This Native American Veteran Carried Lessons – and a Pebble – Into War

When renowned artist Harvey Pratt, a member of the Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Sioux Tribes, served in the Marine Corps in Vietnam, he carried a small, smooth pebble with him. It was a gift from his grandfather, who taught him that keeping the small stone in his mouth would help stave off thirst. Pratt didn’t share this trick with his platoon, thinking they might make fun of him — but he always shared the water in his canteen. American Veteran: Keep It Close tells the stories of U.S. military veterans and the special objects they carried during deployment and beyond. These objects, ranging from a pebble to a vial of lip gloss, have provided everyday comfort and hope to the veterans — and offer civilians a window into the veteran experience. Although the stories are unique to the individual veterans and their military service, the concept of mementos and the emotions they can generate are universal. // Subscribe to PBS Voices so you never miss an episode! https://bit.ly/PBSVoices Watch the four-part PBS broadcast “American Veteran” starting October 26 (check your local listings), and listen to the podcast “American Veteran: Unforgettable Stories” wherever you get your podcasts. Check your local listings: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/american-veteran/ PBS Member Stations rely on viewers like you. To support your local station, go to: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/american-veteran/ Keep up with PBS Digital Studios Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PBSDigitalStudios Twitter: https://twitter.com/pbsds Instagram: https://instagram.com/pbsds #veterans #military #AmericanVeteranPBS


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