#46: Doc Todd – Navy Veteran, Rapper

Borne the Battle

When I first started podcasting in the Veteran space, often spoke with creatives: authors, artists, musicians, etc. I learned there are a lot of Veterans in the hip hop community. It makes sense. Hip hop is about expression and a lot of emcees use the medium to share personal experiences. Doc Todd is not exception. He's been praised by many national outlets for his music that addresses the difficulties of coming back from conflict and transitioning from the military.

About Doc Todd:

Doc was born George Michael Todd Jr. on February 16, 1985, and raised in the city of Memphis. While study wasn’t his strong suit, he fell in love with writing in high school – that is, writing lyrics for his band, not writing homework assignments. After completing high school in 2003, Doc worked a number of different jobs in the restaurant industry, which was a natural fit given his passion for customer service and uncanny sales ability. However, after several successful years in the business he wanted more from life. Doc set his focus on self-improvement and meaningful growth, and in the fall of 2007 he enlisted in the United States Navy as a Hospital Corpsman.

After his military service (which did not include civilian transition training), Doc moved to Atlanta and worked at restaurants and a premier hospital, while he pursed his college education on the G.I. Bill. Doc graduated from Georgia State University magna cum laude with an undergraduate degree in studying Economics & Public Policy in 2014. He then joined Northwestern Mutual where he began to build a financial management practice, before pursuing this veteran project.

Covered in Episode 46:

• VA's response to Hurricane Harvey and information Veterans need regarding benefits
• More of Secretary Shulkin's remarks at the American Legion Convention in Reno
• Interview with Navy Veteran Doc Todd
  • Why he decided to join the Navy
  • Deploying and being medevac'd
  • His difficult coping with being forced away from his unit.
  • Pursuing music
  • How his music helps him and his fellow Veterans cope
• Veteran's Crisis Line
• #VeteranOfTheDay Army Corps Veteran Alice Evamae Ewing Phillips