'Brothers After War': A Filmmaker Teams Up with Gary Sinise to Reunite Iraq War Veterans 20 Years Later

Filmmaker Jake Rademacher went to Iraq embedded with U.S. troops three times between 2005 and 2007, documenting the combat operations of Marines, Army paratroopers and the Iraqi Army during one of the most dangerous and unstable periods of the Iraq War. His goal was to understand the experiences of his brothers who were deployed there with the 82nd Airborne Division. In 2009, he produced the documentary "Brothers at War" with his footage.

More than 15 years later, Rademacher's new film, "Brothers After War," is a direct sequel to that initial work, one that sees the filmmaker reconnect with the American troops with whom he embedded two decades prior. In revisiting those Marines and soldiers, he shows viewers how fighting a war can affect those who fight it. The film is also a revealing portrait of how transitioning to civilian life can transform American veterans -- sometimes with heartbreaking consequences.

Funded in part by the Gary Sinise Foundation and executive produced by the beloved actor and veteran advocate himself, "Brothers After War" hits theaters on Feb. 28, 2025.

"I'm doing this documentary right now, because I want to see how the guys I embedded with years ago are doing," Rademacher said in the film's trailer. "How they're really doing."

Rademacher began his monumental follow-up effort during the height of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Though hamstrung by pandemic travel restrictions, he managed to catch up with 15 veterans across four continents to document the most intimate moments of their post-military lives. With the assistance of the U.S. military and foreign governments, he manages to tell a story that isn't just about tragedy, PTSD and loss, but also captures the fun, healing and hope that makes up the complexities of life after wartime service.

"The battle doesn't end when they leave the war," Rademacher said in a statement. "'Brothers After War' is an insider's look at the extraordinary journeys veterans undertake to heal and move forward. The production was an intimate opportunity to witness veterans' sacrifices, unseen battles and post traumatic growth. ... We want to have Americans see our veterans as they really are and walk beside them on their journey home."

Some of the men and women Rademacher captured in his first film are still in the service, with multiple combat deployments under their belts. This includes his younger brother Joe, who served in the 75th Ranger Regiment and is now a master sergeant. In the new film, the director deploys with older brother Lt. Col. Isaac Radebacher on his final mission before retirement, a deployment that causes him to reflect on his career and the sacrifices of his family.

Other veterans documented in the first film have since separated from the military and lead entirely different lives. Others have since entered civilian life but have somehow found another way to serve their families or their country.

The lives of Rademacher's veterans today are as varied as they were 20 years ago. When we first met Frank McCann, he was a sniper providing overwatch in Iraq's Sunni Triangle, ready to kill anyone who might threaten his soldiers. Some 20 years later, he's married and providing overwatch to his infant daughter, who suffers from CDKL5, a rare genetic developmental disorder. In 2005, then-Sgt. Ernest "Big Ern" Ward told Rademacher that his gift was helping people. When the filmmaker catches up to him, his phone number is the same as it was in 2005 because his friends might need him. When Chris MacKay came home from his first deployment, no one came to his homecoming. In the intervening years, he struggled with suicidal thoughts and substance abuse. Today, he works with Sheep Dog Impact Assistance, helping pull other veterans from the brink.

Jennifer Hermanson found a new calling in working with children. Jason Grundy jumped into Afghanistan in the days following 9/11 and now teaches weapons and tactics. Quentin Rademacher, who was a boy in the first film, followed in his uncles' footsteps and joined the Army. These are just a few of the heartwarming and inspiring lives led by veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan that Rademacher followed for years on end.

"'Brothers After War' is a beautiful portrayal of the journey from warfighter to veteran," Sinise said in a statement. "For the first time in more than 20 years, America is not involved in an active armed conflict, and we need to make sure the public doesn't forget about the men and women who served and the families who supported them. The film is a tribute to their sacrifices, their resilience and their character -- and that is why I and the Gary Sinise Foundation supported the creation of this important film."

"Brothers After War" will begin screening in theaters on Feb. 28, 2025. To learn more about the film, Jake Rademacher's family resiliency workshops or bring a screening of the movie to your area, visit the Brothers After War website.

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