"We will leave no wounded behind," says Robert Bruce, who served in the Army in Vietnam.
"Well, that's not just meaning physically wounded. You can be spiritually and emotionally wounded. They don't need left behind either."
Bruce and nine other Vietnam veterans, identified in "Street Vets" by their first names, were the men who, in 2007, shared their stories with filmmaker Issac Goeckeritz, who debuts the documentary at 8 p.m. Monday on KUED Channel 7.
Goeckeritz is still in touch with most of the men, all of whom have completed their programs at Ogden's Homeless Veteran Fellowship, where they first met nearly four years ago.
The fellowship offers homeless veterans a place to stay and to get sober, while receiving counseling aimed at finding them employment and setting goals to improve their lives.
After he finished filming, Goeckeritz couldn't find the funding to rent a studio for editing and post production. By then, KUED had aired Goeckeritz's projects, "Ogden: Junction City of the West" and "Uintah United," and KUED production director Ken Verdoia offered the filmmaker use of the station's editing studio.
"In this media age, it is commendable for any filmmaker to invest time to really explore a human story, such as homelessness among veterans," Verdoia said. "Issac dedicated almost two years of work to becoming familiar with the men, and patiently chronicled his experiences over time. It takes a special insight to capture what he did in 'Street Vets.' "
Verdoia suggested Goeckeritz give a lifelong perspective to his subjects, revealing what they were like as young men.
"At one time, these men were young and idealistic, with their entire futures ahead. I said, 'Don't just chronicle their difficulties now.' And Issac has done a good job."
Verdoia believes "Street Vets" can speak to all generations, not just the one that experienced the Vietnam War.
"Any warrior returning from a theater of war needs to be reintegrated into a community, with more than just a parade," Verdoia said. "We need to remember them in job opportunities, and address the challenges they face because of what they experienced. If we do that, 'Street Vets' is a lesson about every man and woman who goes to war."
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