About this episode

Navy veteran Yuri Acuna shares her journey of healing and purpose after military service, discussing trauma, sisterhood, and the role of rescue dogs.

Summary: What does it mean to rebuild your life after service leaves you with both pride and pain? In this episode of Dog Tag Diaries , Captain Kim sits down with Navy veteran Yuri Acuna, whose story moves through family, military service, survival, healing, and purpose. Yuri shares what it was like growing up in a Mexican-American home shaped by love, culture, and the lasting impact of her father’s Vietnam service. She talks about joining the Navy, finding structure and respect, and then surviving military sexual trauma that changed the course of her life. This conversation is honest, emotional, and full of heart. Yuri reflects on therapy, peer support, women veteran sisterhood, and the power of being believed. She also shares how Dune Dog Adventures and The Tide and Heart Project are helping rescue dogs become support animals for women veterans and veteran families. In this episode, we cover: Growing up in a Mexican-American military family Why Yuri Acuna chose to join the Navy Finding structure, purpose, and respect through service Surviving military sexual trauma The emotional toll of reporting and being questioned Leaving the Navy after trauma and during the events of 9/11…

People in this episode

Host: Captain Kim

Guest: Yuri Acuna

Topics covered

• military service
• survival
• healing
• military sexual trauma
• women veterans
• rescue dogs

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Dune Dog Adventures, The Tide and Heart Project

Places: Oregon, Vietnam

More episodes of Dog Tag Diaries

• Shelley Rood on the Wildflower Assessment, Women Veterans, and Serving Without Losing Yourself · May 28, 2026 · 43 min
• How Art Helps Veterans Heal: Navy Veteran Phyllis Thomas on PTS, Creativity, and Veteran Community · May 20, 2026 · 45 min

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