This is a magnificently written tribute to Niles Harris and the soldiers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade ("Sky Soldiers") unit who served in Viet Nam from 1965-1971). Harris is a Viet Nam veteran of the 173rd and the friend who gave Big Kenny his outrageous top hat. Kris Kristofferson gives an intro and speaks of Lawrence Joel, the first black MoH recipient since the Spanish American War. This song is a heart-rending reminder of the sacrifice our soldiers make. The 8'th of November He said goodbye to his momma As he left South Dakota To fight for the Red, White, and Blue. He was 19 in green with a new M-16 Just doin' 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 sargeant 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 cryin' 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 hes 58 And his ponytails grey But the battle still plays in his head. He limps when he walks, But hes strong when he talks About the shrapnel they left in his leg. He puts on a grey suit Over his airborne tattoo. 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. On the 8th of November, The angels were cryin' 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 On the 8th of November The angels were cryin' 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 cryin' 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 The 8th of November He said goodbye to his momma As he left South Dakota To fight for the Red, White, and Blue. He was 19 in green with a new M-16 Just doin' what he had to do. To read more about the battles in Nov. 1965 Please click on the links further down on this page.       Operation Hump-Nov. 1965 Sky Soldier History Of The 173'rd Airborne Brigade Medal Of Honor Recipient - Sp5c Lawrence Joel Australian War Memorial This page was designed and created with Love and Pride by Joanne/GabbiAsh June 28, 2006 Today is... You're listening to "The 8th Of November" Written and Performed by Big Kenny and John Rich The Songs on my pages are copyrighted by the respective artists and are placed there for entertainment purposes only. No profits are made for my site from their use. Please support these artists and purchase their music if you like it. If you can't hear the music Click... here for your free media player. I am so thrilled & grateful for this award from... Harmony March 2, 2008 Please click on their name to visit their site Joanne in Dreamland© Feel free to send my pages to friends... But Please don't remove anything without permission Copyright Information Center Free Web