Ideas worth spreading

Why veterans miss war

4,379,563 views |

Sebastian Junger |

TEDSalon NY2014

• January 2014

Civilians don't miss war. But soldiers often do. Journalist Sebastian Junger shares his experience embedded with American soldiers at Restrepo, an outpost in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley that saw heavy combat. Giving a look at the "altered state of mind" that comes with war, he shows how combat gives soldiers an intense experience of connection. In the end, could it actually be "the opposite of war" that soldiers miss?

Civilians don't miss war. But soldiers often do. Journalist Sebastian Junger shares his experience embedded with American soldiers at Restrepo, an outpost in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley that saw heavy combat. Giving a look at the "altered state of mind" that comes with war, he shows how combat gives soldiers an intense experience of connection. In the end, could it actually be "the opposite of war" that soldiers miss?

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Attend a screening of Korengal, a film that conveys the experience of war.

About the speaker

Sebastian Junger

Sebastian Junger

Journalist and documentarian

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The author of "The Perfect Storm" and the director of the documentaries "Restrepo" and "Korengal," Sebastian Junger tells non-fiction stories with grit and emotion.

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This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Attend a screening of Korengal, a film that conveys the experience of war.