Series: Soldiers Soundtracks to War--IRAQ

Produced by Jake Warga

Caption: Howitzer Guns, Northern Iraq, Credit: Jake Warga
Image by: Jake Warga 
Howitzer Guns, Northern Iraq 

Portraits of Soldiers, war and Iraq through the music they listen too on their i-pods.

Pieces from the 3rd Infantry Division, US Army, Baghdad. I plugged into the soldier's iPods and asked them what they were listening to, why they liked the song, and what their lives were like.

Their music choices form a soundtrack to the soldier's narrating their own war stories. Many had been deployed multiple times, and offered perspectives on how their (and our) roll has changed since the 2003 invasion. Over everything from "Indestructible" by hard rock's Disturbed to C&W's "Kiss My Country Ass" to Streisand's "Send In the Clowns" to one soldier singing us a gospel song, we hear their experiences serving our country -- told to the tunes in their personal mp3 players.


8 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Caption: Bowers, Credit: JW
"The Army’s standard is suppose to be that females are soldiers too..."

Bought by The Story and KFAI


  • Added: Jun 21, 2010
  • Length: 00:02:01
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: Base Church, Credit: Jake Warga
"I’m a traditional guy from the south, so I like traditional gospel music … [sings]…"

Bought by The Story and KFAI


  • Added: Jun 04, 2010
  • Length: 00:01:54
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: Lawrence "Laser", Credit: Jake Warga
The song is called “Indestructible” it’s from Disturbed. It talks about how nothing in life can stop him. That he is going to overcome

Bought by KCRW, The Story, and KFAI


  • Added: Jun 04, 2010
  • Length: 00:04:02
  • Purchases: 3
Piece image
"Private First Class Michael Dalere. 22. 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas. I listen to pretty much anything that’s heavy metal..."

Bought by KCRW, The Story, and KFAI


  • Added: Jun 04, 2010
  • Length: 00:01:33
  • Purchases: 3
Piece image
“Sergeant Crystal Halbert from Manhattan, Kansas. I’m 26 years old...

Bought by The Story and KFAI


  • Added: Jun 04, 2010
  • Length: 00:01:48
  • Purchases: 2
Piece image
Techno: Anything with a beat just gets your heart pumping, and you’re ready to go for anything. I’m Specialist Kriegshauser – “Warhouse”.

Bought by KFAI


  • Added: Jun 04, 2010
  • Length: 00:01:18
  • Purchases: 1
Piece image
Artist: Barbra Streisand Song: Send in the Clowns

Bought by KCRW, The Story, KFAI, and KUOW


  • Added: Jun 01, 2010
  • Length: 00:03:12
  • Purchases: 4
Caption: Lockridge after IED explosion, Credit: Jake Warga
To Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” Major James Lockridge tells us, “The United States Army can go anywhere at anytime or anyplace. I learned that duri...

Bought by KCRW, The Story, KFAI, and KUT


  • Added: May 15, 2010
  • Length: 00:03:05
  • Purchases: 4