How Rap and a Broken Microphone Help This Iraq Vet Survive

During his deployment in Iraq, Army veteran Jeff “Soldier Hard” Barillaro recorded rap music as a form of stress relief. Through the difficult transition back to civilian life, his music helped keep him grounded and gave him an outlet for the difficult emotions that his time in combat raised. Today, he keeps his old microphone from Iraq as a reminder of that time, and he works with other veterans to heal through music. 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. Join our “Keep It Close” social media campaign by sharing a photo or describing an object that has significance to your experience as a veteran. Civilians: post an object, person, or place that makes you understand what veterans experience or have experienced. Add the hashtag #AmericanVeteranPBS to join the campaign. Thank you to Analog Devices for supporting American Veteran: Keep It Close. You can learn more at https://www.analog.com/en/applications/markets/aerospace-and-defense-pavilion-home.html // 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


View on YouTube.