Said goodbye to his momma as he left South Dakota

To fight for the red, white and blue

He was 19 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

And 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



[Chorus:]

On the 8th of November the angels were crying

As they carried his brothers away

With the fire raining down and the hell all around

There were few men left standing 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

About 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 the fallen as he orders a tall one

And swallows it down with his tears



[Chorus]



Saw the eagle fly through a clear blue sky

1965...

On the 8th of November the angels were crying

As they carried his brother away

With the fire raining down and the hell all around

There were few men left standing that day



[Chorus]



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