"BALLAD OF THE GREEN BERETS" #1
New York City (JFK+50) On March 5, 1966,"Ballad of the Green Berets," sung by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler*, moved to #1 on the pop charts. The song was recorded in December 1965. The 45 record sold 9 million copies. An album "Ballads of the Green Berets" sold 2 million copies.
Sgt. Sadler wrote the lyrics with the help of Robin Moore. The song honors James Gabriel, Jr., the first native Hawaiian to die in Vietnam. The "Ballad of the Green Berets" is one of the few songs recorded during the era to cast the military in a positive way.
Barry Sadler sang "Green Berets" on the Ed Sullivan television show, January 30, 1966.**
*Barry Sadler (1940-1989) was born in Carlsbad, New Mexico & enlisted in the USAF in 1958. BS was trained as a radar technician and was stationed in Japan. While serving in Vietnam, he was severely wounded during a combat patrol. BS died after being shot in the head in Guatemala City.
**Today the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center & School located at Ft. Bragg, N.C. trains personnel in the special forces.
New York City (JFK+50) On March 5, 1966,"Ballad of the Green Berets," sung by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler*, moved to #1 on the pop charts. The song was recorded in December 1965. The 45 record sold 9 million copies. An album "Ballads of the Green Berets" sold 2 million copies.
Sgt. Sadler wrote the lyrics with the help of Robin Moore. The song honors James Gabriel, Jr., the first native Hawaiian to die in Vietnam. The "Ballad of the Green Berets" is one of the few songs recorded during the era to cast the military in a positive way.
Barry Sadler sang "Green Berets" on the Ed Sullivan television show, January 30, 1966.**
*Barry Sadler (1940-1989) was born in Carlsbad, New Mexico & enlisted in the USAF in 1958. BS was trained as a radar technician and was stationed in Japan. While serving in Vietnam, he was severely wounded during a combat patrol. BS died after being shot in the head in Guatemala City.
**Today the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center & School located at Ft. Bragg, N.C. trains personnel in the special forces.
