Nicole Goodwin, Ryan Holleran and Ramon Mejia are three U.S. military service members who deployed to Iraq after 9-11 to fight in the “Global War on Terrorism.” Nicole and Ramon served in Iraq during “Operation Iraqi Freedom,” the initial invasion in 2003, while Ryan deployed during “Operation New Dawn” at the end of the war in 2011. Three Tours is a documentary film that captures the lives of these three veterans as they work to heal their wounds and battle Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) resulting from their direct experience with the traumas of war. Told through their own voices, Three Tours documents their profound transformation from U.S. military trained killers to agents of change advocating for proper mental health treatment of veterans and an end to unjust wars.
The film captures the personal journey of each of these veterans as they work to heal their wounds through activism, writing, teaching and religion. Ramon, a Marine veteran, converted to Islam and discovered a vehicle to inner peace. Ryan, an Army veteran, became an activist with Iraq Veterans Against the War and Under the Hood Café, two anti-war veterans’ organizations. Nicole, an Army veteran, found healing through writing and sharing her poetry about her experiences in Iraq. All three veterans come together through their shared experiences, their desire to tell their own stories and their activism. Each of these veterans embarks on a personal journey seeking inner peace, restoration of their humanity and forgiveness for taking part in an unjust war.
The film takes places at a time when military suicide is at an all time high, surpassing combat deaths in 2012. An estimated 50% of returning veterans suffer from PTSD or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and 60% of women have experienced sexual assault. Because only .5% of the U.S. population is fighting these wars, these issues tend to be far removed from the American people’s daily consciousness. It’s against this sobering backdrop that these stories take place. At its core, Three Tours is about three veterans who are struggling with deep pain and regret for what they’ve done, and are working to find a way to heal those wounds.
For more information about the film please contact director and producer of “Three Tours” Betty Yu: bettyyu21@gmail.com
