Doc Todd was a rapper and a U.S. Navy veteran who served in Afghanistan and used his music to help other veterans cope with PTSD. He died on May 12, 2023, at the age of 38. The cause of death was sudden cardiac death, according to his wife Abigail (according to PopCulture.com).
Who was Doc Todd?
Doc Todd was born George Michael Todd Jr. in Memphis on Feb. 16, 1985. He graduated from Christian Brothers High School in 2003 and joined the Navy in 2006. He earned the nickname “Doc” because he served as a medic or a corpsman with the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines Infantry Unit (according to NPR).
He was deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in the summer of 2009 for Operation Khanjar, the largest aerial deployment of Marine Corps troops since the Vietnam War. He treated blast and burn injuries and saved many lives from heat casualties. He also kept his fellow Marines’ spirits up with his wit and freestyle raps (according to NPR).
He lost many friends in the war, including his roommate Lance Cpl. Charles Seth Sharp, who was the first Marine to be killed in that battle. He came home with PTSD and struggled with alcoholism before finding his way back to music (according to PopCulture.com).
He used his GI Bill benefits to get a bachelor’s degree in economics and public policy from Georgia State University. He quit his job as a money manager and pursued a rap career under the names Mik and Doc Todd. He released his album Combat Medicine in 2017, which featured songs like “Not Alone” that encouraged veterans to seek help for their mental health (according to NPR).
He was known for his honesty, humor, and compassion. He regularly checked in with other veterans and inspired them with his music. He had a large fan base on social media and received many messages of gratitude and support from people who related to his story (according to PopCulture.com).
How did Doc Todd die?
Doc Todd died in Atlanta on May 12, 2023. The cause of death was sudden cardiac death, which is a sudden loss of heart function that can occur without warning signs or symptoms (according to Mayo Clinic). His wife Abigail told NPR that he had no known heart problems or risk factors.
She said he was healthy, happy, and working on new music before he died. She also said he was a loving husband and father to their two daughters, Savannah and Audrey. They met at a bar in Atlanta a few months before he was deployed and stayed in touch through letters and phone calls. She read one of his letters at his funeral, where he expressed his love for her and joked about his stinky feet (according to NPR).
His funeral was attended by hundreds of friends and family members, as well as fellow veterans and musicians. His pastor Kris McDaniel remembered him as a rapper who hugged him the first time they met and said “I’m a rapper!” He also played one of his songs, “Not Alone”, which has over 1 million views on YouTube (according to PopCulture.com).
Many people paid tribute to him on social media, sharing their memories and condolences. One person wrote on his Instagram page: “Man, I’m at an absolute loss for words. Doc was one of the most talented artists I’ve ever had the privilege to make music with. And his soul was even better than his music.” Another person wrote: “His music helped me when I came home. Even chatted a bit. RIP brother… thank you for everything you’ve done for our community… we got it from here.” (according to PopCulture.com).
Doc Todd’s legacy lives on through his music, which continues to touch and heal many lives. He will be remembered as a rapper who helped other veterans feel “Not Alone”.
