Big&Rich pay homage to a Vietnam hero - Lawrence Joel

Even if you don't like country music, I would suggest you take a listen to the song 8th of November on Big & Rich's new album Comin' To Your City. I am glad to see the bard's of our time paying rightful homage to the true heros around us, most especially one of those who served in Vietnam.

Here are a few of the lyrics;

Said goodbye to his momma as he left South Dakota
To fight for the red, white, and blue
He was 19 and green with a new M-16
Just doing what he had to do
He was dropped in the jungle where the choppers would rumble
With the smell of napalm in the air
And the sergeant said..look up ahead
Like a dark evil cloud, 1,200 came down on him and 29 more
They fought for their lives but most of them died in the 173rd Airborne

Chorus:
On the 8th of November the angels were crying
As they carried his brothers away
With the fire raining down and the hell all around
There were few men left standing that day
Saw the eagle fly through a clear blue sky
1965, the 8th of November

Now 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
About the sharpnel they left in his leg
He puts on a gray suit over his Airborne tatoo
And he ties it on one time a year
And remembers the fallen as he orders a tall one
And swallows it down with his tears

Chorus:
On the 8th of November the angels were crying
As they carried his brothers away
With the fire raining down and the hell all around
There were few men left standing that day
Saw the eagle fly through a clear blue sky
1965, the 8th of November

Saw the eagle fly through a clear blue sky
1965,,
On the 8th of November the angels were crying
As they carried his brothers away
With the fire raining down and the hell all around
There were few men left standing that day

Chorus:
On the 8th of November the angels were crying
As they carried his brothers away
With the fire raining down and the hell all around
There were few men left standing that day
Saw the eagle fly through a clear blue sky
1965, the 8th of November
the 8th of November,,

Said goodbye to his momma as he left South Dakota
To fight for the red, white, and blue
He was 19 and green with a new M-16
Just doing what he had to do

The introduction to the song is by Kris Kristofferson and them man is Lawrence Joel, a Medal of Honor recipient. One of the wounded saved was a friend of Big Kenny, Niles Harris, and the source of Kenny's hat.