KQED's Forum Veterans’ PTSD and Moral Injury Centered in Documentary ‘Healing a Soldier's Heart’
Nov 13, 2025
In this enlightening discussion, guests include Stephen Olsson, a Peabody and Emmy-winning filmmaker, Levie Isaacks, a decorated Vietnam veteran, and Shira Maguen, a UCSF professor of psychiatry. They delve into the emotional struggles of veterans, particularly focusing on PTSD and moral injury. They explore the personal stories of veterans grappling with their past actions, the significance of community support in healing, and how storytelling can facilitate recovery. The conversation also highlights the broader implications of moral injury across various professions.
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What Moral Injury Actually Is
- Moral injury happens when actions, inactions, or witnessing events violate a person's moral code and cause deep guilt and shame.
- It overlaps with but is distinct from PTSD and affects spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being.
Survivor's Guilt On Hill 724
- Levie Isaacks recalled standing on Hill 724 feeling survival rather than hate and then experiencing profound survivor's guilt.
- He later met former enemies who greeted him warmly, which highlighted the lingering baggage he and others carried.
The Leg That Came Off
- Levie described pulling a wounded soldier whose leg came off in his hands and believing for 20 years that he had killed him.
- That memory haunted him and contributed to years of replaying and second-guessing his actions.