{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 Joll, a medic
Was the first livin' black man since the 
Spanish-American 
WarTo receive the 
United States 
Medal of Honor
For savin' so many lives in the midst of battle that day}{
Our friend, 
Nialls Harris, retired 25 years, 
United States 
ArmyThe 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 momma as he left 
South Dakota
To fight for the 
Red, White and 
BlueHe was nineteen and green with a new 
M-16Just 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 sergeant said, "Look up ahead"
Like a dark evil cloud, 1200 came down
On him and 29 more
They fought for their lives but most of them died
In the 173rd 
AirborneOn 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 sky1965, the 8th of 
NovemberNow 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 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 sky1965, the 8th of 
NovemberSaw the eagle fly through a clear blue sky1965(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 sky1965, the 8th of 
November8th of 
November(8th of November)
Said goodbye to his 
Momma as he left 
South Dakota
To fight for the 
Red, White and 
BlueHe was nineteen and green with a new 
M-16Just doin' what he had to do