Veterans Day. Credit: Flickr/Jeff Cagle

Returning from war, veterans face numerous challenges. For some, that includes starting a new career after their service. This Veterans Day, we take a look at stories old and new of how veterans cope with coming back.

Military spouses, journalists, veterans, and family members are sharing advice about returning from war in a “conversation” from PBS’ film series, POV. Regarding War is a space to share your stories and learn from those who’ve dealt with this difficult topic. The accompanying film The Way We Get By profiles a group of senior citizens who greet soldiers returning from war in Bangor, Maine.

American Experience shares letters written by servicemen and women written home to their families from World War I through the present day. These don’t all have happy endings, but they give a unique glimpse into what it’s like to be so far away and what it’s like to come back.

One example is from Lewis Plush, who fought in World War I:

“”Men fought to kill, to maim, to destroy. Some return home, others remain behind forever on the fields of their greatest sacrifice. There was a war, a great war, and now it is over.”

Plush was honorably discharged from service on February 15, 1919. He returned home and homesteaded property in the coastal mountains. He married in 1923, planted apples and raised turkeys on his ranch, and died in 1956 at age 63.

Two veterans profiled today are taking steps to start new careers after completing their military service. NPR’s Michel Martin spoke with two former service members who are now a college counselor in Atlanta and cardiovascular perfusionist at the Mayo Clinic, respectfully.

For more stories about military service and first-person accounts, EconomyBeat is featuring posts from Milblogging.com, where soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq are sharing their stories.