Lance Cpl. Alex Rivera entertains Iraqi children with a rap dance from atop his vehicle in the Iraqi desert. The Long Branch, N.J., native spoke to MSNBC.
updated 4/4/2003 3:31:08 AM ET 2003-04-04T08:31:08

Lance Cpl. Alex Rivera entertained Iraqi children with a rap dance from atop his vehicle in the Iraqi desert in Nasiriyah. The Long Branch, N.J., native spoke to MSNBC host John Seigenthaler.

JOHN SEIGENTHALER, MSNBC HOST: Your performance spoke to people in an international language. Have you ever done this — singing dancing, performing — with kids back home?

LANCE CPL. ALEX RIVERA: Yes, I’ve done this with kids before back home.

SEIGENTHALER: How did this little scene happen?

RIVERA: I was just passing out food and candy, and after awhile, I got bored sitting there for two hours and felt like livening things up. So I got crazy and started singing.

SEIGENTHALER: What are your observations about kids and this war? How are they coping?

RIVERA: They look sad, asking for food and stuff. They looked down. I thought I would bring a little hope, and brighten up their day, and give them something else to think about.

SEIGENTHALER: It seems like you have a bit of a performer in you.

RIVERA: I guess I got it from my dad, I just picked up what he had.

© 2012 MSNBC Interactive

Discuss:

Discussion comments

,
  1. Jump to text

    Lance Cpl. Alex Rivera entertained Iraqi childre...

  2. Jump to discussion

    Rapping Marine