Black Hawk Down Vet J.T. Cooper on the Healing Power of Art

Tennessee songwriter and Army veteran J.T. Cooper fought in the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia. The conflict was famously portrayed in the 2001 film Black Hawk Down. Following his military service, Cooper turned to songwriting to help him deal with his PTSD. In 2018, he founded the nonprofit group Warrior Rounds, a healing arts program that pairs military veterans with songwriters. The songwriters help the veterans tell their stories – a crucial step in the healing process. Cooper will be the keynote speaker at the MACC’s Boots and BBQ fundraiser on Oct. 19, 2024. The fundraiser supports the MACC’s healing arts program for military veterans. In a wide-ranging conversation with the MACC’s Chief Operating Officer John Pitcher, Cooper discusses his military service and his commitment to helping other veterans cope with trauma.