had to be
productions
“Into the Fire”
Written and performed by
Anthony Curry and Carrie Gibson
Directed by John Vreeke
The Play:
Into the Fire is an exploration of our returning vets with disabilities and combat related trauma and their stories as they
integrate into their families, communities, educational institutions and the workforce. Many employers and educators
are anticipating the opportunities as well as the challenges that may occur when including our returning veterans. The
actor/playwrights will recreate the stories of both male and female Veterans who have returned from Iraq, Afghanistan
and Vietnam. There will also be an exploration of the generational effects of the war experience on the children and
families of our veterans. Specific disabilities include: post traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, hearing
loss, loss of limbs, chronic pain, and mobility challenges. Humor and music will be interspersed throughout the play
allowing the participants to digest and process these powerful stories. The audience will meet people who will elicit a
wide variety of emotional responses and thoughts designed to create awareness, empathy, and new ways to respond to
veterans as they rejoin our workforce and communities.
The Workshop:
Following the play the actor/playwrights will facilitate an interactive discussion with the participants using their
emotional reactions to the play as a springboard to examine the effects of war on their communities and ways to create
meaningful opportunities for our returning veterans.
The Objectives:
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To gain an understanding of the challenges that face our veterans with disabilities
To eliminate the barriers in the workplace and the community that permit exclusion
To explore issues of access and inclusion
To encourage the participants to take an active role in the reintegration of our veterans with disabilities
To explore and affirm the concept of human dignity
The following people were interviewed for the play:
Chili Hicks
Dr. Mike Colson
Kelly Lanctot
Mandy Martin and Mike Friend
Michael Braden
Richard Rolls
Robynn Murray
Steve and Lisa Tice
contact
had to be productions • 819 Milwood Avenue, Venice, CA 90291 • p 310.926.5818
carriegibson@earthlink.net
www.hadtobe.com
had to be
productions
National Resources for Veterans
The National Resource Directory
An Online Partnership for Wounded, Ill and Injured Service Members, Veterans, Their Families and Those Who Support Them.
http://www.nationalresourcedirectory.org
Battlemind Training:
Battlemind Training was developed by the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) Land Combat Study Team.
Battlemind delineates and provides explanation for potential pitfalls in transitioning combat skills and the battle mindset that were
critical to survival in combat to the social/behavioral skills required for success in civilian life. This is an excellent website that
assists our transitioning warriors as well as provides a framework for understanding behaviors that may appear in our classrooms
and on our college campuses.
https://www.battlemind.army.mil/
Wounded Warrior Programs:
Wounded Warrior resources for Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy and more.
http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/combat2college/WoundedWarriorResources.html
Transition Assistance Program:
You will find many handbooks and resources to include the newly DOD/VA released, compensation and benefits handbook.
www.transitionassistanceprogram.com/register.tpp
US Dept of Veterans Affairs
Washington, DC, VA Medical Center:
www.washingtondc.va.gov
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network and the Uniformed Services University Health Sciences, Center for
Traumatic Stress Studies, have teamed up to develop a website to provide important resources and materials to assist active
duty and veterans and their families make successful transitions throughout deployment and returning home.
http://www.nctsnet.org/nccts/nav.do?pid=ctr_top_military
Military OneSource link
http://www.militaryonesource.com/skins/MOS/home.aspx
US Department of Veterans Affairs
National Center for PTSD Transitional Page
http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/index.jsp
http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/ncdocs/videos/emv_newwarr_vets.html
See the streaming video narrated by Jane Pauley
Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center
http://www.dvbic.org/
http://www.dvbic.org/cms.php?p=Education
Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF)
http://www.oefoif.va.gov/
Brain Injury Association of America
"TBI - The Invisible Injury"
http://www.biausa.org/elements/pdfs/invisible_dod_qxp.pdf
http://www.biausa.org/media.htm#position
contact
had to be productions • 819 Milwood Avenue, Venice, CA 90291 • p 310.926.5818
carriegibson@earthlink.net
www.hadtobe.com