Stacey Thompson was proud to be a woman in the Marines. But after she reported being sexually assaulted by her sergeant she was given an “other than honorable” discharge that left her without military benefits. Struggling with PTSD, Stacey waged a decade-long battle to regain her health and military honors. The military eventually acknowledged its mistake and upgraded her discharge. Mosaic art and writing help Stacey work through her PTSD and share her experience with civilians. Now, she and her husband, also a Marine veteran, are proud of the life they have built through their journey to heal.

This is a video from VETERANS COMING HOME, an innovative public media project exploring the lives of post-9/11 veterans, the divide between them and their communities, and the stereotypes that veterans and civilians hold about each other. Why does this divide exist? How does it affect communities across the country? And why does it matter?

VETERANS COMING HOME (VCH) is a project by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Kindling Group, and Wisconsin Public Television. This video was made with help from KPBS in San Diego, California.

Learn more about the Veterans Coming Home project at www.VeteransComingHome.org.