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What are your initial impressions of the film "Island Warriors"?
What do you think about the unique struggles Guam faces as a territory of the United States?
Respond to at least two (2) of your classmates comments

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I was not very educated myself on Guam. I have heard of this region, but fall short on knowing any more knowledge. I think the USA proves to me more and more how selfish, military driven it really is. They capitalize on Militarizing Guam and portray it as more so a fun, respected trend. The consequences these veterans face after giving their life to the United States Military is alarming. I empathize with them. They deserve all the treatment they need and some. Their representation in government needs to be changed.

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I was shocked to hear that so much of the population of Guam served in the military. One out of every 8 Guam residents are veterans. This video was eye opening for me and put Guam on the map. I was unhappy to find out that the U.S. Department of Veteran affairs did not think that there was a problem with the health care on the island of Guam.
Some of the biggest struggles that I believe Guam faces is there exercise to vote. It amazes me that they aren’t allowed to vote for a county that they serve in the military. They aren’t allowed to vote for the president that tells them to go to War. Also according to the resource they have for the PTSD program locator, the closest access to veterans for health care is all the way in Hawaii which is more than 3,000 miles away from their homeland of Guam. The funds from the government have also been increasing because the voters are from the states and know one cares about what is happening for the Island of the majority of America’s Warriors.

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Going into watching this video, I really had no idea about the hardships and issues Guam faces. One thing that really stuck out to me about our legislation that the video stated was that Guam became a U.S. territory in 1950, its residents can enlist in the army but can not vote. Also, in regards to veterans most of them state that lack of money and resources translates to lack of services. One of the biggest issues discussed was how inaccessible the PTSD programs are. Most of these veterans haven't been able to discuss and truly come into terms what they went through while serving. One father states how he has waited 12 years for a settlement/ PTSD help, yet he has 2 sons who want to follow his footsteps and serve as well.

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My initial impressions of the film Island Warriors was shocked at the results and what it discussed because I never really heard about this community and to realize how they are disproportionately mistreated within the military branches was angering. I'm honestly not surprised at the struggles that Guam faces because I'm aware of the negative effects that U.S. imperialism has especially when the U.S. claims and steals land like declaring some lands as territories.

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I am a combat medic in the U.S. Army and hearing this video nearly brought me to tears. It is devastating to hear how soldiers of Guam are not given the same resources than soldiers of the United States. These soldiers are discriminated against by the same people Guam Soldiers fight and die for. Soldiers of Guam fulfill the same duties all other United States soldiers fulfill and they are entitled the same rewards. Additionally, Guam soldiers over present America soldiers by three times. This shows how patriotic Guam citizens are because they serve their country in exponential amounts. To dismiss their needs post-war is a huge injustice to Guam. All military personnel should be honored with respect, resources, and treatment regardless of the residential location.
-Rebecca Rienzo

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This video came as a shock and my family can actually relate to them too. People in Guam go to fight in the US army and help out tremendously yet when they come back home they do not receive benefits. Many will have PTSD and other issues that can not be treated. Even the veterans affair president did not think healthcare was an issue in Guam. Truly outrageous and I absolutely despise inhumanity.

More so, today is an anniversary in Britain where a few battles were fought. I am Sikh and many Sikhs fought alongside the British but their history books and website fail to recognize us as allies and have downplayed our help. Today was the first day a Sikh was recognized on the British Army's website front page. Hopefully Guam can start getting the credit they deserve as well.

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Because I was never really educated on the culture of Guam, I was very shocked by all of this information. Most importantly, my heart feels for the people of Guam, especially veterans. It saddens me to know how loyal and dedicated these people are to their country but do not receive the same respect in return. 1 of every 8 citizens of Guam happen to be veterans, yet they fall third to last in medical spending. It is unacceptable that they citizens are not receiving the proper healthcare, treatment, and compensation for the struggles they have endured. Furthermore, it is not okay that the veteran population is being undercounted, resulting in insufficient resources. Not to mention, to know that Guam's poverty level and unemployment rate is about 50% higher than the national average is very disheartening.

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My initial impressions on this film, was that I knew nothing on how Guam has been neglected and left to fend for themselves. It is very upsetting that such devoted citizens are not being repaid by their country for sacrificing their lives. The struggles that Guam citizens face is their need for mental healthcare is non-existent. They sacrifice so much for the United States and they get nothin g in return. It is absolutely horrible that they are not allowed to vote in an electoral college, when they are giving their lives for their country. I believe that everyone in the U.S. should have the right to vote, it is unjust that they are left out.

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I was surprised that they are very patriotic and that they make up most of the deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan. According to the film their military service per capita is 3x higher than the US. In terms of rate of deaths per capita it is 6x higher than the US. However, Guam is not getting the help it needs for its veterans. They aren't getting repaid or set as a priority for their contribution to the war. The U.S. needs to do more for Guam such as give them the resources they need to help their veterans. It is a way for the U.S. to show some appreciation and gratitude for their contribution. Otherwise, if nothing is done, Guam will just look like a colony.

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I think the video was very eye opening. I knew little to no information about Guam, let alone that they represent a majority of our military. They dedicate their lives to fight for the US, yet many people don't know that. They are 3X more represented in the military than everyone else, yet they still don't get recognition. This causes them to struggle as opposed to the other parts of the US. It was mentioned in the video that there is a lack of awareness and money, therefore there is a lack of services. Services are so important for them, because they are so represented, and develop issues such as PTSD and need help, but cannot get it. They give so much, but get so little in return.

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Before watching this video, I had little to no knowledge on Guam, nor the challenges they face. It is sad to see the lack of resources given to Guam as they contribute to the U.S. military. The veterans were especially recognized in the video and how they suffer and do not have access to health care they need. It is saddening to hear because it seems that Guam is giving more than they are receiving. They deserve more recognition. I did get emotional thinking about how they just go on with their lives when they do not seem to be appreciated. Where is the credit they deserve? As a territory of the U.S., there should be more compassion and gratitude for them. There should be services given to them as they have gone and experienced so much.  They arent represented, which is what essentially is the main problem.

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I was quite surprised when I first watched the video because there are so much I don’t know about Guam. It’s disappointing to see that even though residents of Guam are US citizens and the number of individuals who serve in the US military from Guam are much higher than the rest of the country, they are still not receiving the proper recognition from the government and others. Important issues like these should be discussed in our history classes, yet I don’t remember any of my professors or high school teachers addressing them. These issues are relevant and students need to be aware of them. 

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Before I watched this video, I personally did not know a lot of background information about Guam and all of the hardships they have faced. Starting off I was surprised to know  that a big majority of US soldiers who are employed to Iraq and Afghanistan are from Guam. We do not hear a lot about this and about their sacrifice and all they do to help us as a country. Another thing that shocked and saddened me was to hear about how dedicated and patriotic these soldiers were and when they come home this veterans cannot get the help they need when they come home.

I think that the unique struggles Guam faces is very sad and needs to be addressed. It was stated in the video that since there is not a lot of knowledge and awareness of Guam and their people, this leads to not of a lot services available to these people. These veterans have needs including high rates of PTSD and we need to step in and give them the resources that they need.

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If I am being honest, like a couple of others have mentioned in their posts, I was not very knowledgeable on Guam or any of the hardships they face. While watching “Island Warriors”, my first impression was that I was shocked to hear about the struggles many veterans face because there are not enough resources for those suffering from PTSD, physical, or other mental health issues. It is crazy to hear that the rate of those who serve in the military in Guam is three times higher compared to the United States, however many feel as though there are not enough resources on the island to help those veterans and service men/women with the necessary health care they need. One thing that surprised me was the Guamanian advocates and politicians believe that the Department of Veterans Affairs are using inaccurate census data, thus making it appear as though that the resources, or little resources, available on the island is sufficient for those who are veterans. It is so important to collect accurate data because this can help make a change in the resources that are urgently needed on Guam. It was hard hearing the stories of different individuals, learning about their struggles accustoming to life back on Guam and the pain they still face every day. However, it made me even sadder to hear Craig Oswald of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs state that he does not wish for a veteran’s hospital on Guam because the number of veterans they hospitalize are “quite small”. This statement seems to be quite the opposite when many individuals who were interviewed do not feel as though they have enough resources.

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After watching the film, Island Warriors, I was shocked to find out that the men and women that enroll into the military is 8 times more than people from the United States. They enroll and protect a country that is thousands of miles away. After returning from their service, many suffer and have no one to help them. It is sad that people that live so far from the United States enroll into the military more than people who actually live in the United States and do not get the help they need. Many men and women suffer from physical and mental problems and do not get the help they need because of healthcare. This is something that needs to change. Those who serve the country should be able to get the care they need.

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My initial reaction to this video was realizing that I did not really know anything about Guam. I had forgotten it was a US territory until it was brought up in class and that saddens me. I am glad this video was assigned because it gave me the opportunity to learn about Guam and the unique problems its people face. It is absolutely heartbreaking that US citizens in Guam enlist at rates three times higher than the rest of the United States but that Guam is given third to last in funding for medical care from the VA. So many veterans on Guam need care and yet there is not even a PTSD program on the island. These veterans deserve respect from the US government for serving their country, and yet they do not seem to be getting much respect at all. It is infuriating that US citizens in Guam are not allowed to vote. That is not only taxation without representation, but also not treating them as citizens because citizens should have the right to vote. Just like the veteran said in the film, it is like they are a colony. A change needs to be made for our fellow US citizens on Guam.

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This video truly opened my eyes to the harsh reality Guam veterans have to face. It is shocking that although Guam citizens serve in the military at a 3x higher rate than the rest of the country, they lack essential medical resources. Many of these veterans deal with severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), yet the closest PTSD center is located in a different state. Since Guam is a territory, they do not have a senate vote or any voice for their issues since they cannot vote. Individuals need to be educated on this matter so that awareness can be spread and change can occur. It is heartbreaking to see that many Guam citizens serve a country that does not truly recognize their efforts.

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Prior to watching the video, I was unaware of the struggles of Guam. I was never taught about it in school and I never hear any media coverage in regard to the conditions. There is a large population of men and women enrolling into the military in Guam, where it reaches three times higher compared to those in the US. With such a high amount of people, it was surprising to hear that they lack an immense amount of necessary materials such as medical supplies. The struggles and obstacles that the veterans had to overcome lead to a future of physical and mental issues such as PTSD. A unique circumstance that Guam is dealing with is the lack of help from the government. The soldiers and veterans are not being recognized and therefore not receiving the help that they need.

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I was heartbroken after I watched the film. It makes me extremely upset when people do so much for their country, and they are not repaid as they should be. If anyone is putting their life at risk for us, the minimum we can do is be thankful/grateful and repay them in any way that we can. I also became a bit upset with myself because I know very little about Guam. It made me realize that we do not pay as much attention to these places. It would be good to include more of this into history classes, maybe even as a project in K-12, etc. The part of the video that shocked me was that no money and awareness was being given. Because they are so involved, they develop PTSD and other issues, and, unfortunately, they cannot receive them. It is not fair that they would have to pay out of pocket; that seems unfair to me.

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My initial impression about the video is how uneducated I am about Guam. I never learned anything about Guam in school. I was not aware the majority of our soldiers are from Guam. Guam's struggle as a territory of the United States is unable to vote; their voices are not being heard. Also, the senate cut Guam's funding for mental health for two years in a row. To add to this, many veterans return home with PTSD and are not able to receive the help they need. A veteran had to visit another island to receive treatment for PTSD and was away from his family for two months. I find it very shocking that Guam lacks so many resources, and it seems like they are forgotten. The US needs to address Guam's problems and needs to serve their community; for Guam's veterans to have accessibility to PTSD programs and other services they lack.

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Honestly, I was sad when watching the film “Island of Warriors”. The film is very interesting and informative but it’s sad to see that Guam’s citizens, especially veterans, are feeling pains every day. Because Guam’s people are very patriots so the amount people in military is higher than other locations in the country. Sadly, when being discharged, most of them suffer from PTSD. Guam’s location is far from the US so, lacking awareness and resources for Vets’ Medicare is the main problem. The other struggle that I saw in the video is Guam’s people, most of them, join the military to defend their country, but they don’t have enough right like other states in US, they can’t vote for the president.

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My initial impression of the film was that it was very informative. Before watching this film, I was not aware of the disparities that Guam faces. This short film provided a glimpse into how the United States lacks to support Guam veterans' need for resources. The fact that Guam's poverty level and the unemployment rate is 50% higher than the national average is very unfortunate.
Not being able to vote for the U.S. president while residing in a U.S. unincorporated territory is unjust since Guam's people can't vote for the president that sends them to war. The Guam war veteran named Victor from the 9/11 war in Afghanistan clearly stated that there is a need for resources due to the damage of mental health issues left behind from fighting in the war. I think that the U.S should and can help out Guam by allocating more mental health support services.

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My initial reaction after watching this video was surprise and shock. Knowing that Guam is a US territory, I never actually thought about many of the things that were discussed in this video. While I knew that people from Guam are US citizens, it had never occurred to me that they would make up such a large portion of our military. It saddens me to see that so many people who sacrificed their lives for the freedoms that we have in the United States are struggling after returning home. As US citizens who live in a territory of the United States, versus living in the US itself, it must be very frustrating. They do not have the same rights to vote as we do, but are still expected/allowed to go to war for a country that does not give them the same freedoms that they are fighting for.

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When watching the film Island of Warriors, I was caught off guard by the information that I learned. I had no clue that Guam is part of the U.S. territory, and that people originating from Guam are U.S. citizens. I began to then  reflect on how our school system is failing in educating students about the struggles that are faced by Guamanian's daily. One would think that it would be more public that Guamanian's make up such a huge part of the military population. Although this compelling film taught me new information that i had never known, it made me feel slightly disturbed that I was just now learning about this.

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Initially, I was surprised by the high rates of military enrollment within Guam as well as the reason as to why so many enroll. I respect that many enroll as a sense of pride for their island. This being said, it was interesting to learn about each person's individual experience in the military as well as their perspective and how they may or not have experienced PTSD. I think some of the unique struggles Guam face are that they are not considered independent because they are tied to the US but aren't granted all of the same rights such as voting. Another major struggle Guam faces is a lack of resources or support fo their PTSD programs. The US does not provide enough for them and often neglects some of their needs.

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I was shocked to hear that after so many years, people who suffered from PTSD still have not expressed what they feel. For instance, Maggie Aguon mentioned, that it has been seven or eight years and she still has not talked about what she went through, what she saw, or what she knows. These people fought for their country and sacrificed so many things. I was also shocked to hear that after everything, Victor and Maggie are willing to go back if the government asked them to. The majority of people who live in Guam serve in the U.S military, yet the government does not provide them with the appropriate services to treat them after returning from war. Overall, the struggles these people face are unfair. For instance, most of them fight for this country, yet they are not given the right to vote. These people should be given the same rights as others, as well as the resources to be able to overcome the traumatic events they face.

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After watching the video, I was initially shocked and sad that there is a lack of resources and services for those in Guam. Since there is a high amount of nationalism among the Guam and their traditional/cultural perspectives about the arm’s forces, many would join the us army’s. However, there is a general lack of knowledge regarding Guam as a US territory. This lack of awareness and resources leads to the lack of mental health services despite the high demand. There is a need of understanding and empathy for those that have PTSD.
-Vina Vo

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I was surprised to hear how many people of Guam join the military, and how large of a proportion they take up of the military. I find it upsetting that they are not able to vote in presidential elections when so many of their careers are deeply impacted by the decisions of the president. Because Guam is a territory, the citizens lack access to health care. The lack of mental health services is especially concerning given that there is such an emotional and social component to the citizens' decisions to join the military.

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Prior to watching this video, I had very little knowledge on Guam and the hardships that their citizens go through. The video states that many Guamanians feel that Americans are quite ignorant when it comes to knowing about Guam and feel that they are not recognized for who they are and what they contribute. I think that’s it’s extremely unfair that citizens of Guam are considered US citizens and can enlist in the military, but are not able to vote. If the president is the one who will send them to war, why are they not able to vote for who this person is? Knowing that many of these men and women are a big part of our military but are not given the resources needed for things like PTSD seems wrong and unfair. As a territory of the US, the citizens of Guam are not treated nearly as good as they should be. While the need for resources are high, the res pieces and programs offered and available to them are scarce. In the US, there is more than enough treatment and resources offered to veterans, while veterans in Guam are struggling to cope with the lasting effects of PTSD. It is sad and disheartening to see how poorly citizens of Guam are treated.

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My first impression of watching Island Warriors was disappointment. It was very disheartening to see how our government treats other countries or even territories that we are occupying. It is also disappointing knowing that the U.S. treats different kinds of ethnicities differently than others. Personally I know my dad served in the navy and was able to get his citizenship for his years of service in the military. But I do know that it has taken him years to be able to claim some of the benefits offered to our veterans. I think that it is very odd and wrong to claim Guam as a territory of the U.S. and asking them to enlist in the military while not allowing them to vote or even be represented in our government.

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I was shocked to learn that the citizens of Guam serve in the U.S.'s military at a rate three times higher than the rest of the country. It's like a family tradition to serve in the military and they take pride in that. They are the most patriotic people I've ever seen. They're ready to sacrifice their lives for our country and would come back to combat in a heartbeat if required to. I feel very unfair that despite all what they have done for the country, they do not receive at least adequate mental health and health care. I think services should be provided right in Guam where their homes are, and not in Hawaii or anywhere else where they are required to travel thousands of miles away. It's also very unfair that they can't vote and don't have representatives to stand for their rights.

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My first impression of the film "Island Warriors" was a feeling as if I was in shock! Watching this move opened my eyes in regards to how much those who descend from Guam have suffered as well as been neglected. I feel like the United States has not done much effort to recognize and show gratitude towards the efforts of the citizens of Guam for serving in the war.
I was not aware that Guam was even a territory of the U.S.! I feel like population of Guam have being taken for granted, and mistreated for no sole purpose. I feel like the people of Guam should a take stand in order to get some fair treatment
from the U.S.

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In Island Warriors we saw how Guam and United States relationship was made/treated. I already knew Guam was a territory of US, due to the fact my cousin who is in the Air Force is stationed there. However, I did not know that Guam was neglected as much and treated the way they were by the US. It surprised me to see how much Guam helped with serving in the US military, they helped out and the US did not behave as grateful as they should. This reminded me of the "Secret War" in Vietnam and how the United States treated the Hmong People after they helped them out as well.

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Before I watched this film, I was unaware that Guam had these problems to begin with. I do believe that Guam is an island that not many people are familiar with, therefore it seems like because of this, they don't care much for it. This video definitely shows that the U.S. overlooks Guam and treats them unfairly, since the citizens of Guam are allowed to enlist and serve in the military, but are not allowed to vote in the U.S. Guam also definitely faces problems in their lack of resources for veterans after they serve their time, especially for those who have PTSD. Treatment for PTSD is not easily accessible on the island of Guam and the U.S. did not provide the resources for the islanders that choose to enlist in their military.

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My biggest impression when watching the film "Island Warrior" was just straight shock. I do not know much about Guam anbd the history of Guam but it seems like there was a huge history of neglect and mistreatment on the US part and I was just so suprised to see how the people of Guam helped serve the military yet the US still mistreated them.

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Before watching this video, I didn't know much about Guam. I enjoyed watching this video because I learned about the struggles that Guam currently is facing. Guam's veterans are referred to as the island warriors because they have the largest participation in the military in the whole United States. The pacific-islander community also has the most deaths and casualties. It was hard to see that they don’t have access to benefits and mental health services that they need once they come back from serving. In the video, you can see how the citizens of Guam are patriotic and devoted for serving their country. Although, you can also see how difficult it has been for the lack of medical resources in the veteran communities.