SSgt Barry Sadler - "The Ballad of the Green Berets" (1966)

Today why not take a brief moment to shake the hand of a Veteran and say "Thank You" for your service. These brave men and women don't make the decision to go to war, however when called upon they put their lives on the line to protect ours. Most importantly remember the fallen heroes from all wars that lost their lives protecting us.Never forget the POWs and MIAs.

"The Ballad Of The Green Berets" is a patriotic song in the ballad style about the Green Berets, an elite special force in the U.S. Army. It is one of the very few songs of the 1960s to cast the military in a positive light and yet it became a major hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Charts for five weeks in 1966. It was also a multi-market smash, reaching #1 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart, and #2 on Billboard's Country survey.

The song was written by Robin Moore and Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler, while the latter was recuperating from a leg wound suffered as a medic in the Vietnam War. Moore also wrote a non-fiction book, The Green Berets, about the force.

"Back at home a young wife waits Her Green Beret has met his fate He has died for those oppressed Leaving her this last request

"Put silver wings on my son's chest Make him one of America's best He'll be a man they'll test one day Have him win the Green Beret"

The above passages from the song were written in honor of the first native born Hawaiian to have died in Viet Nam who was also a Green Beret. This soldier's name was James Gabriel Jr., Green Beret, who was executed while on a training mission by the Viet Cong on April 8th, 1962.

The recording of the song was the number one hit in the U.S. five weeks in 1966 and was the number twenty-one song of 1960s, despite the later unpopularity of the Vietnam War. Refer to United States Army Special Forces in popular culture

It has sold over nine million singles and albums. It was the top single of a year in which the British Invasion, led by the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, dominated the U.S. charts.

It is currently used as one of the four primary marching tunes of the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band.

The recording of the song was the number one hit in the U.S. five weeks in 1966 and was the number twenty-one song of 1960s, despite the later unpopularity of the Vietnam War. Refer to United States Army Special Forces in popular culture

It has sold over nine million singles and albums. It was the top single of a year in which the British Invasion, led by the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, dominated the U.S. charts.

It is currently used as one of the four primary marching tunes of the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band.

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