Island of Warriors
Pacific Islanders serve in the U.S. military in disproportionally high numbers, and have suffered the highest casualty rates in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
- Filmmaker(s)
- Maria Hinojosa
- Category
- Full-Length Film
- Currently On-Air
- Subject Matter
- Military, Politics & Government
- Featured In
- 25 in 25
- Region
- Micronesia
- Length
- 30 Minutes
- Year
- 2015
- Website
- www.americabythenumbers.org/
Pacific Islanders serve in the U.S. military in disproportionally high numbers, and have suffered the highest casualty rates in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This episode takes viewers to Guam to speak to some of the island's veterans. The men and women here are American citizens and serve in the U.S. military at a rate three times higher than the rest of the country. America by the Numbers explores why Guam's returning veterans say they can't get the healthcare they need.
Series:
Behind every number, there’s a story. America By The Numbers with Maria Hinojosa reveals how dramatic demographic changes are playing out in our country today. This is the first national series to explore the impact of the new American mainstream—the growing numbers of Asians, Latinos, African Americans, persons of mixed race, immigrants, women, youth, and LGBTs whose influence over culture, commerce, and the outcome of elections is affecting every aspect of contemporary life. Each half-hour program focuses on underreported stories from every corner of the nation, amplified by the numbers—original statistical analysis and infographics illustrating the latest trends in population, health, education, and quality of life in America. From Native Americans confronting an oil boom in North Dakota to underserved veterans in Guam; from Asian students struggling to complete high school in California to multicultural Mad Men in Texas; America By The Numbers with Maria Hinojosa showcases compelling stories, surprising data, distinctive visuals, and Maria Hinojosa’s immersive first-person reporting style.
America By The Numbers with Maria Hinojosa is produced by The Futuro Media Group in association with PBS and presented by WGBH Boston along with the members of the National Minority Consortia: The Center for Asian American Media, Pacific Islanders in Communications, Latino Public Broadcasting, National Black Programming Consortium, and Vision Maker Media.
Maria Hinojosa is an award-winning news anchor and reporter who covers America’s
untold stories and highlights today’s critical issues. In 2010, Hinojosa created the Futuro
Media Group (FMG), an independent nonprofit organization producing multimedia
journalism organization. As the anchor and Executive Producer of NPR’s only Latino news
and culture show Latino USA, and host and Executive Producer for the upcoming PBS show
America By The Numbers with Maria Hinojosa, both produced by FMG, she has informed
millions about the changing cultural and political landscape in America and abroad.Numbers
2.6 million Americans have been deployed in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan since 9/11.- The Washington Post
More than half struggle with physical or mental health problems stemming from their
service, and as many as 1 in 5 suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.- The Washington Post
As many as 1 in 8 adult Guamanians is a veteran—among the highest rates of all the states
and territories.- Guam Office of Veterans Affairs*
Compared to the other states and territories, Guam ranked dead last in medical care
spending per veteran by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in 2012.- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics*
Guam’s poverty level is about 50% higher than the national average, and unemployment is
almost double.- U.S. Census*
- Guam Department of Labor*
Funding for the series is provided by: The California Endowment, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Druckenmiller Foundation, Ford Foundation, PBS, and W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
