Sgt. Barry sadler was a member of the U.S. Army special forces (ABN). Commonly called the green berets because of the distintive headgear. The green beret is a highly trained group of men who risked their lives everyday by doing the specialized jobs of organizing, equiping and leading indigenious forces. Making them a ‘force multiplier’ for the u.S. Military. The army could not always admit to some tasks that needed to be completed, so the green berets would be ‘unofficially’ tasked with those jobs. Like jumping behind enemy lines to perform rescues and to gather intell on the opposing forces.
In the vietnam conflict there were more medals (and more purple hearts) awarded to the special forces (green berets) than any unit in history. Dinstintive men.
The Ballad Of The Green Berets
Sgt. Barry Sadler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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, America's best
One hundred men will test today
Trained to live off nature's land
Trained in combat, hand-to-hand
Men who fight by night and day
Courage peak from the Green Berets
Silver wings upon their chest
These are men, America's best
One hundred men will 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 his 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 Ballad of the Green Berets was written by Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler, who was a medical corpsman in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. The song, released in 1966, became an instant hit and reached the top of the charts. It became the signature song for the Green Berets, who were the elite special forces trained in unconventional warfare tactics.
The lyrics to the song paint a vivid picture of the Green Berets, describing them as "fighting soldiers from the sky" who are "fearless men" who "jump and die." The Silver wings on their chest indicate their advanced airborne training, and they are trained to live off the land and fight in any situation, day or night. The song highlights the strength and courage of the Green Berets and their commitment to serving their country.
The final verse is a sobering reminder that these soldiers risk their lives every day, and sometimes they do not make it back to their families. The young wife of a fallen Green Beret receives his request to put silver wings on their son's chest, hoping that he too will become one of America's best and win the Green Beret.
Overall, The Ballad of the Green Berets is a tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of America's elite special forces soldiers, who serve their country with honor and distinction.
Line by Line Meaning
Fighting soldiers from the sky
These are soldiers who jump from airplanes, ready to fight.
Fearless men who jump and die
These men are willing to risk their lives by jumping out of planes to fight for their country.
Men who mean just what they say
These are men of their word, who stand by what they say.
The brave men of the Green Beret
These are the soldiers who are part of the Green Beret special forces, known for their bravery and expertise in combat.
Silver wings upon their chest
These soldiers wear silver wings on their uniforms as a symbol of their status as airborne soldiers.
These are men, America's best
These soldiers are considered the best of the best in America's military.
One hundred men will test today
Only 100 soldiers will be chosen to try out for the Green Beret.
But only three win the Green Beret
Out of the 100 who try out, only three will be chosen to become Green Berets.
Trained to live off nature's land
These soldiers are trained to survive in the wilderness by using what they can find in nature.
Trained in combat, hand-to-hand
These soldiers are specially trained in hand-to-hand combat techniques.
Men who fight by night and day
These soldiers are willing to fight at any time, whether it be day or night.
Courage peak from the Green Berets
The Green Berets are known for their courage and bravery in combat.
Back at home a young wife waits
The wife of a soldier is waiting for him to return from war.
Her Green Beret has met his fate
The soldier's wife has received news that her husband, who was a Green Beret, has died in combat.
He has died for those oppressed
The soldier has given his life fighting for those who are being oppressed or mistreated.
Leaving her his last request
Before he died, the soldier made a request of his wife.
Put silver wings on my son's chest
The soldier's dying wish was for his son to become an airborne soldier like him, and wear the same silver wings on his uniform.
Make him one of America's best
The soldier wanted his son to become one of the best soldiers in America's military, like he was.
He'll be a man they'll test one day
The soldier's son will also have to try out for the Green Beret one day, and be tested like his father was.
Have him win the Green Beret
The soldier wanted his son to achieve what he did - become a part of the elite Green Beret special forces.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Barry Sadler, Robert Moore
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind