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American Exile | Voces on PBS

Portrait of the Valenzuela brothers
Courtesy
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The Valenzuela brothers
Manuel (left) and Valente Valenzuela

Tue Mar. 28 at 10:30PM on WKAR-HD 23.1 & STREAMING | Brothers Manuel and Valente Valenzuela both volunteered and fought in Vietnam. Fifty years later they are among thousands of veterans who are being deported. The brothers don their uniforms for one last fight, to bring all the veterans back home.

As teenagers, Valente Valenzuela and his brother Manuel volunteered and were sent to fight in Vietnam. They came home decorated but also physically and psychologically scarred. Now, some 50 years later, they’ve received deportation notices. Shocked and confused, the brothers soon learn they are not alone; thousands of American military veterans have been or are in danger of being deported because of misdemeanor offenses committed after completing their service. Valente and Manuel decide to don their uniforms for one last fight — to “leave no soldier behind” and bring deported veterans and their families back home.

This special is available to watch live during its airdate on the WKAR Livestream. Watch this special NOW with WKAR Passport at video.wkar.org.

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