Austin360 blogs > TV Blog > Archives > 2009 > November > 10 > Entry
Fort Hood soldiers on PBS documentary ‘Tattooed Under Fire’
Charles Hanson, Infantry, shows off his tattoo from the River City Tattoo Shop.
Soldiers from Fort Hood, America’s largest military base and the location of last week’s tragic shootings, are spotlighted on PBS’ “Tattooed Under Fire,” airing at 9 p.m. on KLRU.
Nancy Schiesari’s documentary centers on the military ritual of getting inked, interweaving the personal stories of six central characters—and their relationships to the war in Iraq—with the visual expressions of their tattoos (River City Tattoo Parlor, a place where many of the Fort’s war-bound and returning soldiers go under the needle, is located across the street from the base).
From PBS’ press release:
River City Tattoo Parlor owner/artist Roxanne Willis and her team of tattoo artists welcome young men and women daily: as they arrive, shed their uniforms and carve permanence into their transitory flesh. Some seek to adorn their limbs, make a statement, ward off evil with fierce engravings or honor a loved one. Some seek grizzlier images, like “meat tags.” A play on traditional dog tags, “meat tags” are a morbid marker of name, DOB and serial number, designed for posthumous identification. Tattooed just under the armpit on the torso, they are strategically located in the place most likely to remain intact in the event of death by IED explosion.
The young men and women are introduced as they are being tattooed; raw recruits at first and then as returning soldiers, changed in ways only their fellow soldiers can grasp. Through the creative and sometimes subversive act of tattooing, these young soldiers use skin to create personalized images and words that reveal a seldom seen part of the psyche of the American soldier.
The film is an intimate, character-driven portrait of Iraq-bound and returning U.S. soldiers, professing their pride, sharing their secrets and confessing their fears as they go under the tattoo needle. What emerges is an evocative, poignant and highly personal look at the human and cultural cost of war.
“Tattooed Under Fire” is a co-production of KLRU and the Independent Television Service (ITVS).
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment Categories: News coverage
Comments
When commenting, we ask that you keep things civil and abide by our Visitor Agreement. To report comment abuse, click here.
By myshilohranch
November 11, 2009 7:20 PM | Link to this
Agreed, VERY powerful, indeed! This is reality TV that is not for avoidists, nor wimps. This IS the reality of war, right where it hurts ... on the ground where the soldiers are.
Bless the tattoo shop owners ... they bear many burdens too. This most unique perspective on war is excellent, must-see TV!
Our government needs to buck up and help these kids deal with the PTSS they live with 24/7 ... did we learn NOTHING from Viet Nam??? It is a shameful report of the state of a nation that only allows our soldiers, freshly back from combat, 3 days of counseling!
Every member of the VA should be required to watch this documentary ... our Chief of Staff too! Concerned citizens: write, call, email your elected officials and beg them to give our men and women returning from combat, the respect and help they so desperately need.
My heart breaks for these kids. Like that soldier's song says, it is not OK with them ...
By Virginia
November 10, 2009 10:06 PM | Link to this
Just finished watching this and it was heartbreaking to me. This was a very powerful show. To hear what this young boys said about their experience over in Iraq, and how they have been affected by the memories of what happened over there. A must see. This was a documentary that was very well presented.
By Lisa Ide
November 10, 2009 11:20 AM | Link to this
So I can still log in for dailies at least. :)
This doc sounds really interesting, thanks for the heads up we'll give it a try. :)