8th of November

Early on in their career Country Duo, Big and Rich spent some time in Deadwood South Dakota. In fact most of the songs on their first album were written there. While there they met Niels Harris and heard his tale of being in Vietnam. Niels was sent overseas with the 173rd Airborne and found himself and fellow soldiers in the middle of a jungle and ambushed by 1200 enemy soldier out numbering his unit three times. According to Deadwood Mountain Grand,”

Just 19, Niles was assigned to the Army’s 173rd Airborne Brigade. On November 5, 1965, he and his fellow soldiers of C Company landed in Vietnam’s War Zone D near Bien Hoa. Three days later, on the 8th of November, B and C Companies found themselves in a fierce battle with 1,200 Viet Cong soldiers equipped with machine guns, claymores and sniper rifles.

At the end of the battle, 48 Americans and more than 400 Viet Cong were dead. Many more U.S. soldiers were wounded, including Niles. His right leg, from knee to hip, was hit by machine gun fire.

The man in the video is actually Mr. Harris.

Take a minute to enjoy what I feel is one of the greatest songs, ever. Raise a toast tonight to those who lost their lives, we must never forget.

Here are the Lyrics to the song:

{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 Joel, 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, Niles 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 a friend”}

Said goodbye to his mamma As he left South Dakota To fight for the Red, White, and Blue. He was nineteen 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 fifty-eight And his ponytail’s grey But the battle still plays in his head. He limps when he walks, But he’s strong when he talks About the shrapnel they left in his leg.

He puts on a grey suit Over his Airborne tattoo 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.

(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.

(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 The 8th of November

He said goodbye to his mamma As he left South Dakota To fight for the Red, White, and Blue. He was nineteen and green with a new M-16 Just doing what he had to do.

Read more: BIG & RICH – 8TH OF NOVEMBER LYRICS