Iraq Veteran Recounts Journey with Loss and Identity
Dylan Park-Pettiford, an Arizona State University alumnus, has lived most of his life navigating between different cultures. Born in the Bay Area to a Black father and a Korean mother, he quickly realized that a sense of belonging could change depending on who was asking.
At home, the atmosphere blended jazz music and Korean traditions. His parents played Coltrane records and talked about Korean news, making the house a cultural bridge. However, the outside world was less accepting.
“Being biracial showed me two sides of life,” Park-Pettiford said. “But it also meant never fully belonging to either.”
This early feeling of division shaped his perspective profoundly. Seeking purpose, he joined the military but encountered contradictions that mirrored his own internal struggles.
Years later, Park-Pettiford returns to Arizona State University to share how war, loss, and his experience living between identities influenced the person he became.
Author's Summary
Dylan Park-Pettiford’s story highlights the challenges of belonging and identity shaped by race, culture, and military service, illustrating a complex journey of self-discovery.