My friend Spencer Ackerman, when he runs the death notices he receives from the Pentagon, titles them after a lyric in this beautiful song by Stars.
When I have shuffled off this mortal coil, this is one of the songs I want played.
Rafael Noboa Rivera, 31, is a writer, veteran and political activist. An essayist and public speaker, he was a contributing author to Millennial Manifesto (Basic Books, 2001), and is currently working on a second book of essays concerning his experiences in Iraq. You can find some of his writings at SquareState, Scholars & Rogues, and Vet Voice.
As a veteran, Noboa served in the United States Army for almost seven years. He served in some of the world's most dangerous spots, ranging from Korea's Demilitarized Zone to Iraq's Sunni Triangle.
As a political activist, he's been active in campaigns ranging from the courthouse to the White House. His areas of political concentration include veterans' affairs (where he's been fighting to make sure returning veterans receive the care and benefits they earned in service) and national security affairs (notably the intersection of civil-military affairs). Since 2006, he has been a featured speaker for Campus Progress' Speaker's Bureau on the Iraq War.
A native Puerto Rican, he is a current student and presently lives in Denver, Colorado.
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A current resume can be found here.
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