By Jacqueline Leeker, U.S. Army Public Affairs
There are few things more American than country music, well maybe a Soldier or veteran who plays country music.
Josh Revak is a retired wounded veteran. He’s also a country singer who writes songs to honor the memory of fellow soldiers who lost their lives in combat.
Revak served in the Army with the 1st Brigade, 37th Armor Regiment from Jan 30, 2002 until Jul 1, 2007. During his first deployment to Iraq in 2003 his friend Tim Hayslett was killed. Revak wrote a song and was asked to play the song at Kayslett’s memorial.
Revak wrote a song for each memorial, sadly almost always honoring a friend of his. Revak’s war zone country music making came to an end when a mortar projectile explosion left him with shrapnel in his feet, a fused ankle and a concussion.
“The song ‘Empty Boots’ was written after I had already been wounded and was recovering in Germany,” said Revak. “Andrew Daul, a really good friend of mine, was killed. I had attended one too many memorial services, and was haunted by the memories of several friends’ empty boots, helmets, dog tags and rifles–displayed as the last reminders of their voices and faces. The song derived from these haunting feelings.”
For the month of June Revak will be donating all proceeds from his online music sales to Shane’s Purple Heart Hunts, a program that takes wounded veterans on hunting and fishing trips at no cost to the veteran.
Revak is just one example of today’s veterans who return from combat seeking ways to heal the wounds of war and pay tribute to the friends they’ve lost. We’d love to hear from other veterans or Soldiers about how you cope with the loss of a friend, or how art and music provide comfort following a deployment.
And be sure to check our Revak’s musical tribute to the friends he lost.
(For more information on Josh Revak and Shane’s Purple Heart Hunt visit http://joshrevak.com/).
