MONTCLAIR, N.J. — During stressful times as a combat medic in Afghanistan,
Mason Sullivan found solace in Vivaldi. New Jersey native Nairobi Cruz was
comforted by country music, a genre she had never heard before joining the
Army. For Jose Mercedes, it was an eclectic iPod mix that helped him cope with
losing an arm during a tour of duty in Iraq.

These three young veterans all say music played a crucial role in alleviating the
stresses of active duty. Now, all three are enrolled in a program that hopes to use
music to ease their reintegration into civilian life.