Dog Tag Diaries

How Art Helps Veterans Heal: Navy Veteran Phyllis Thomas on PTS, Creativity, and Veteran Community

Summary: What if art is not optional, but one of the tools veterans need most to heal? In this episode of Dog Tag Diaries, Captain Kim sits down with Navy veteran, artist, and Veteran Art Venue founder Phyllis Thomas to talk about creativity, service, healing, and purpose. Phyllis shares how her love for art began as a child in Watts, how her parents helped grow that gift, and how she carried it into her Navy career in illustration drafting. She explains why art can help veterans express what words cannot, lower stress, and build trust again. Through her Paint and Snack sessions, Phyllis has spent more than a decade helping veterans reconnect with themselves, each other, and their communities. In this episode, we cover: * Phyllis Thomas’s childhood in Watts and discovering art early * How her parents supported her creative gift * Growing up during Vietnam, the Watts riots, and social change * Why Phyllis chose to join the United States Navy * Working in Navy illustration drafting and technical art * Serving as a Black woman in uniform in the 1970s * Using art to ease stress among active duty service members * Why Phyllis believes everyone has an artist inside them * Creating Veteran Art Venue and Paint and Snack sessions * How art helps veterans express pain without needing words * Paint on the Fence as a creative stress release * Using art to connect veterans and civilians * Phyllis’s Johnny Depp People’s Art Contest opportunity and her goal to support more veteran artists Notable Quotes & Moments: * “There is an artist within everyone.” Phyllis Thomas on helping veterans believe in their own creativity [00:16:44] * “Leave your self-critic and your self-doubt at the door.” Phyllis Thomas on the first step in her art sessions [00:27:00] * “Words can trigger points.” Phyllis Thomas on why visual expression can feel safer for veterans [00:31:45] * “Visual beyond words.” Phyllis Thomas on her motto and the power of art [00:33:01] * “It’s not a luxury. It’s an essence of life building.” Phyllis Thomas on why art matters [00:42:21] Timestamps: * 00:01:42 - Meet Navy veteran and artist Phyllis Thomas * 00:03:54 - Phyllis’s childhood in Watts and the moment her parents saw her gift * 00:07:37 - Growing up during Vietnam, funerals, and the Watts riots * 00:09:53 - How Phyllis found her way into the military * 00:14:04 - Navy illustration drafting and working with ship blueprints * 00:18:21 - Being a Black woman in uniform in the early 1970s * 00:20:01 - Defending herself and helping other women feel safer * 00:24:10 - Leaving the Navy and continuing her education * 00:26:30 - Creating Veteran Art Venue * 00:28:00 - How Paint and Snack sessions work * 00:31:32 - Why art is essential for veterans * 00:33:14 - How “visual beyond words” came to life * 00:34:26 - Paint on the Fence and creative stress release * 00:37:46 - Johnny Depp’s People’s Art Contest and Phyllis’s mission * 00:42:01 - Using art to bridge veterans and civilians * 00:44:12 - Reveille and Retreat Project closing message About Phyllis Thomas: Phyllis Thomas is a United States Navy veteran, artist, founder of Veteran Art Venue, and longtime advocate for veteran healing through creative expression. Her work began in childhood in Watts and later became part of her military service through Navy illustration drafting. Today, Phyllis leads art-based programs like Paint and Snack, where veterans can relax, create, connect, and express what may be hard to say out loud. Her mission is to show that art is not extra. It is a powerful tool for emotional health, community, and hope. Connect and learn more: Website: https://meroegallery.com/ [https://meroegallery.com/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PHYL4art/ [https://www.facebook.com/PHYL4art/] Artist Profile: https://peoplesartist.org/phyllis-thomas--6HDi [https://peoplesartist.org/phyllis-thomas--6HDi] Magazine Feature: https://simplebooklet.com/avowmagazinewinter20222023 [https://simplebooklet.com/avowmagazinewinter20222023] (pages 16–21) Be sure to follow or subscribe to Dog Tag Diaries wherever you listen to podcasts. Learn more about the Reveille and Retreat Project: reveilleandretreatproject.org [https://reveilleandretreatproject.org/] Instagram: @reveilleandretreatproject [https://www.instagram.com/reveilleandretreatproject] Facebook: Reveille and Retreat Project [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088145736131] You aren’t alone. If you’re thinking about hurting yourself or having thoughts of suicide, contact the Veteran crisis line: Dial 988 then press 1, chat online [https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/], or text 838255.

Navy Veteran Yuri Acuna on MST, Sisterhood, and Healing Through Rescue Dogs

Summary: What does it mean to rebuild your life after service leaves you with both pride and pain? In this episode of Dog Tag Diaries, Captain Kim sits down with Navy veteran Yuri Acuna, whose story moves through family, military service, survival, healing, and purpose. Yuri shares what it was like growing up in a Mexican-American home shaped by love, culture, and the lasting impact of her father’s Vietnam service. She talks about joining the Navy, finding structure and respect, and then surviving military sexual trauma that changed the course of her life. This conversation is honest, emotional, and full of heart. Yuri reflects on therapy, peer support, women veteran sisterhood, and the power of being believed. She also shares how Dune Dog Adventures and The Tide and Heart Project are helping rescue dogs become support animals for women veterans and veteran families. In this episode, we cover: * Growing up in a Mexican-American military family * Why Yuri Acuna chose to join the Navy * Finding structure, purpose, and respect through service * Surviving military sexual trauma * The emotional toll of reporting and being questioned * Leaving the Navy after trauma and during the events of 9/11 * How therapy and MST support groups helped Yuri heal * The role of peer support and women veteran sisterhood * Creating Dune Dog Adventures on the Oregon coast * Building The Tide and Heart Project to support women veterans, families, and rescue dogs Notable Quotes & Moments: * “No means no means no means no. It’s a full sentence.” Yuri Acuna on consent and standing her ground [00:20:00] * “Did you say no? Then that’s it. Enough said.” Yuri Acuna remembering the words that helped her hold onto the truth [00:20:36] * “I knew there had to be a way to show people that the process works.” Yuri Acuna on saying yes to peer support and healing work [00:27:46] * “You’re going to make a woman feel so strong. You’re going to make her feel so safe.” Yuri Acuna speaking to Nikita, a rescue dog in training [00:36:11] Timestamps: * 00:00:00 - Introduction to love, trauma, service, and the stories women carry * 00:03:01 - Yuri Acuna’s childhood in a Mexican-American military family * 00:05:29 - Growing up with a Vietnam veteran father and the impact of PTSD * 00:09:04 - Why Yuri chose to join the Navy * 00:11:00 - Finding respect, purpose, and pride in service * 00:12:19 - Yuri shares why her Navy service ended after two years * 00:13:51 - Reporting military sexual trauma and the investigation that followed * 00:22:30 - Becoming a peer support specialist by accident * 00:30:31 - Creating Dune Dog Adventures on the Oregon coast * 00:34:22 - The mission behind The Tide and Heart Project About Yuri Acuna: Yuri Acuna is a Navy veteran, peer support advocate, dog lover, and founder of Dune Dog Adventures and The Tide and Heart Project. After surviving military sexual trauma, she found support through therapy, women veteran groups, and peer connection. Today, she uses her experience to help other women veterans and veteran families feel seen, safe, and supported. Her work on the Oregon coast brings together rescue dogs, trauma-informed care, outdoor healing, and community support. Connect and learn more: * Facebook: Dune Dog Adventures * Instagram: @DuneDogAdventures * Website: www.dunedogadventures.com [http://www.dunedogadventures.com/] Be sure to follow or subscribe to Dog Tag Diaries wherever you listen to podcasts. Learn more about the Reveille and Retreat Project: reveilleandretreatproject.org [https://reveilleandretreatproject.org/] Instagram: @reveilleandretreatproject [https://www.instagram.com/reveilleandretreatproject] Facebook: Reveille and Retreat Project [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088145736131] You aren’t alone. If you’re thinking about hurting yourself or having thoughts of suicide, contact the Veteran crisis line: Dial 988 then press 1, chat online [https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/], or text 838255.

Breaking Barriers and Building Legacy: Colonel Mary Fuller on Leadership, Opportunity, and 28 Years of Service

Summary: What does it mean to step into roles that were never designed with you in mind? In this episode of Dog Tag Diaries, we sit down with Colonel Mary Fuller, U.S. Army Retired, whose 28-year career reflects a pivotal era of change for women in the military. Entering service during the “last of the WACs,” Mary moved into positions that had only recently opened to women and helped shape the standard for those who followed. From Airborne School to commanding a weather station in Alaska, serving in Germany, and working inside the Pentagon, Mary shares what it looked like to build a career across constantly evolving roles. This conversation goes deeper than milestones. It explores uncertainty, leadership under pressure, identity, and the long-term impact of being one of the first. In this episode, we cover: * Growing up curious, athletic, and driven * Choosing the Army for opportunity, education, and adventure * What it meant to be part of the “last of the WACs” * Becoming one of the first women in Airborne School and combat divisions * Leading across communications, intelligence, and acquisition roles * Lessons from assignments in Alaska, Germany, and the Pentagon * Facing moments of doubt and stepping into the unknown * Leading in spaces where women were still proving their place * The power of mentorship and lifelong relationships * Preparing for transition out of the military * Why saying yes to opportunity changes everything Notable Quotes & Moments: * “It’s not about the positions that you hold. It’s about the people that you meet.” Colonel Fuller on the lasting value of military relationships [00:12:13] * “One of the best lessons I ever learned when I first joined the Army was trust your sergeants.” Colonel Fuller on early leadership [00:14:05] * “You may hate the job you have. You may hate where they sent you, but it’s not about that. It’s about the people.” Colonel Fuller on finding meaning in service [00:43:39] Timestamps: * 00:00:00 - Introduction to Colonel Mary Fuller’s groundbreaking Army career * 00:02:08 - Childhood, sports, family history, and growing up with military parents * 00:06:22 - Studying radio, TV, and film before joining the Army * 00:08:00 - How civilian jobs led Colonel Fuller to military service * 00:11:17 - Joining the last direct commission class of the Women’s Army Corps * 00:13:19 - First assignment as a Signal Corps officer in Germany * 00:14:05 - Trusting her platoon sergeant and learning how to lead * 00:18:14 - Airborne School and being assigned to a combat division * 00:24:31 - The final jump, a lost helmet, and soldiers taking care of each other * 00:29:53 - Rising through the ranks from second lieutenant to colonel * 00:35:20 - Women, family decisions, and the hard choices of military life * 00:39:07 - Preparing for retirement and life after the Army * 00:43:09 - Colonel Fuller’s advice for women in military service About Mary Fuller: Colonel Mary Fuller is a retired U.S. Army officer who served for 28 years during a time of major change for women in the military. She entered during the final chapter of the Women’s Army Corps and became one of the first women in Airborne School and one of the first assigned to a combat division in Germany. Her career included leadership roles in communications, intelligence, acquisitions, and senior Army-level positions at the Pentagon. Be sure to follow or subscribe to Dog Tag Diaries wherever you listen to podcasts. Learn more about the Reveille and Retreat Project: reveilleandretreatproject.org [https://reveilleandretreatproject.org/] Instagram: @reveilleandretreatproject [https://www.instagram.com/reveilleandretreatproject] Facebook: Reveille and Retreat Project [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088145736131] You aren’t alone. If you’re thinking about hurting yourself or having thoughts of suicide, contact the Veteran crisis line: Dial 988 then press 1, chat online [https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/], or text 838255.

Veteran Healing After MST: Didi Meindok on Service, Forgiveness, and Finding Hope Again

Summary: What happens when a veteran’s service is questioned, her trauma is dismissed, and healing feels out of reach? In this episode of Dog Tag Diaries, host Captain Kim welcomes back Navy veteran Didi Meindok for a powerful conversation about truth, survival, and recovery. Didi shares her experience serving during Operation Desert Storm, the pain of military sexual trauma, and the long fight to have her service and story properly recognized. She also opens up about the support that helped her keep going, including the VA, the National Center for PTSD, Home Base, and the Operation Red Wings Foundation. This episode is a moving reminder that healing is hard work, but it is possible, and no veteran should have to fight alone. In this episode, we cover: * Didi’s Navy service during Operation Desert Storm * What it felt like to have her service questioned and records dismissed * How institutional erasure can impact veterans’ mental health * The role of the VA, Vet Centers, and the National Center for PTSD in her care * How Operation Red Wings Foundation helped Didi return to service and support others * Didi’s experience at Home Base in Boston and why it changed her healing path * The power of somatic yoga, self-reflection, and choice in trauma recovery * Why forgiveness became a way for Didi to reclaim control * Her advice to women veterans who are still fighting to be seen and heard * Why veteran-led and community-based support matters Notable Quotes & Moments: * “I was very, very lost and very, very disenfranchised and really suicidal.” Didi on feeling isolated post-military [00:15:36] * “I can’t save anybody. They have to save themselves.” Didi on supporting veterans through healing [00:19:32] * “Finding your way home is possible.” Didi on hope after trauma [00:42:01] Timestamps: * 00:00:00 - Introduction to Didi Meindok’s return to Dog Tag Diaries * 00:03:07 - Didi recaps joining the Navy and serving during Desert Storm * 00:04:52 - Returning home and facing erased records, doubt, and official narratives * 00:07:47 - Finding support through the VA, National Center for PTSD, Home Base, and Operation Red Wings Foundation * 00:15:25 - Didi opens up about feeling lost, angry, and suicidal after service * 00:17:39 - Losing a veteran client and stepping back into healing work * 00:22:14 - What the Home Base program was like day to day * 00:29:39 - Somatic yoga, trauma, and the body’s response to stress * 00:35:12 - Forgiveness, faith, and reclaiming control * 00:40:11 - Didi’s advice to women veterans: never stop About Didi Meindok: Didi is a U.S. Navy veteran of Operation Desert Storm, an attorney, and a trained medical scientist. Known as the FilaEstonian, she comes from a long line of seafarers and is a fierce advocate for truth, justice, and integrity in military service and beyond. Connect with Didi: Email: dorothy@meindoklaw.onmicrosoft.com [dorothy@meindoklaw.onmicrosoft.com] Resources mentioned: * Home Base https://homebase.org [https://homebase.org/] * National Center for PTSD https://www.ptsd.va.gov [https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/consult/resources.asp?&utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid_search&utm_campaign=AR_NCP_PTSDKW_OY4_SEAR_GOOG_TRAF_BRAN_US_CTR_INTBA_BRAND_EMAILSU_X&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=14993588323&gbraid=0AAAAAoMoOPql9s6FYKmMixZkHBSqVLfqZ&gclid=Cj0KCQjwp7jOBhDGARIsABe7C4dBgsEA34Sx2OTXj4xTM36I9EKvXAV9qcFkTEuulQqzkwxzOy1kjwUaAnTXEALw_wcB] * Vet Center Program https://www.vetcenter.va.gov [https://www.vetcenter.va.gov/] * Operation Red Wings Foundation https://orwfoundation.org [https://orwfoundation.org/] Be sure to follow or subscribe to Dog Tag Diaries wherever you listen to podcasts. Learn more about the Reveille and Retreat Project: reveilleandretreatproject.org [https://reveilleandretreatproject.org/] Instagram: @reveilleandretreatproject [https://www.instagram.com/reveilleandretreatproject] Facebook: Reveille and Retreat Project [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088145736131] You aren’t alone. If you’re thinking about hurting yourself or having thoughts of suicide, contact the Veteran crisis line: Dial 988 then press 1, chat online [https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/], or text 838255.

From Trauma to Triumph: Army Veteran Makissa Lewis on Healing, Iraq, and Building a Seesterhood for Women Veterans

Summary: In this episode of Dog Tag Diaries, host Captain Kim sits down with Army veteran Makissa Lewis for a deeply honest conversation about service, survival, and sisterhood. Makissa shares her path from Jamaica to New York, then into the Army right out of high school, where she hoped to prove she was stronger than people expected. She opens up about surviving military sexual trauma before there was even common language for it, deploying to Iraq after 9/11, and living with the lasting effects of PTSD. Most of all, she talks about turning pain into purpose by founding My Seester, Inc., a nonprofit that supports women veterans in South Florida. This episode is a powerful reminder that healing often starts when someone decides to create the support they needed most. In this episode, we cover: * Why Makissa joined the Army straight out of high school * How books, writing, and faith helped her cope through hard transitions * Her experience with military sexual trauma in Germany * What Iraq was like and how combat stress stayed with her after coming home * Why women veterans are too often unseen in military and civilian systems * How My Seester, Inc. was born out of a need for real, in-person support * The healing power of art, community, and women showing up for each other * Makissa’s advice for women currently serving in the military Notable Quotes & Moments: * “She survived military sexual trauma before it even had a name.” [00:00:05] * “I felt it was a, I’ll be able to grow up and show them that I’m not a nerd.” [00:04:30] * “There was no one protecting me.” [00:15:36] * “If you don’t deal with your mental, it takes all over your whole world.” [00:27:15] * “We are so not seen, cause they think we’re invisible.” [00:28:26] * “The military cannot be the end and be all of everything you are.” [00:40:28] Timestamps: * 00:00:00 - Introduction to Makissa Lewis and her service story * 00:01:11 - Makissa’s background, Army service, and nonprofit mission * 00:04:06 - Why she joined the military after high school * 00:05:01 - Moving from Jamaica to New York and then Florida * 00:09:31 - Entering the Army in 1996 and adjusting to military life * 00:14:30 - First duty station in Germany and the trauma she experienced there * 00:19:42 - Deployment to Iraq after 9/11 * 00:22:40 - PTSD symptoms and the hard return to civilian life * 00:25:45 - Finding support online and starting My Seester, Inc. * 00:31:05 - The Retina Project and healing through art and conversation * 00:35:13 - Supporting deployed women and honoring fallen service members * 00:37:10 - How Makissa takes care of herself today * 00:39:18 - Her advice for women still serving * 00:41:16 - Women Who Serve Magazine nomination and closing reflections About Makissa Lewis: Makissa Lewis is an Army veteran who served from 1996 to 2010 and is a combat-disabled survivor of military sexual trauma. Born in Jamaica and raised in New York and South Florida, Makissa joined the military straight out of high school. After experiencing MST, combat deployment to Iraq, and ongoing challenges accessing equitable care, she began asking critical questions about housing, resources, and support for women veterans. Those questions led her to found My Seester, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to serving female veterans in South Florida. Makissa is also working on an anthology documenting her experiences during and after her military career. Connect with Makissa: Instagram: @my_seester Website: www.myseester.com [http://www.myseester.com/] Email: founder@myseester.com [founder@myseester.com] Episode note: This episode includes discussion of military sexual trauma and may be activating for some listeners. If you or someone you know needs support, confidential help is available. * VA Military Sexual Trauma Support: Contact your local VA Medical Center and ask to speak with the Military Sexual Trauma Coordinator. Care is available regardless of discharge status. * Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988, then press 1, or text 838255 for confidential support 24/7. * RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-HOPE (4673) or online chat at rainn.org [http://rainn.org/]. Be sure to follow or subscribe to Dog Tag Diaries wherever you listen to podcasts. Learn more about the Reveille and Retreat Project: reveilleandretreatproject.org [https://reveilleandretreatproject.org/] Instagram: @reveilleandretreatproject [https://www.instagram.com/reveilleandretreatproject] Facebook: Reveille and Retreat Project [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088145736131] You aren’t alone. If you’re thinking about hurting yourself or having thoughts of suicide, contact the Veteran crisis line: Dial 988 then press 1, chat online [https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/], or text 838255.