Watch American Veteran: Keep It Close

TV-14
2021
1 Season

American Veteran: Keep It Close is a riveting military documentary series that is available on Amazon Addon. This series provides an at-a-glance look into the lives of everyday heroes who have served our country in the US Armed Forces. This series is directed by Julian Shaw, who is widely known for his captivating documentary style, and it is produced by Warrior Films. The series revolves around survival, resilience and redemption as portrayed by three American veterans: Staff Sergeant David Javier, Sergeant First Class Matthew Brekeen, and Specialist Pam Kelly.

The show portrays the different challenges and sacrifices that each veteran faced while serving our country. Viewers get to experience firsthand the harsh realities of life on the front lines, including the challenges of reintegrating into civilian life after returning from war.

The series's central theme is inspired by the "22 to Zero" campaign, which is aimed at creating awareness of the rampant suicide rate among veterans. As such, each episode is designed to inspire hope and offer support to veterans who may be struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression.

In episode one, the show focuses on a former Green Beret, Staff Sergeant David Javier, who narrowly escaped an ambush in Afghanistan that claimed the lives of two of his fellow soldiers. The episode follows Dave through his recovery after losing his leg in the ambush and the emotional ups and downs of adapting to civilian life.

In episode two, the series follows Specialist Pam Kelly, a translator deployed to Iraq who found solace in an unlikely place, working with dogs. Pam's story is one of resilience and healing, as she passes on what she has learned about bonding with dogs to other veterans in need of emotional support.

The final episode of the series focuses on Sergeant First Class Matthew Brekeen, who was diagnosed with PTSD after a traumatic experience in war. The episode explores the struggles that veterans continue to face after they come back home, as Matt goes on a journey to rediscover his purpose by giving back to other veterans.

What sets American Veteran: Keep It Close apart from other military documentaries is its focus on the raw emotions shared by veterans who bear witness to death and destruction up close. The series offers a rare and poignant look at the humanity of those who often live through situations most people could barely imagine.

The show also goes behind the scenes of the lives of veterans who have adapted to civilian life, showing their personal successes and struggles, and how they continue to cope with the trauma they experience.

American Veteran: Keep It Close offers a unique perspective that helps transcend the stereotypes associated with the military, allowing viewers to form meaningful connections to veterans from all walks of life. Additionally, the fact that it features real veterans with authentic experiences makes it all the more authentic.

The minimalist nature of the show adds to its impact, as it mostly features candid interviews with the veterans, leaving their stories to speak for themselves. The documentary nature of the series gives it a gripping and sometimes haunting feel, with the audience left hoping for a happy ending for each veteran.

Overall, American Veteran: Keep It Close is a masterful and powerfully emotional series that is a must-watch for anyone who wants to understand the human cost of serving in the military, both on the front lines and off. Whether you are a veteran yourself or simply interested in learning more about those who have served our country, this series offers unparalleled insight into the complexities of military service and the sacrifices it entails.

American Veteran: Keep It Close is a series that ran for 1 seasons (10 episodes) between September 7, 2021 and on Amazon Addon

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Seasons

10. The Contract

January 11, 2022

Being a veteran of the USMC is a big part of Janessa Goldbeck’s identity. When she signed up, she had just spent seven years as a human rights activist, and to her joining the military enabled her to “continue to protect people.” But there was one issue: signing up meant lying. Goldbeck was an out, queer woman and military policy was still officially “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

9. Keeping Time

December 28, 2021

Saul Monroy joined the USMC straight out of high school, and he noticed that everyone around him had the same “cool” watch. He received the same watch when he completed his training. After an explosion while deployed in Afghanistan, Monroy woke up in the hospital, disoriented and in despair. To his amazement, his watch was still ticking -- a sign that he had to keep going, too.

8. The Escape Bug

December 14, 2021

Patricia Harris recalls her time in the Army as a combination of horror, madness, and resilience. While stationed in Germany, she experienced sexual harassment on active duty and domestic violence at home. The one place she found solace was in her red 1967 VW Beetle. The car came to symbolize freedom and peace for her. Today she has a VW bug in every room in her home, a constant reminder of hope.

7. Crowning Glory

November 30, 2021

Lt. Colonel Andrea Peters remembers the struggles she had early in her Army career with regulations for hair styles that overlooked the needs of Black women. Walking the tightrope between conforming to rules and expressing her individuality, Peters constantly worried whether she would be reprimanded for not following regulations or whether her professionalism would be questioned.

6. Operation Eagle Claw

November 16, 2021

In the Army Special Forces in the 1970s and 80s, Captain Wade Ishimoto was Delta Force’s intelligence Officer for the failed attempt to free 52 hostages at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. One of his jobs was preparing maps for the forces going out on the mission. He could see the plans were incomplete, but when the President of the United States tells you to go, "you salute smartly, and you go.”

5. A Piece of Home

November 2, 2021

Yolanda Mayo was a newlywed when she deployed to Iraq with her USMC unit. A stuffed bunny, sent by her husband, became a source of joy for her and her tentmates. After deployment, the bunny went home and became a much-loved toy for her children. As she prepared to deploy again a decade later, she packed the bunny. He stands, says Mayo, “for love. He stands for why we serve. He stands for home.”

4. Music Is My Mission

October 18, 2021

Jeff Barillaro’s fellow Army soldiers coped with the stresses of deployment by working out. But Barillaro, who goes by “Soldier Hard,” wrote and recorded music, mostly rap. Finding it difficult to readjust to civilian life, Barillaro began writing again, songs with brutally honest lyrics about his thoughts. His goal now is to use music to help others and to reduce suicide rates among veterans.

3. A Small Token

October 5, 2021

In the Army, Clara Driscoll served in many combat zones. In Kosovo, she met a young Albanian woman. The two communicated with hand signals and few words, and the woman gave Driscoll a vial of lip gloss. In Afghanistan, she wore abaya, a traditional garment that made her feel more approachable. She treasures both as reminders of how to connect despite different backgrounds and circumstances.

2. Never Thirsty

September 21, 2021

When renowned Oklahoma artist Harvey Pratt (Cheyenne-Arapaho) served in the Marine Corps in Vietnam, he carried a small, smooth pebble with him. His grandfather had taught him that a small stone in the mouth would help stave off thirst, and though his canteen was always full of water, Pratt feared sharing this trick with his platoon, thinking they might make fun of him -- but he shared his water.

1. Pups of War

September 7, 2021

Sometimes the connections you make in war follow you back home. Air Force Staff Sergeant Amjad Kirrish made a special connection with orphaned puppy Harley, who was found near a Bedouin camp in Syria. Kirrish credits the puppy with providing comfort and helping him stay emotionally grounded during deployment, and made it his mission to reunite with Harley after returning to the U.S.

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Where to Watch American Veteran: Keep It Close

American Veteran: Keep It Close is available for streaming on the Amazon Addon website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch American Veteran: Keep It Close on demand at Amazon Prime.