THE 8TH OF NOVEMBER
While we are fans of a wide variety of music no song captures the spirit of a real life war incident, for us, as Big & Rich's, The 8th of November. The song isn't anti-war or a psychobabble, search for the meaning of the "folly" of man. Nor does the song glorify war.
While on the road Country music stars Big Kenny and John Rich had the opportunity to meet Niles Harris, a Vietnam vet and survivor of the ambush by the Viet Cong on November 8th 1965. Harris was a paratrooper with 173rd Airborne Brigade when he and his fellow soldiers were outnumbered 6 to 1. 48 soldiers from the 173rd were killed that day and many more were wounded.
Harris told the story of the battle to Big Kenny and John Rich and fortunately they turned it into a memorial song. Kris Kristofferson does a preamble on the song where he pays tribute to another soldier, medic Lawrence Joel. Joel was wounded twice during the battle yet he saved the life of many soldiers while risking his own life.
Lawrence Joel earned the Medal of Honor because of his selfless actions on the field of battle on the 8th of November, 1965. President Johnson presented Joel the Medal of Honor on March 9th 1967 at the White House. Joel was the first living Black American to receive the Medal Of Honor since the Spanish-American War of 1898. Joel died on February 4th 1984 from complications associated with diabetes. Joel was buried in Arlington Cemetary.
The battle memorialized in the song ocurred 43 years ago but we should never forget the actions, the character, the courage and the honor of men like Harris, Joel and those like them.
Lyrics to 8th Of November by Big & Rich:
(Introduction, by Kris Kristofferson):
“ On November 8th 1965, the
173rd Airborne Brigade on "Operation Hump", war zone "D" in Viet Nam,
were ambushed by over 1200 VC. 48 American soldiers lost their lives.
Severely wounded, and risking his own life, Lawrence Joel, a medic, was the first living black man since the Spanish American war to receive the United States Medal of Honor,
for saving 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 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 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.
Then 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.On the 8th of November, the angels were crying,
As they carried his brothers away.
With the fire rainin’ down and the hell all around,
There were few men left standin’ 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.
‘Bout the Shrapnel they left in his leg.
He 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 tears.On the 8th of November, the angels were crying,
As they carried his brothers away.
With the fire rainin’ down and the hell all around,
There were few men left standin’ 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. (1965.)On the 8th of November, the angels were crying,
As they carried his brothers away.
With the fire rainin’ down and the hell all around,
There were few men left standin’ that day.On the 8th of November, the angels were crying,
As they carried his brothers away.
With the fire rainin’ down and the hell all around,
There were few men left standin’ that day.
Saw 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 doing what he had to do.
Courtesy of sdvietnammemorial.com
Big Kenny is wearing the yellow bandana;,
John Rich is wearing a blue hat; and South Dakota
Vietnam Veteran Niles Harris is
wearing a camouflage jacket.
Courtesy of arlingtoncemetary.net:
Photos
Coutesy of the Home of Heroes
JOEL, LAWRENCE
Rank and organization: Specialist Sixth Class
(then Sp5c), U.S. Army, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion
(Airborne), 503d Infantry, 173d Airborne Brigade. Place and date: Republic
of Vietnam, 8 November 1965, Entered service at: New York City, N.Y. G.O.
No.: 15, 5 April 1967. Born: 22 February 1928, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at
the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp6c. Joel demonstrated
indomitable courage, determination, and professional skill when a numerically
superior and well-concealed Viet Cong element launched a vicious attack
which wounded or killed nearly every man in the lead squad of the company.
After treating the men wounded by the initial burst of gunfire, he bravely
moved forward to assist others who were wounded while proceeding to their
objective. While moving from man to man, he was struck in the right leg
by machine gun fire. Although painfully wounded his desire to aid his fellow
soldiers transcended all personal feeling. He bandaged his own wound and
self-administered morphine to deaden the pain enabling him to continue
his dangerous undertaking. Through this period of time, he constantly shouted
words of encouragement to all around him. Then, completely ignoring the
warnings of others, and his pain, he continued his search for wounded,
exposing himself to hostile fire; and, as bullets dug up the dirt around
him, he held plasma bottles high while kneeling completely engrossed in
his life saving mission. Then, after being struck a second time and with
a bullet lodged in his thigh, he dragged himself over the battlefield and
succeeded in treating 13 more men before his medical supplies ran out.
Displaying resourcefulness, he saved the life of one man by placing a plastic
bag over a severe chest wound to congeal the blood. As 1 of the platoons
pursued the Viet Cong, an insurgent force in concealed positions opened
fire on the platoon and wounded many more soldiers. With a new stock of
medical supplies, Sp6c. Joel again shouted words of encouragement as he
crawled through an intense hail of gunfire to the wounded men. After the
24 hour battle subsided and the Viet Cong dead numbered 410, snipers
continued to harass the company. Throughout the long battle, Sp6c. Joel
never lost sight of his mission as a medical aidman and continued to comfort
and treat the wounded until his own evacuation was ordered. His meticulous
attention to duty saved a large number of lives and his unselfish, daring
example under most adverse conditions was an inspiration to all. Sp6c.
Joel's profound concern for his fellow soldiers, at the risk of his life
above and beyond the call of duty are in the highest traditions of the
U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of
his country.
