PUT SILVER WINGS ON MY SONS CHEST 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 in 1966 it became a major hit, reaching No. 1 for five weeks on the Hot 100 and four weeks on Cashbox. It was also a crossover smash, reaching No. 1 on Billboards Easy Listening chart and No. 2 on Billboards 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 book, The Green Berets, about the force. The tune itself is borrowed from the traditional American folk song The Butcher Boy. Lyrics include: 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 sons chest Make him one of Americas best Hell be a man theyll test one day Have him win the Green Beret The lyrics were written in honor of Green Beret James Gabriel, Jr., the first native Hawaiian who died in Vietnam, who was executed by the Viet Cong while on a training mission on April 8, 1962.One verse was written in honor of Gabriel, but it never made it into the final version. Sadler debuted the song on television on January 30, 1966 on The Ed Sullivan Show. BALLAD OF GREEN BERET Fighting soldiers from the sky Fearless men who jump and die Men who mean just what they say The brave men of the Green Beret Silver wings upon their chest These are men, Americas best One hundred men well test today But only three win the Green Beret Trained to live, off natures land Trained in combat, hand to hand Men who fight by night and day Courage deep, from the Green Beret Silver wings upon their chest These are men, Americas best One hundred men well test today But only three win the Green Beret 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 sons chest Make him one of Americas best Hell be a man theyll test one day Have him win the Green Beret ----------------------------------------------- The Green Beret 10th Group ~ Beret & Blade The men of the Special Forces are masters of their profession, the profession of arms. Theirs is more than a job or an occupation. It is a way of life that requires a personal commitment found nowhere else in society. Its obligation is dedication...its demands, duty and loyalty...its principle, integrity ...and its reward, personal satisfaction. Their countrymen see them as the epitome of the American fighting man. Their badge of distinction is the Green Beret known and respected worldwide. They wear it proudly!
Posted on: Fri, 23 Jan 2015 03:54:00 +0000