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"Am I On The Right Side of History?"

1 About the Research Team

Working in a Threat Vulnerability Cell for Latin America was where Jennifer Dane first experienced war and violence through a computer screen. Though she was physically removed from the reality of war violence, Dane experienced vicarious trauma after witnessing individuals being killed, especially when she personalized the individuals. She opened up about the struggles she faced during that time, and the psychological aftermath of witnessing death from afar, especially in cases of "collateral damage" or civilians killed in a war zone. While grappling with these experiences, Dane began to question the morality of the global war on terrorism.

When facing trauma, veterans struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, suicidal ideations, and moral conflict. But Dane's oral history also reminds us that veterans need not experience combat directly to struggle with mental health during and after military service.

"I always remember them saying is 'One person's terrorist, is another person's freedom fighter,' and just thinking like, 'Am I on the right side of history on this?'"

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Veterans Against War Jason Higgins
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Jennifer Dane: Watching War and Violence Through A Screen, Crossing the Military-Civilian Divide Jennifer Dane, "Crossing the Military Civilian Divide," interviewed by Dr. Jason A. Higgins, Jan. 20, 2023, Washington D.C.. "Crossing the Military-Civilian Divide" project is part of a 4-VA Collaborative research project by Dr. Jason A. Higgins, postdoctoral fellow in digital humanities, and Andre Taylor, oral historian at the College of William and Mary. Special thanks to our three research assistants Leena Alsayab, Madison Cholewa, and Gabrielle Wells, who are undergraduate students and recent graduates of Virginia Tech.