Just 18, growing up on the wrong side of the law
Somewhere, someday knew he'd have to rise above it all
Told his family he's gonna go fight for his land
Little brother can hold down the farm, and Mama please understand
Mama begged him not to go
Mama lost her little boy, but a country gained a hero

The desert air hit him square in the face, and boy you were right
Somewhere in between the fight he finally new what it meant to be alive
He was just 3 years shy of 21, and they gave that boy a gun
Mama begged him not to go
Mama lost her little boy, but a country gained a hero

Yeah, well, some say a hero is born to be brave
But I'm here to tell you that a hero is a scared man that don't walk away

Mama sits by the flag of the USA
Tears well up in her eyes as she bows her head to pray
And she says, "Son, I know you had to go"
But mama lost her little boy, but a country gained a hero

Yeah, gained a hero
Well, it gained a hero
We gained a hero
Yeah, gained a hero
Gained a hero
For the USA
Oh, for the USA