{Hello, I'm Kris Kristofferson
On November 8th, 1965, the 173rd Airborne Brigade on Operation Hump War Zone D in Vietnam were ambushed by over 1200 V.C.
Forty-eight American soldiers lost their lives that day}{Severely wounded and riskin' his own life, Lawrence Joll, a medic
Was the first livin' black man since the Spanish-American War
To receive the United States Medal of Honor
For savin' so many lives in the midst of battle that day}{Our friend, Nialls Harris, retired 25 years, United States Army
The guy who gave Big Kenny his top hat
Was one of the wounded who lived
This song is his story}{Caught in the action of 'kill or be killed'
"Greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for his brother"}Said goodbye to his momma as he left South Dakota
To fight for the Red, White and Blue
He was nineteen and green with a new M-16
Just doin' what he had to doHe was dropped in the jungle
Where the choppers would rumble
With the smell of napalm in the air
Then the sergeant said, "Look up ahead"Like a dark evil cloud, 1200 came down
On him and 29 more
They fought for their lives but most of them died
In the 173rd AirborneOn the 8th of November, the angels were cryin'
As they carried his brothers away
With the fire rainin' down and the hell all around
There were few men left standin' that daySaw the eagle fly through a clear blue sky
1965, the 8th of NovemberNow he's 58 and his pony tail's gray
But the battle still plays in his head
He limps when he walks but he's strong when he talks
'Bout the shrapnel they left in his legHe puts on a gray suit over his Airborne tattoo
And he ties it on one time a year
And remembers that fallen as he orders a tall one
And swallows it down with his tearsOn the 8th of November, the angels were cryin'
As they carried his brothers away
With the fire rainin' down and the hell all around
There were few men left standin' that daySaw the eagle fly through a clear blue sky
1965, the 8th of NovemberSaw the eagle fly through a clear blue sky
1965
(1965)On the 8th of November, the angels were cryin'
As they carried his brothers away
With the fire rainin' down and the hell all around
There were few men left standin' that dayOn the 8th of November, the angels were cryin'
As they carried his brothers away
With the fire rainin' down and the hell all around
There were few men left standin' that daySaw the eagle fly through a clear blue sky
1965, the 8th of November
8th of November
(8th of November)Said goodbye to his Momma as he left South Dakota
To fight for the Red, White and Blue
He was nineteen and green with a new M-16
Just doin' what he had to do