As John mentioned, "Pat Boone was too young for Korea and too old for Viet Nam". Pat Boone dedicated much his career (and life) to supporting all branches of the military as well as our men and women in blue and all First Responders.
I’ve always had respect for the men and women of the Vietnam war I just missed the draft in 72 so I didn’t serve but I watched on the nightly news every night the reports and I did then as I do now have the upmost respect for the men and women who served in that nasty war thank you and God bless you
I heard Pat sing this in concert in 1967. In a couple of years I was in the war. With the exception of Barry Sadler (Ballad of the Green Berets) this was the ONLY song supporting us. Thanks Pat.
When he was in the Marines in Vietnam my cousin Al Wainio sent this album to my cousin Ward Sprague who was living with Al's parents up in New Hampshire at the time as a joke about Ward being a draft dodger because he didn't want to enlist after high school. Al died defending Que Son in May 1967. Ward enlisted in the Marines after Al's funeral and served a tour in Vietnam. I enlisted in the Army in 1972 after I graduated high school but the Paris Peace Treaty was signed when I was in Basic Training so I was sent to Europe instead. I was stationed in Germany when the Berlin Wall came down. Ward just died a couple years ago in a VA hospital from old age. I was waiting for my Army retirement orders to come back from the Pentagon on 911. Life is full of irony, isn't it?
I remember hearing this on a local A.M. station. But it's an example of the superficial patriotism of what some call - a chicken-hawk. It's upbeat gist wasn't appropriate for that war, but Pat was an upbeat kinda' guy. 'Course he wasn't of draft age in the "60's - like my Brother who served 12 months "in country" or a childhood schoolmate of his who was killed there before his 20th birthday.
My Big Brother used to sing this while he was healing up and picking shrapnel out of his leg and other places. With people treating him like crap You bet he was pissed enough to sing along with this He also wore a tee shirt with a US Flag on it that said Try to burn this one asshole. He served his country. He deserved better!! At that time Military service was mandatory unless you wanted to run to Canada and nobody knew if you would ever be able to come back or what. So he went to NAM, He came back to disrespect and protestors. The flag he thought he was protecting was being burned in the streets !! YES HE SANG THIS SONG
Love he song I served in Nam 1965-66 came home to a bunch of asshole's who called themselves the REAL hero's for not going. We vets called them cowards. What really gets me is after the war was over they wanted to come back to the USA from canada.That asshole president gave them all a pardon.( God bless the USA) BOBBY OTTIANO RVN 65-66
I don't recall Pat ever volunteering for military service. It's one thing to sing about it and quite another to take the oath and go off to war. Those who just sing about it, not so much
As a retired 101st Airborne veteran, I have much more respect for a Pat Boone or Toby Keith who write songs supporting American soldiers than for Jane Fonda and all her radical friends who are always putting down American soldiers and cheerleading for America's enemies trying to kill us.
patriotic or idiotic is he just being sarcastic saying it's not all glory; I cannot see anyone who did go there wanting to encourage others into that dreadful war.
John1948NineE I'm no pacifist though I do believe in Christ Jesus; but if I was in war zone I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Did he go to war? I tried to get into the British army 1976 but I was told by them after short training period not to try again to get into any of her Majesty's forces. So I went to work instead for a German company making car parts called Saltofix, where I was greatly valued as a person and for my skill. Nothing personal against Pat Boone he had a great talent, and I don't blame him if he went to war and a number of others were draft dodgers. I don't know if I ever forgave the British army. I think I would have made a good soldier. I was not very good at getting up in the morning but it was something I finally overcame. Though our army trainer was not upset with me when I turned up 2 hours late for training. I explained I did hear the call but felt I could have 5 minutes more sleep that was all. It's long story best forgotten...Thank you again for sharing I like your site...
Boone did not go to war. I believe he was too young for Korea and too old for Viet Nam. I imagine this song was his way of trying to support the troops.
John1948NineE I think they call that here in UK "jumping on the bandwagon". Meaning: to support a cause only because it is popular to do so. If you 'jump on the bandwagon', you join a growing movement in support of someone or something when that movement is seen to be about to become successful.
That was such a good song!
As John mentioned, "Pat Boone was too young for Korea and too old for Viet Nam". Pat Boone dedicated much his career (and life) to supporting all branches of the military as well as our men and women in blue and all First Responders.
I’ve always had respect for the men and women of the Vietnam war I just missed the draft in 72 so I didn’t serve but I watched on the nightly news every night the reports and I did then as I do now have the upmost respect for the men and women who served in that nasty war thank you and God bless you
Thanks for posting this. Welcome Home to all my brothers
AATW
I heard Pat sing this in concert in 1967. In a couple of years I was in the war. With the exception of Barry Sadler (Ballad of the Green Berets) this was the ONLY song supporting us. Thanks Pat.
When he was in the Marines in Vietnam my cousin Al Wainio sent this album to my cousin Ward Sprague who was living with Al's parents up in New Hampshire at the time as a joke about Ward being a draft dodger because he didn't want to enlist after high school. Al died defending Que Son in May 1967. Ward enlisted in the Marines after Al's funeral and served a tour in Vietnam. I enlisted in the Army in 1972 after I graduated high school but the Paris Peace Treaty was signed when I was in Basic Training so I was sent to Europe instead. I was stationed in Germany when the Berlin Wall came down. Ward just died a couple years ago in a VA hospital from old age. I was waiting for my Army retirement orders to come back from the Pentagon on 911. Life is full of irony, isn't it?
I remember hearing this on a local A.M. station. But it's an example of the superficial patriotism of what some call - a chicken-hawk. It's upbeat gist wasn't appropriate for that war, but Pat was an upbeat kinda' guy. 'Course he wasn't of draft age in the "60's - like my Brother who served 12 months "in country" or a childhood schoolmate of his who was killed there before his 20th birthday.
#49 in the US & #55 in Canada in 1966
My Big Brother used to sing this while he was healing up and picking shrapnel out of his leg and other places. With people treating him like crap You bet he was pissed enough to sing along with this He also wore a tee shirt with a US Flag on it that said Try to burn this one asshole. He served his country. He deserved better!!
At that time Military service was mandatory unless you wanted to run to Canada and nobody knew if you would ever be able to come back or what. So he went to NAM, He came back to disrespect and protestors. The flag he thought he was protecting was being burned in the streets !! YES HE SANG THIS SONG
Stedilnik brought me here.
Love he song I served in Nam 1965-66 came home to a bunch of asshole's who called themselves the REAL hero's for not going. We vets called them cowards. What really gets me is after the war was over they wanted to come back to the USA from canada.That asshole president gave them all a pardon.( God bless the USA) BOBBY OTTIANO RVN 65-66
I don't recall Pat ever volunteering for military service. It's one thing to sing about it and quite another to take the oath and go off to war. Those who just sing about it, not so much
As a retired 101st Airborne veteran, I have much more respect for a Pat Boone or Toby Keith who write songs supporting American soldiers than for Jane Fonda and all her radical friends who are always putting down American soldiers and cheerleading for America's enemies trying to kill us.
patriotic or idiotic is he just being sarcastic saying it's not all glory; I cannot see anyone who did go there wanting to encourage others into that dreadful war.
Steve Phillips It's sarcasm directed at draft dodgers. He wished they were there...
John1948NineE I'm no pacifist though I do believe in Christ Jesus; but if I was in war zone I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Did he go to war? I tried to get into the British army 1976 but I was told by them after short training period not to try again to get into any of her Majesty's forces. So I went to work instead for a German company making car parts called Saltofix, where I was greatly valued as a person and for my skill. Nothing personal against Pat Boone he had a great talent, and I don't blame him if he went to war and a number of others were draft dodgers. I don't know if I ever forgave the British army. I think I would have made a good soldier. I was not very good at getting up in the morning but it was something I finally overcame. Though our army trainer was not upset with me when I turned up 2 hours late for training. I explained I did hear the call but felt I could have 5 minutes more sleep that was all. It's long story best forgotten...Thank you again for sharing I like your site...
Boone did not go to war. I believe he was too young for Korea and too old for Viet Nam. I imagine this song was his way of trying to support the troops.
John1948NineE I think they call that here in UK "jumping on the bandwagon". Meaning: to support a cause only because it is popular to do so. If you 'jump on the bandwagon', you join a growing movement in support of someone or something when that movement is seen to be about to become successful.
Supporting the troops was not popular in the young music industry during that time period. There was no band wagon to jump onto.