Explore STORIES
When the dust settles, what remains? Who bears the burden of responsibility? Through their stories, veterans from Philadelphia give voice to the moral anguish of war.
Please note—Many of these stories contain graphic language and content. Headphones are recommended for best sound quality.
Philip Forrest
Veteran
A veteran recalls the smell of combat—dust, decay, and burnt flesh—and the day he believes he lost his soul.
Philip served in the United States Navy from 1997 to 2005. During that time, he made four deployments, the last to Fallujah, Iraq in the fall of 2004. Philip also served as the primary photographer for the 1st Marine Engineering Group from 2004 to 2005, covering the second siege of Fallujah.
Philip was discharged from the Navy in 2005 and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from Temple University in 2012. He completed his Master’s Degree in Art Therapy and Counseling from Drexel University in 2020 and is currently working as a contracted vocational rehabilitation counselor.
Rev. Chris Antal
Veteran
A chaplain arrives in Afghanistan shortly after the Kandahar massacre. After witnessing testimonies of Afghan survivor, he wonders—who counts as a civilian when you’re fighting a war with no boundaries?
The Reverend Chris J. Antal, an ordained Unitarian Universalist clergyman, has journeyed with veterans of the U.S. war in Iraq over much of the past decade. He served as an officer in the Army Chaplain Corps from 2008 to 2016, deploying to Afghanistan as a battalion chaplain in 2012. Today, he is a chaplain in the Department of Veterans Affairs.
“We are complicit in all of this horror.”
Andrew Wall
Veteran
What does it mean to be a target? Who are the targets of war? A veteran reflects on the men, women, and children caught in the crossfire of combat and the loudest silence he’s ever heard.
Andrew was deployed to Iraq from 2007 to 2008, conducting intelligence operations for a specialized task force in the corridor between Mosul and Samara. Today, he is focused on farming and is the father to four dogs, three cats, and eight chickens. Andy just celebrated his 16th anniversary with his soul-twin and best friend, Lisa.
Leroy Enck
Veteran
His first day of bootcamp was September 11, 2001. Years later, he left the Marines carrying memories of brutal violence and the heavy weight of shame. Celebrated as a hero, suffocated by pain.
Leroy served in the United States Marine Corps for three deployments to Iraq, encompassing the Iraq Ground Invasion, Operation Vigilant Resolve (the First Battle of Fallujah), and the ar-Ramadi, Anbar Province.
Since leaving the military, Leroy has worked as a farm hand, a laborer, a teacher, a bartender, a law clerk, a staff member for the US House of Representatives, and a fellow in the US House of Representatives Wounded Warrior Program. He holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Education from Wright State University and a Juris Doctorate from Drexel University.
Leroy resides in the South Philly neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is passionate about mental health, moral engagement, creative writing, olympic wrestling, Philadelphia’s four sports franchises, and, most importantly, family.
“The trauma is like being at the bottom of a well. You just can’t really reach people.”
Max Harris
Veteran
The first time he holds his newborn daughter, he is filled with horror remembering what happened to children in Iraq. A veteran reflects on the mark that war leaves long after the battle field.
Max served in the United States Army from 1999 to 2004, first as an interrogator and then in counterintelligence and counterinsurgency after the invasion.
Today, Max is a Capture Manager at a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), working with the VA and Department of Defense. He holds a Bachelor of Science in International Business from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania.
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