I Married the War documentary film home page. The story of wives of combat veterans.

The symptoms of PTSD are necessary combat survival skills in war, but when not "dialed down" when the soldier comes back home, these same wartime survival mechanisms can create misery. -- Laura Daniero Nickel

Just when I think I'm at peace, something seems to blow up, and then I'm not. -- Terri Topmiller

I Married the War is a documentary film giving voice to wives of combat veterans from World War II to the present-day Middle East wars. From every corner of our nation, women have waited and welcomed our warriors back from battle, only to discover that the conflict followed their husbands home.

Directed by Betty Rodgers and Ken Rodgers, the candid stories in this film bring to life the ways in which families are impacted and forever changed by the unique personal struggles, victories, and defeats experienced by our country's veterans. Hear about sharing a marriage with a WWII Medal of Honor recipient, a Vietnam War corpsman, an Iraq War survivor.

The wives in I Married the War recognize hyper-vigilance, isolation, the quick temper, and the emotional escape that are manifestations of post traumatic stress. As a result of traumatic brain injury, they have dealt with their husband's memory loss and reduced ability to express themselves. They have battled their spouses' substance abuse and survivor's guilt. They have nursed their veterans' mangled bodies.

Wives feel isolated in their personal struggles until realizing they share experiences with women and families around the nation and the world. Hear how they have learned to adapt, how some have built on their husbands' strengths, and how some have discovered their own strengths and reestablished their identities in the process.

Terri Topmiller

I was born in 1950 in Boise, ID, and lived most of my life in the area around Boise. I have one sister (Deb) and one brother (Jim). After graduating … Read More

Sally Doell Jackson

Sally was born in Madison, Wisconsin, in 1929 to a close-knit, fun-loving family. Her mother was a nurse, her father a hardworking woodsman who also helped build highways, and she … Read More

Laura Daniero Nickel

Born in Athens, Greece, and raised in California, Laura Daniero Nickel is a former Army parachute rigger and former teacher of dance and fitness. A creative soul with an occasional … Read More

Gloria Jabaut

Gloria was born in 1933 in Santa Clara, California, at the home of her paternal grandparents on their 60-acre orchard. She was the only child of James S. Silva and … Read More

Carman Hinson

Carman was born in 1977 in Beaumont, Texas, to Noel and BJ Pryor. She has two younger sisters and was raised out in the country in deep Southeast Texas with … Read More

Anne Ohki

Anne Ohki was born in Sonoma County, California, in 1924, near the Russian River. She and her family were interned in Granada Relocation Center in Colorado at the beginning of … Read More

Sally Zepeda

Soila L. Zepeda (Sally) was born in Rocksprings, Texas. She grew up in this little country town. In 1969, she married Luis, the man of her dreams, and moved to … Read More

Anne Jackson

Anne Potts Jackson graduated from Texas Tech University in 1991 with a degree in Secondary Education, and received her Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Baylor University School of Law in … Read More

Francine Jones

Francine was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she and her siblings were raised in a nurturing environment. Her father worked for the railroad. Francine married her husband, Bruce, after he … Read More

Precious R. Goodson

Precious was born in Jacksonville, Florida. She is the oldest of three siblings and was raised in Atlanta, Georgia. She met her husband, Leonard, in 1998 and they were married … Read More

Stacie Vaughan

Stacie Vaughan grew up in Columbus, Indiana, with family roots still deep in Harlan, Kentucky. She was raised by a loving, tight-knit family that valued strong morals and unconditional love. … Read More

Your support today will help this important film cross the finish line!

The superb interviews are complete. Eleven wives of combat veterans from several conflicts in American history have told their stories. I Married the War is now in the last stage of post-production, making it ready for distribution. So we are not done yet. Your support is still needed to finish this important film.

I Married the War has the potential to help thousands--if not millions--of spouses who have experienced the aftereffects of war returning with our veterans. The film offers encouragement to those spouses and families, demonstrating they are not alone in learning to adapt to the physical and mental injuries brought home from the battlefield. The broader public, which may have little direct experience with war and its aftermath, will also gain an understanding that war doesn’t necessarily end when the fighting stops. Your support now will be a powerful force in this important narrative.

There are two ways to donate.

1) Donate to our current Indiegogo campaign to raise funds to complete post production and distribute the film. You can do this by clicking on the campaign banner below. You can support this campaign at several levels, and each level comes with its own perk, such as DVDs, online chat with the film team, VIP Premiere Tickets, and more. To contribute and receive a perk, click on the perk and support level description on the right side of the campaign page after you click on the banner below.

IMTW indiegogo campaign — Help IMTW finish production

2) Or by mail: Please mail your check made payable to:

Syringa Cinema, LLC
PO Box 44
Kuna, ID 83634

Thank you for coming on board to give voice to this unheralded segment of our population! Your support makes this work possible.

Note: Should you wish to make a donation in the amount of $500 or more for tax purposes, please contact us for instructions at info@imarriedthewar.com.

Story

Updates

Official Trailer for I Married the War

The Wives