks, and that gun access needs to be curtailed as a result.

I had the opportunity to attend the candle light vigil that was held downtown Sunday evening in response to the Philadelphia attack. There were so many powerful words and voices at the vigil, and left me with so much to think about. It was an amazing opportunity for Chicagoans to come together and support each other, and to mourn, in the face of tragedy.  

It feels appropriate at this moment to also mention that while I firmly support common sense approaches to gun violence prevention, some find my stances peculiar based upon my own personal history.  I am a veteran of the Illinois Army National Guard, having served for nine years, including one year spent in Afghanistan as a part of Operation Enduring Freedom.  I am no stranger to guns or gun usage.  My primary role in Afghanistan was as a gunner for two different combat teams. That is the guy who sits hanging out the top of the truck, with a large crew served weapon, aka the “defender of the convoy.”  I feel my background, also having been raised on the Southside of Chicago, gives me a lot of insight into the gun violence debate, and I often feel that the discourse is off the mark, because it rarely ever addresses the mental disposition and influence of guns on a person.  I know what it feels like when you have a semi-automatic weapon; the confidence and sense of power that comes from that, and that I feel rarely enters into the discourse.  

I look forward to digging deeper into this Time Magazine project.  There is audio you can listen to from all 245 participants, as well as extended video and audio for a numbered of featured participants and their stories.  As one of the BRAVE Youth of St. Sabina said at the ICHV Lincoln Lunch, to paraphrase, “this is something we all need to be talking about, and we need to be having these conversations in uncomfortable places; like with your friends, and your coworkers, and at the Thanksgiving table with that conservative uncle that we all have.”   I certainly applaud Time for their approach to this topic, by seeking and encouraging others to find consensus.  I imagine that the best way to approach this topic, and how I often attempt in my own life, is to find those points on which we agree, and venture from there.  Time is doubling down on this sentiment by partnering with StoryCorps in their new “One Small Step” effort, which is a project that encourages people to, rather than debate, take one small step towards each other in discussing tough issues.  You can learn more about StoryCorps and the One Small Step effort by visiting their website here. Finally, the time mural can be viewed live, and is currently on tour.  While there is not currently a Chicago stop listed on the tour, there is a link to request to host your own event around this project, including the live mural. I hope someone in Chicago makes that happen.  I would love to visit it.  

So, what are your thoughts on this project?  On the mural itself?  On the cover story?  Can we discuss this issue without hostility? Is there consensus to be found surrounding this issue?  I would love to hear others thoughts and perspectives on this article, and this topic as a whole.

[arplis]

Arplis - News: How Medal Of Honor: Above And Beyond Goes 'Above And Beyond’ For Veteran

s Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond is a VR experience rooted in real-life World War II history. Immersive and highly interactive, the game on its own is an enjoyable experience, but what many might not know is how positive of an impact it has for veterans and shining a truthful light on American history.  For those that may not know, the VR Medal of Honor experience from Respawn Entertainment allows players to step into the role of an agent of the Office of Strategic Services during WWII in a ravished European setting. It offers an enjoyable multiplayer experience alongside a stunningly fleshed-out single-player campaign that offers an honest representation of those moments in war not often explored; the quiet before a mission, the realization that "we're at war" that many soldiers feel in and out of moments of reality — even the easy camaraderie that comes with knowing the person beside you will defend you with their life, even when sometimes the price is just that.  I recently sat down with game director Peter Hirschmann to learn more about the game after playing through the campaign and some of the PvP. As a veteran myself, hearing how the team went 'above and beyond' for veterans and their stories, while also providing meaningful experiences meant to educate without romanticization meant more than many will ever know.  For players, they aren't just getting a game, they're also getting a documentary experience with in-depth short films diving into the stories of real World War II vets, taking them back to the places that have impacted them the most, and listening to their stories with open hearts and open ears. With the Gallery, players can unlock over 90 minutes of real-world experiences of eight surviving WWII veterans. Unlock a mission, unlock an actual piece of history, making Above and Beyond emotionally raw and more than just a game.  "The youngest combat vet from World War II is in their nineties," the director tells us, driving home the idea that first-hand accounts of what actually happened are becoming more and more distant. "The youngest is in their nineties. That means they were teenagers. Gil, who is one of our future guys, was 19. He was a 19-year-old kid on a tank. "Gil tells an amazing story about going through the Harz Mountains on a Chaffee tank. He's in the back and this little boy jumps out and stops the convoy and asks for help. They have to tell him, 'No, we can't take you with us. We're going to a battle. We're going to the next town. You need to stay here. Someone will be along soon'. They drive away and Gil talks about the haunted forlorn look in this little boy's face, just standing on the side of the road as they all rumbled down."  It was upon hearing Gil's story that the team realized that the amazing potential for education and closure if they could bring Gil back to that location. Being 93, there were concerns, but the organization Honor Flight helped make this a reality with the consent of the veterans themselves and with the upmost care. Ensuring that all involved were comfortable, cared for, and safe, the team embarked on one of many journeys explored throughout this entire process tied to Above and Beyond.  For Gil, it was going back to a camp he liberated at 19, a place that he never returned to until this documentary went into production. The team took other surviving veterans to familiar places as well, each given the opportunity to tell their story in their own way, in their own time. Sometimes even giving them a chance to tell their tales to close family members for the first time ever. The documentary houses so many incredibly powerful stories. Stories that show the friendship that endures war (and forms because of it), the losses that come with it, and the side not often seen in mainstream media: the human side. The quieter danger, the moments of reflection, and the parts of history that are a very close reality to many still with us.  One story centers around David, taking him back to a moment in time where he lost his best friend Smitty. Upon returning to that spot, he met with Smitty's family to honor a promise made when the pair entered into he war together, a promise to visit the other's family should one of them fall. David met with his family, telling them their story in a way that was incredible beyond words.  Click here to watch embedded media "When they get there, the mother, who lives there, said to him: "David, this is a hat I made for you." Throughout the rest of our time, he never takes it off. It was this floppy straw hat that she wove herself, and he ever takes it off again the entire time. It's so wonderful. After, they invite him to their home and it's hard for me to talk about it because you can get a little emotional," Hirschmann says tearfully. David, who is "the funniest guy I've ever met," continued to share his story and that of his friendship with Smitty where eventually they find his friend's grave. Out of respect, the team stood back and gave him a moment of privacy as David spoke with Smitty for the first time in decades, laying a picture of Smitty's parents on the grave, and saying his farewells.  The photo, in particular, was important because Smitty's family never visited the grave. "The mom was too distraught. They never came because back then families had a choice to either let their loved ones be buried and turned in Europe; either one of the big cemeteries in the Netherlands or in Normandy, or to be brought back and repatriated. Smitty's mom was so devastated that when it came time to make that decision, Smitty's dad was like, 'No, just let him stay resting in the Netherlands.' The mom was brokenhearted the rest of her life. So for David to go to that grave site and lay a photo of the parents was just, I mean, God, it's hard to recount." The team then took at 360 shot of the gravestone, allowing viewers a chance to witness, and be a part of, a moment of closure with David, a way to pay respect in a powerful way. That being said, the team's most important goal was to capture the emotional truth of these stories without exploiting them, so we made sure that nothing in the game was taken directly from these tales.  Click image thumbnails to view larger version                                                                                                                As a veteran that took part in operations overseas with Operation Enduring Freedom and New Dawn, there is a comraderie that is hard to explain to someone who has never served. These are people that could die, these are people that could watch you die, and everyone's survival is dependenant upon trust. That trust is paramount when building these relationships, and that trust is something that Respawn wanted to convey in the game as well. It's more than just dramatic monologues of existential crisis, it's the small moments when joking about the crap food in the chow hall, or "where did my socks go"? It's the small moments that mean just as much, and it is those small moments that are reflected not only in the game, but in between the lines of the stories being reflected in this documentary series.  Another aspect that Respawn wanted to make sure they paid special attention to is how they portrayed the war. Too many times in war games, the "bad side" is either dramaticized for flair, or romanticized for ... some other reason. There are no occult substories, no quests of endearment. This is the tale of a real war with a real enemy and while that enemy housed real human beings, the ideal that acted as a banner was dangerous, harmful, and evil.  "If you're embellishing the Nazis, if you're embellishing the third Reich, you're reading the wrong history books," says the director emphatically. "So just to make sure we're staying true to that, that's important. For players, and for us, embrace that it's a game. Then to lean into which we haven't done in one of these WWII games, lean into some bad and sad things do happen to the characters, it's all part of a bigger picture." Without falling into any inaccurate tropes, there is the underlying theme of there will be consequences. "As much as that comraderie and that love and being united in a common purpose and fighting against legitimate evil, which is what the Third Reich was, that doesn't steeple away from the fact that there is going to be a price. There are going to be consequences no matter how noble your intentions are. So again, we kept the firewall there between what the vets were telling us and what we were learning and even Colette for godsakes, who was a teenage girl, member of the resistance. There's nothing in Colette's story that transfers over except the fear of the Gestapo and how collaborators were the worst. Just getting those elements into the story without being one-to-one to the story details, but touching on these sort of through-lines. That was the goal. "We made them in parallel," he adds when talking about how the tales of these veterans inspired the game without being an exact replica. "The stories were fuel for us to make the best game possible, because if we just put it out the gallery on Steam and on Oculus store, we might get some nice marks. There might be one or two articles about, 'Oh yeah, you can watch these documentaries.' People would probably look at it as some sort of educational thing. So the game is the hook to get you in. I mean, the whole point is to have fun, but the game is there to get you in the door and to maybe trigger some empathy that, 'Oh, I do want to go hear the real thing.'" That was also a big reason behind the decision to go VR. In VR, everything is a little more real. You are picking up the gun, you are holding your hands up in surrender. You are there. This added yet another layer of complexity to not only the campaign of the videogame itself, but also to the empathetic layers of the documentary itself. Humanizing people that survived a horrific time, a time that was a reality and a cornerstone in our history. "It's all about creating empathy. If you come out the other end of it, knowing more about WWII, which is always one of our secret goals, knowing more about what happened, because it still echoes in our life today, but then really having hopefully some actual empathy for the sacrifices that these guys made. Every player today is different, but if a typical player is a 19 to 24 year old, I don't mean to stereotype, but they're hearing from the folks that were doing these things for real when they were their age. Seeing what others did at their age, knowing some of the horrors they faced, the friendships they made, and the harsh pillars of history, is hopefully a powerful connection. At the end of the day, this was created out of the hope that there will be more empathy." It was a special moment where I could share some of my own stories with the director and tell him from a place that understands how much the level of care that went into this project that means. As a veteran who has lost many friends, as a veteran that has been in positions where I was so sure I was going to die, it's easy to get lost in the more gimmicky representations of war. Does it bother me? No, not really. I'll play every Battlefield game, I'll play every Call of Duty; they're entertainment, that's what they are. But that doesn't mean that this very meaningful and purposeful representation doesn't mean an incredible amount. Everything about Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond felt real. It felt like it was coming from a place of compassion, and coming from a place of honesty. It never felt cheap, it never felt gimmicky, it didn't feel manufactured in the slightest.  When speaking with the game's director, it was easy to see that the passion for empathy and knowledge was there. This wasn't a rush to get buys or pre-orders, this wasn't a play on emotions for a more consumer-driven objective; this was love and respect and real human experience. Respawn did not use these veterans' experiences to sell a game, they used a game to tell their experiences. That nuance makes the world of difference and helps to ensure that history isn't lost, but also that it's not being retold with rose-colored glasses.  Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond is available now for HTV Vive, Valve Index, and the Oculus Rift. You can also play it with the Oculus Quest as long as a Link cable is present. You can also learn more about Honor Flight, the veteran-focused group that helped make this documentary a reality, right here. 

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