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.
