Tomas Young
Questions and Answers
Tell us about your first meeting with Ralph Nader and Phil Donahue when they came to Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Before they showed up at the hospital, it was like pulling teeth to get a doctor to come around. But the minute Ralph and Phil stepped into my room, I was besieged by doctors. They all wanted to meet these two celebrities, so their visit improved my care — at least for fifteen minutes. When I was lying in the hospital bed in the heat of the 2004 presidential campaign, I could barely move and so watched a lot of news on television. The only candidate who was serious about pulling the soldiers out of Iraq was Ralph Nader. So when my mom asked me if I wanted to meet any leader in D.C., I said I’d like to see Ralph. So she contacted Ralph’s office and arranged him to visit. And when he arrived, he brought Phil Donahue with him.
What was your reaction when Phil suggested making a film about you?
Months after I met him in the hospital, Phil came to visit me and my family in Liberty, Missouri. First, he talked about writing a book about me. I was shocked and pleasantly surprised about this suggestion, but still unclear about how I felt about everything. I was still new to my paralysis and quite emotionally and physically withdrawn. Soon after that, Phil called and said he had changed his mind and instead wanted to make a documentary film. He had just talked to Ellen Spiro, a filmmaker, who was excited about the idea. Also, I became clearer that I was injured in an improper war and felt I needed to speak out. So I saw the film not just focusing on my recovery process, but also about my new activism that was just in the beginning stages.
What was it like being followed by a video crew?
Being on camera all the time took a bit of getting used to. I wasn’t entirely prepared for the level of involvement Ellen and Phil wanted to capture. As my political ideas began to foment and I became more active, I wanted to give them as much access as possible. And soon it became effortless to let them film even the most awkward parts of my day to day life. Their being there didn’t matter. To me, the filming was a tool to get my story out. The film was going to show a side of this story that few young men and women see before they enlist.
My mom was cool with the filmmaking process. As a good mother, she is totally supportive of whatever I wanted to do. She was a natural on camera. My step—father was uncomfortable at first — we disagreed about the war. But over time, he became proud that I was speaking out about what I believed in.
Body of War intersperses your personal story with the debate and vote in the U.S. Congress authorizing Bush to invade Iraq. How do these two stories relate to each other?
I was sent to Iraq only because Congress authorized the President to invade. If they had not gone along with this Bush plan, the war would never have been allowed. This vote will go down in history as one of most cowardly and misguided actions by any Congress. Phil Donahue did a great job in pulling footage of the debate that clearly shows how Members of Congress and Senators — from both sides of the aisle —— blindly repeated administration talking points in selling this war to the public. This vote created tragic consequences for literally millions of Iraqis as well as our own soldiers, so everyone who authorized this war is responsible. We should hold them accountable.
What is the main message of Body of War for you?
Everybody enlists in the military with the full knowledge that they might die in combat. But nobody joins the military imagining they will end up paralyzed, in a wheel chair. I hope this film makes people think long and hard before they agree to sign that enlistment contract. Body of War will provide more accurate information about the reality of war for them to consider.
What is your hope for this film?
Honestly, I want Body of War to be a tool for counter recruitment. I hope for a new drive to reinstate the draft. Who is fighting and dying for America in Iraq and Afghanistan? Who enlists and signs up to serve their country? Right now, 100% of Americans support the troops, but only 5% of the population is actually in the armed forces. Most Americans do not serve and have no connection to people who do. And who makes up this 5%? Most in uniform are either minorities or come from lower economic classes. This statistic is alarming and criminal. With a draft, we would see a much broader representation of the American public serving in the military. We would also witness a much broader spontaneous protest movement.
What do you think should happen in Iraq now?
I've heard a number of plans that have merit. I think Senator Biden’s proposal to separate Iraq into three separate nations could be positive for the Iraq people. There are some plans that would reduce American troop levels, but still leave some soldiers and marines stationed along the border, fighting active terrorist cells and providing some country security. I think we all know that there is no perfect strategy for Iraq. The sooner we bring our troops home, the more of them will be able to come home. We need to spare the lives of our fellow soldiers, now not later.
As the war continues, more young Americans will come home severely wounded. How will both this film and your political activism help these returning veterans?
Perhaps when they see Body of War, injured veterans will realize that they have a valid voice in the anti—war discussion. Silence is not patriotic, at least not in my book. I hope the film will inspire more of them to speak out.
Tomas Young
Kansas City
June 2007
Branch of service: United States Army (USA)
Home: Kansas City, Missouri
Served in: Ft. Hood Texas/Sadr City, Iraq
I called Uncle Sam on Sept. 13th when I saw the President standing on top of the rubble in New York saying that we were going to get those reponsible, which I wanted to do. After a short time at Ft. Hood, TX it became clear that we in fact were going instead to Iraq.
This did not sit well with me but I only got five days to bring up the inane and trivial reasons we were sent there for to whoever would listen which certainly was not my leadership. On only my fifth day there, I went out a poorly planned mission in an uncovered unarmored 5 ton truck and was shot through my left collarbone and severed my spinal cord at about the nipple level which is where I am paralyzed from.
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