Filmmaker Sid Holmes joins Untold Valor to discuss The Wait, his powerful documentary chronicling the lives of Vietnam veterans beyond the battlefield. Rather than beginning with combat, Sid explores who these men were before they served, revealing how childhood, military service, and the journey home shaped the rest of their lives. The conversation highlights the importance of preserving veterans' stories, the healing power of sharing difficult experiences, and why no veteran should ever suffer in silence.
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
The Wait – Why Sid created his Vietnam documentary
Vietnam Experience – Following veterans from enlistment through homecoming
Healing Through Storytelling – Why sharing experiences can be therapeutic
From Film to Stage – Turning veteran stories into a live production
Hope & Resources – Encouragement for veterans to seek support
0:00 – Intro
1:19 – Why Sid wanted to tell Vietnam veterans' stories
3:20 –Why the film begins with childhood
9:16 – Veterans opening up through conversation
10:37 – Powerful veteran stories
14:06 – The many different paths that led men to Vietnam
16:30 – Adapting The Wait into a stage play
19:39 – Sid's message to veterans and their families
Sid Holmes
Learn more about Sid HERE
EPISODE LINKS
Check out Sid’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@afamreport/videos
The Weight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_zOZMAf8ec
The Stage Play: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wo3VIMzNmg8&t=9s
Articles about The Weight:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1keX1Q6MLqv-3SUyOAWOzvSL1rkEOcDHi/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_dh3HkLuX2rtSi906LQKjOsZQ8zhY563/view?usp=sharing
MORE RESOURCES
Need immediate help? Contact the Veterans Crisis Line via phone, text or online chat. Dial 988 then Press 1 or text 838255 or use the online chat at https://bit.ly/3OunXzg
Voice & Vision: https://bit.ly/3miwFoy
CompeerCORPS: https://compeerfriends.org/compeercorps
Be a Volunteer for CompeerCORPS: Voice and Vision, Inc | CompeerCORPS Volunteer Application
Be a Peer for CompeerCORPS: Voice and Vision, Inc | Compeer & CompeerCORPS Referral Application
Information on how to apply for VA Healthcare Benefits from anywhere in the USA: https://bit.ly/40PtrrN or call 877-222-8387 (M-F 8am-8pm EST)
To apply for veteran’s benefits and find resources in Pennsylvania veterans need to contact their County Office of Veterans Affairs as listed in this document: https://bit.ly/3m8PBWS
View more about PA’s resources for veterans: https://bit.ly/416cf0Q
