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The Ballad Of The Green Berets

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At a time when soldiers were viewed by many as anti-American and were being degraded for fighting in Viet Nam; SSgt. Barry Sadler, US Army, Green Beret, recorded this immortal song and injected a feeling of patriotism into an America divided by many issues. The 'Great Society' envisioned by LBJ was just a mirage in the distance that could never be reached as white and black Americans tried to come to terms with centuries of injustice and factions of Americans turned to drugs and isolation and created a counter-culture in an effort to escape governmental control. The war in Viet Nam was an ever-escalating affair that was not going the way it was suposed to go and was causing no end of discontent among American citizens who longed for peace. The President of the United States, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, had been assasinated a few years earlier ending any chance we had for a revival of 'Camelot', an event that was soon to be repeated by the murders of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and John's younger brother Bobby. There were riots in the streets of most of America's major cities as black Americans, tired of being referred to as 'Africans' and other less savory titles, angrily demanded recognition and acceptance as Americans by their white counterparts. Draftees returning from duty in Viet Nam found themselves targets of tomato-throwers as if they had done some grievous misdeed by following orders. In the midst of all this was heard the steady voice of SSgt. Sadler. Suddenly, if only temporarily, our sight was focused on the bravery and unselfishness of our military members and we felt a rush of pride as we listened. Here was a song that was not about drugs...not about sex...not about money...it was a song about Americans, both black and white, who were ready to give their all for the rest of us. For a moment we forgot about the troubles...forgot about the turmoil...forgot about our differences...and remembered our heritage. For a moment we were in Camelot...and the Great Society was real.