The post General Anthony C McAuliffe 1945 and 1948 Broadcasts appeared first on World War Media.
]]>During a dinner in Detroit, MI, on 22 December 1948, General Anthony Clemens McAuliffe gives a speech for the fourth anniversary of the ‘NUTS!’ reply. His speech was broadcasted by radio stations WWJ and WWJ FM.
By Reg Jans – With special thanks to Mr. Kenneth McAuliffe, Mr. Joe Beyrle II and Mr. Paul Clifford
With a good sense of humor, the former acting commander of the 101st Airborne Division entertains the audience and talks about his experiences in Bastogne during th Battle of the Bulge.
Shortly before taking command of the 103 Infantry Division, in January 1945, the now legendary General talks about the Battle for Bastogne. (low quality)
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]]>The post Screaming Eagles -SABATON appeared first on World War Media.
]]>SABATON is a Swedish Power Metal band from Falun. The band’s main lyrical themes are based on war and historical battles – the name is a reference to a sabaton, knight’s foot armour.
The armour and battle theme is heard in the albums Primo Victoria, The Art of War, Attero Dominatus, Coat of Arms, Carolus Rex, Heroes, and The Last Stand in which all of the songs contain these motifs, except final tracks which are tribute songs to influential heavy metal bands. Lyrical content drawn from World War I, World War II and other historical conflicts is prevalent and lyrics often recite stories of heroic deeds by men and armies. Source
www.sabaton.net
Screaming Eagles
Music by: Brodén / Text by: Brodén / Sundström
Crack of the lightning splitting the ground
Thunder is sounding, artillery pounding
Wrath of the Nazi’s cast on Bastogne
Facing their forces alone
ALONE! [2x]
Sent from the skies jumped into the unknown
The march to Berlin has begun
Spearhead the charge surrounded by foes
Eagles are leading the way
France is still under enemy rule
Push, axis retreat
Thrown towards Arnhem a bitter defeat
They’re stretched out just one bridge too far
Turn of the tide, it’s breaking away
Losing momentum, retreat
Go to Bastogne, the crossroads must hold
Stand, alone in the cold
Crack of the lightning splitting the ground
Thunder is sounding, artillery pounding
Wrath of the Nazi’s cast on Bastogne
Facing their forces alone
ALONE! [2x]
Dig your own foxholes or dig your own Grave
The storm is about to begin
The siege has begun, there’s nowhere to run
Panzerkampfwagen emerge
Tanks and mortars are shaking the ground
Prey of man and machine
Crack of the lightning splitting the ground
Thunder is sounding, artillery pounding
Wrath of the Nazi’s cast on Bastogne
Facing their forces alone
Chill of the winter bite to the bone and Christmas is drawing near
Soldiers are freezing, the death toll increasing
They’re dying in their holes
There’s no surrender there’s no retreat, the Wehrmacht is drawing near
There’s no reinforcements they’re fighting all alone
Sent from the skies ended up in Bastogne
As easy, as hard as they get
Nazi command request and demand
Offer surrender – declined
Nuts! The generals word echo clear
Nuts! The Nazi’s shall hear
Thunder is sounding, artillery pounding
Wrath of the Nazi’s cast on Bastogne
Facing their forces alone
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]]>The post 8th Of November appeared first on World War Media.
]]>This song, which begins with a spoken introduction by Kris Kristofferson, tells the tale of Niles Harris, a soldier in the 173rd Airborne Brigade of the United States Army during Operation Hump in South Vietnam on November 8, 1965.
The intro mentions that Harris was “the guy that gave Big Kenny his top hat”, and that he was among the wounded who were saved by Army medic Lawrence Joel, the first living African American to receive the Medal of Honor since the Spanish–American War of 1898. (source wikipedia)
8th of November
By Big & Rich
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
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 that fallen as he orders a tall one
And swallows it down with tears
Saw the eagle fly through a clear blue sky
1965…
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
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
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]]>The post Freedoms Never Free appeared first on World War Media.
]]>William “Bill” Dean served with the 551 Parachute Infantry Battalion in WWII. The 551st, also knwow as the GOYA’s (Great Outststanding Young Americans, or as the veterans would say ‘Get Off Your Asses).
This independent Battalion, attached to the 82nd Airborne Division and commanded by Lt Col Wood Joerg launched their attack to liberate the Belgian town of Rochelinval on 7 January 1945 during the Battle of the Bulge. It would be their last battle, ever, with Lt Col Joerg being the highest ranked casualty .
The 551 PIB was activated in November 1942 with 800 men and was deactivated after one week of combat in January 1945 when only 110 surviving men were absorbed into the 82 ABD.
Lt Durkee, CO of Company A/551 PIB ordered one of the two bayonet charges that were performed during the Battle of the Bulge.
During his time with the 551st, Dean made a promise to his Lord that if he made it through WWII he would live the remainder of his life for him…he made good on that promise. Bill’s son, also a pastor, wrote and sang this song. He thought of the lyrics while walking his father’s steps a few years ago.
Freedoms Never Free
By Philips, Craig and Dean
Standing on a hillside
Where the river meets the sea
White crosses without number
Line the fields of peace
And each one a silent witness
Staring back at me
Every cross a story
Of another place in time
Where young men thought it worthy
To give their life for mine
And for the sake of honor
Left their dreams behind
And for the price they paid
I’m forever in their debt
Their memory will not die
‘Cause I will not forget
I will stand and hold my head up high
I will dedicate my life
To the glory of the ones who had to die
I will live, live what I believe
If for no one else but me
To remember
Freedom’s never free
It was on another hillside
Outside the city gates
The battle lines were drawn
As soldiers took their place
The Father watched in silence
As a cross was raised
With freedom drawing closer
He took His final breath
He drank our cup of guilt
And took the sting from death
Heaven’s Finest Soldier
clothed in human flesh
And for the price He paid
I’m forever in His debt
The cross will never die
‘Cause I will not forget
I will stand and hold my head up high
I will dedicate my life
To the glory of the One who had to die
I will live, live what I believe
If for no one else but me
To remember that
Freedom’s Never Free
I will walk free
I will stay free
I will live free
I will die free!
The post Freedoms Never Free appeared first on World War Media.
]]>The post Radio Chatter: WWII Lancaster Bomber Engaged by German Aircraft during an Attack Mission over Germany appeared first on World War Media.
]]>This radio chatter clip is from a Lancaster Bomber flying a mission over Germany during World War Two.
The bomber is attacked by a German fighter. First, the crew seems to panic as the fighter engages them, then the captain shouts “Okay, don’t shout all at once!” Eventually one of the gunners brings down the Axis fighter.
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]]>The post Complete CBS Broadcast D-Day- June 6 1944 appeared first on World War Media.
]]>It was the largest, most ambitious, and most successful military operation ever attempted — and CBS radio was there to cover it.
[read more=”Click here to Read More” less=”Read Less”]CBS D-Day Coverage
June 6, 1944
2:00-3:42 AM
Irwin Darlington with German reports, Robert Trout with German reports, Robert Trout tours the Columbia newsroom (beginning of continuous programming), Maj. George Fielding Elliott, Jesse Zousmer, Ned Calmer fills in briefly, BBC feed of Communique #1 is read from London (first Allied news of the invasion), George Fielding Elliot, Edward R. Murrow in London reads Eisenhower’s Order of the Day (upcut as transmitted), George Fielding Elliot comments, Herbert Clark reports from the invasion fleet off the coast of England
3:42-4:45 AM
Robert Trout recaps news, General Eisenhower from SHAEF headquarters, Robert Trout, station ID, Wright Bryan reports from London, an eyewitness account of the first parachute drop, Robert Trout and George Fielding Elliot, commentary by Quentin Reynolds, John W. Vandercook reports from London, Quentin Reynolds, James Willard from SHAEF headquarters in London describes the invasion fleet from the air
4:45-5:52 AM
Robert Trout recaps events of the day, analysis by George Fielding Elliot, Richard C. Hottelet from London describes the invasion from a plane over the beaches, David Anderson reporting from London that “Hitler has been caught with his pants down,” description of the air invasion, Arthur Mann reports from London, system cue and station ID, Paul White and Edward R. Murrow (in London) discuss CBS D-Day coverage, Quentin Reynolds describes Eisenhower’s speech to occupied Europe, Bill Henry reports from Washington, Joe McCaffrey reports from the Pentagon, Robert Trout and Major George Fielding Elliot
5:52-6:52 AM
Robert Trout recap, Charles Shaw reports from BBC in London with man-in-the-street reaction to the invasion, Robert Trout recap, system cue, station I D, Ned Calmer, Robert Trout summarizes Churchill’s address to Commons, Ned Calmer, Don Pryor in Washington introduces French Colonel Morrison who describes the area of the invasion landings
6:52-8:00 AM
Analysis by Major George Fielding Elliot, Robert Trout update, Joe McCaffery reports from the Pentagon, Joe King reads Richard C. Hottelet’s earlier report, Major George Fielding Elliot, Robert Trout promotes upcoming events, system cue and station ID, analysis by Ned Calmer, analysis by Quentin Reynolds, system cue and station ID, Alan Jackson news, Richard C. Hottelet from London
8:00-9:00 AM
Alan Jackson news, Stanley Richardson eyewitness account of the invasion fleet, Alan Jackson reviews overnight D-Day coverage, Merrill Mueller reports from SHAEF HQ on Eisenhower’s last hours before the invasion, analysis by Quentin Reynolds, Robert Trout recap, Major George Fielding Elliot comments
9:00-10:00 AM
Alan Jackson and Robert Trout news and updates, Charles Shaw in London plays a recording that Charles Collingwood made aboard an LST in the invasion fleet including interviews with the soldiers, Charles Shaw (from London) and Paul White discuss D-Day coverage, Joe McCaffrey in Washington, Bill Henry in Washington, Major George Fielding Elliot, analysis by Quentin Reynolds, analysis by Ned Calmer, Alan Jackson updates, Robert Trout announces that CBS will resume normal programming
10:00-11:00 AM
“Valiant Lady,” “Light of the World,” “The Open Door,” “Bachelor’s Children”
11:00 AM-12:00 PM
“Amanda of Honeymoon Hill ,” “Second Husband,” “CBS News Summary,” “Aunt Jenny’s True Life Stories”
12:00-1:00 PM
“Kate Smith Speaks,” “Big Sister,” “The Romance of Helen Trent,” CBS D-Day Coverage: Edward R. Murrow reports from London, Douglas Edwards recaps CBS coverage and reports a summary of the news, Quincy Howe analysis
1:00-2:00 PM
John Daly reviews the day’s news, “Crisco Radio Newspaper” with Alan Jackson and Bernadine Flynn, recorded military music, Albert Leach news from Washington D.C.
2:00-3:00 PM
Recorded music, Quincy Howe news, William Shirer analysis, recorded music, news and reports by Merrill Mueller, recorded music
3:00-4:00 PM
King George VI speaks from London via the BBC, Alan Jackson news, Merrill Mueller reporting from SHAEF headquarters in London, Bill Henry in Washington interviews Congressmen Moss, McCormick, Rogers, Voorhees, Mundt, Herbert, and Gore. John Daly interviews a resident of Caen. BBC reporter Howard Marshall reports from London with an eyewitness account of the beachhead
4:00-4:49 PM
Recorded music, report from London, Joseph C. Harsch news, Bill Costello news, recorded music
5:00-6:00 PM
News with John Daly, Quincy Howe, William Shirer analysis, Archie Bleyer & his Orchestra, news reports (waiting for communique #2)
6:00-7:00 PM
News with Quincy Howe, Edwin C. Hill with “The Human Side of the News” (communique #2 arrives), “Jeri Sullivan’s Dream House,” “The World Today” with Douglas Edwards includes reports from Edward R. Murrow, Farnsworth Powell, and Bill Henry, “The Meaning of the News”
7:00-8:00 PM
John Daly news, commentary by Quentin Reynolds, analysis by Major George Fielding Elliot, “The Passing Parade,” “The American Melody Hour,” interrupted by bulletin from the BBC’s Kent Stevenson, Ward Smith from London, Chester Wilmut’s report is read
8:00-9:00 PM
“Columbia Presents Corwin: An American Trilogy-Carl Sandberg, Part 1 (#14)”, news with John Daly, commentary by Quentin Reynolds analysis by Major George Fielding Elliot, Charles Shaw reporting from London, John Pryor from Washington, Bill Henry with “Johns Manville News”
9:00-10:00 PM
“Burns & Allen,” “The Doctor Fights” (first show)
10:00-11:00 PM
Speech and prayer by President Roosevelt, Edward R. Murrow from London, Robert Trout, Quentin Reynolds discusses General Montgomery, William L. Shirer discusses German propaganda and the German leaders, Major George Fielding Elliot discusses German defenses, U.S. Navy Band Concert
11:00 PM-12:00 AM
News and analysis with Irwin Darlington, Ned Calmer, Quincy Howe, “Words and Music by Joan Brooks,” Robert Trout news, George Hicks from London[/read]
The post Complete CBS Broadcast D-Day- June 6 1944 appeared first on World War Media.
]]>The post US Congress declares war on Germany- 1941 appeared first on World War Media.
]]>On December 11, 1941, the United States Congress declared war upon Germany, hours after Germany declared war on the United States after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The vote was 88–0 in the Senate and 393–0 in the House.
The post US Congress declares war on Germany- 1941 appeared first on World War Media.
]]>The post Actor Gary Sinise and the Lt Dan Band appeared first on World War Media.
]]>Band History
In 1997, Gary Sinise and his pal and fellow Steppenwolf Theatre co founder Terry Kinney decided to do a production of Tennessee Williams A Streetcar Named Desire at Steppenwolf in Chicago. Sinise would play Stanley Kowalski and Kinney would direct. Kinney hired Chicago composer Kimo Williams to write the music and it was during the technical rehearsals for the play that Gary and Kimo began to discuss their love for music. Learning of Gary’s talents on the bass, Kimo invited him to his home for a jam session. Over the next few years, whenever possible, the two would play together with other Chicago area musicians and in 2003, as Gary began what has turned out to be an extraordinary commitment to the USO, it became clear that those early jam sessions had laid the foundation for what would become The Lieutenant Dan Band.
In 2003, following one of his many trips overseas to visit those serving our country that year, Gary asked the USO if they would allow him to take a band with him on a tour. He wanted to entertain in the spirit of the Bob Hope tours in years past. As he had already gone on several handshake tours, the USO agreed. The band was pulled together, began rehearsing, and in February of 2004, Gary Sinise and The Lieutenant Dan Band hit the road on their first overseas USO tour to Korea, Singapore and Diego Garcia. From those early sessions at Kimo’s house, a few gigs for the troops in the Chicago area in 2003, and that first overseas tour, Gary and the band have played an average of 30-40 shows per year with a good 95% of those shows for USO, military charities, resiliency events or benefits. Over 300 shows since its founding.
After forming his own military charity, Gary Sinise Foundation, the band was folded into GSF as a program of the foundation and continues its primary mission of support for military and veterans through Honor, Gratitude, Rock and Roll.
The Name
“Lieutenant Dan” is the character Gary portrayed in the 1994 film Forrest Gump, a role for which he earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. As Gary began visiting troops around the world, people (even little kids) who didn’t know him as Gary Sinise, the actor, would recognize him as “Lt.Dan”. Those in the miliary also seem to identify strongly with the character. And so the name for his group was an easy choice:
Gary Sinise and The Lt. Dan Band!
The Music
The band covers everything from classics by Stevie Wonder, Journey, Bruce Springsteen, and The Police to contemporary songs by Bruno Mars, The Band Perry, Sara Bareilles, Dave Matthews Band, Beyoncé, the Zac Brown Band and much much more. Pop, Rock, Blues, Motown, Soul, Country, even tunes from the 40’s big band era. There’s something for everyone and each show highlights the musical diversity of the band, as well as the passion and energy each member brings to the stage. Whether performing for troops overseas or at a local club, the goal is to have fun and rock the house!
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]]>The post Real Time Radio Broadcast Announcing D-DAY To French Resistance appeared first on World War Media.
]]>Shortly before the D-DAY landings of 6 June 1944 in Normandy, Radio Londres, a radio broadcast from 1940 to 1944 from the BBC in London to Nazi occupied France, broadcast the first stanza of Paul Velaine’s’s poem “Chanson d’autome” to let the resistance know that the invasion would soon begin .
- Les sanglots longs
- Des violons
- De l’automne
- Blessent mon cœur
- D’une langueur
- Monotone.
In preparation for Operation Overlord, the BBC had signaled to the French Resistance that the opening lines of the 1866 Verlaine poem “Chanson d’Automne” were to indicate the start of D-Day operations. The first three lines of the poem, “Les sanglots longs / des violons / de l’automne” (“Long sobs of autumn violins”), meant that Operation Overlord was to start within two weeks.
These lines were broadcast on 1 June 1944. The next set of lines, “Blessent mon coeur / d’une langueur / monotone” (“wound my heart with a monotonous languor”), meant that it would start within 48 hours and that the resistance should begin sabotage operations especially on the French railroad system; these lines were broadcast on 5 June at 23:15, the call to action.
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]]>The post Vietnam USMC Veteran, Actor and Military Advisor Dale Dye Radio Interview appeared first on World War Media.
]]>In this interview from the Ross Owen Show on Black Sky Radio, Vietnam War USMC Veteran, Actor and Military Advisor Cpt. Dale Dye talks about how he got involved in the popular HBO Series Band Of Brothers and explains his boot camp training methods.
Hear the whole interview: CPT DALE DYE RADIO INTERVIEW
Dale Dye was born Oct. 8, 1944, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. He graduated as a cadet officer from Missouri Military Academy, but there was no money for college, so he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in January 1964. He served in Vietnam in 1965 and 1967 through 1970, surviving 31 major combat operations. He emerged from Southeast Asia with numerous decorations, including a Bronze Star for valor and three Purple Heart medals for wounds suffered in combat. He spent 13 years as an enlisted Marine, rising to the rank of master sergeant. He was chosen to attend officer candidate school and was appointed a warrant officer in 1976. He later converted his commission and was a captain when he was sent to Beirut with the multinational peacekeeping force in 1982-83. He served in a variety of assignments around the world and along the way managed to graduate with a BA degree in English from the University of Maryland. Dye worked for a year at Soldier of Fortune magazine after his retirement in 1984. He spent time in Central America, reporting and training troops in guerrilla warfare techniques in both El Salvador and Nicaragua before leaving the magazine in 1985 and heading for Hollywood. He is the founder and principal of Warriors, Inc., which provides technical advisory services to the entertainment industry worldwide. Services included performer training, research, planning, staging and on-set advisory for directors and other key production personnel.
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]]>The post A Soldier’s Memoir-PTSD appeared first on World War Media.
]]>Vetted and approved by The US Military Armed Forces Entertainment Program, Joe Bachman & his band have performed hundreds of shows around the country in support of our Active Duty and Veterans. His original ballad, “A Soldier’s Memoir (PTSD Song)” is well over 1 MILLION Views on YouTube and is currently being used in therapy sessions with our returning Vets around the US. As the son of an Army Soldier, Bachman holds the US Military very near and dear to his heart.
Written by: Mitch Rossell & Joe Bachman
Lyrics
I’ve been home about six months now
And I still have my doubts
I’m not sure how I got here
Or how I’m gonna get out
My Mama says I look the same
As I did before I left
But if she could see inside of me
It would scare her to death
I can still taste the powder
From the barrel of my gun
I can hear my Sergeant screaming,
“Run, Soldier, run.”
I can feel the backpack on my shoulders
God, it weighed a ton
I see death in every single thought
They taught me how to put that uniform on
I just can’t get it off
Last Saturday they honored us
In a small parade downtown
When they shot off those fireworks
I nearly hit the ground
While they smiled and cheered for us
All I could do was stare
Cuz part of me is here at home
And part of me’s back there
I can still taste the powder
From the barrel of my gun
I can hear my Sergeant screaming,
“Run, Soldier, run.”
I can feel the backpack on my shoulders
God, it weighed a ton
I see death in every single thought
They taught me how to put that uniform on
I just can’t get it off
Yeah there’s no end in sight
Cuz even though I’m home now
I’m still fighting for my life
I can still taste the powder
From the barrel of my gun
I can hear my Sergeant screaming,
“Run, Soldier, run.”
I can feel the backpack on my shoulders
God, it weighed a ton
I see death in every single thought
They taught me how to put that uniform on
I just can’t get it off
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]]>The post Requiem for a Soldier appeared first on World War Media.
]]>Requiem for a Soldier performed live by Katherine Jenkins
Music by Michael Kamen
Lyrics by Frank Musker
You never lived to see
What you gave to me
One shining dream of hope and love
Life and liberty
With a host of brave unknown soldiers
For your company, you will live forever
Here in our memory
In fields of sacrifice
Heroes paid the price
Young men who died for old men’s wars
Gone to paradise
We are all one great band of brothers
And one day you’ll see we can live together
When all the world is free
I wish you’d lived to see
All you gave to me
Your shining dream of hope and love
Life and liberty
We are all one great band of brothers
And one day you’ll see – we can live together
When all the world is free
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]]>The post Blood Upon the Risers appeared first on World War Media.
]]>Blood Upon the Risers” is an American paratrooper song from World War II. It is associated with all airborne units, including the 82nd Airborne Division, the 101st Airborne Division, the 173rd Airborne Brigade and 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) of the 25th Infantry Division, and the 120th CTS (United States) as well as British airborne units, also being known as “Mancha Roja” (Spanish for “Red Stain”) in many airborne units from multiple Latin American countries. In Spain it is called “Sangre en las cuerdas” (Blood upon the risers in english).
The song is and was sung by troopers training to jump qualify as an act of comic camaraderie – by singing a somber sounding but comic song depicting their worst possible training outcome, members of the unit were able to not only hide their own fears, but use the fact that every one was equally working to hide theirs as a moment of bonding and genuine help in holding their courage, the song ending with the group assuring itself that if this did happen at least “You ain’t gonna jump no more.”
[read more=”Click here to Read More” less=”Read Less”]
Lyrics
He was just a rookie trooper and he surely shook with fright,
He checked all his equipment and made sure his pack was tight;
He had to sit and listen to those awful engines roar,
“You ain’t gonna jump no more!”
(CHORUS)
Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,
Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,
Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,
He ain’t gonna jump no more!
“Is everybody happy?” cried the Sergeant looking up,
Our Hero feebly answered “Yes,” and then they stood him up;
He jumped into the icy blast, his static line unhooked,
And he ain’t gonna jump no more.
CHORUS
He counted long, he counted loud, he waited for the shock,
He felt the wind, he felt the cold, he felt the awful drop,
The silk from his reserves spilled out, and wrapped around his legs,
And he ain’t gonna jump no more.
CHORUS
The risers swung around his neck, connectors cracked his dome,
Suspension lines were tied in knots around his skinny bones;
The canopy became his shroud; he hurtled to the ground.
And he ain’t gonna jump no more.
CHORUS
The days he’d lived and loved and laughed kept running through his mind,
He thought about the girl back home, the one he’d left behind;
He thought about the medic corps, and wondered what they’d find,
And he ain’t gonna jump no more.
CHORUS
The ambulance was on the spot, the jeeps were running wild,
The medics jumped and screamed with glee, they rolled their sleeves and smiled,
For it had been a week or more since last a ‘Chute had failed,
And he ain’t gonna jump no more.
CHORUS
He hit the ground, the sound was “SPLAT”, his blood went spurting high;
His comrades, they were heard to say “A hell of a way to die!”
He lay there, rolling ’round in the welter of his gore,
And he ain’t gonna jump no more.
CHORUS
There was blood upon the risers, there were brains upon the chute,
Intestines were a-dangling from his paratroopers suit,
He was a mess, they picked him up, and poured him from his boots,
And he ain’t gonna jump no more.
CHORUS[/read]
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]]>The post The High Price for Freedom appeared first on World War Media.
]]>The Military and Music go hand in hand, Music has been a part of Military life from the very beginning of organized military armies. In past history music in the military was played at the beginning of battles to warn off the enemy, to give their troops courage, the celebration of battles won, and to bury the soldiers lost after battles fought. Music is played for the raising and lowering of the colors, and is much a part of everyday military life today as it was in past civilizations. – Mark Chernek
By Reg Jans
‘The High Price for Freedom’ was written by Mark Chernek for his friend James Weatherly who made a documentary about his cousin Harold B McCarn, now interred at the US Military Cemetery in Henri-Chapelle, Belgium. PFC Harold McCarn was killed after crossing the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen serving with the 9th Armored Division.
Learn more about PFC Harold McCarn
The song is a reflection of what the American soldiers had to endure before, during and after the war and was written for all WWII combatants. The first verse is about the call to service while the second part brings you to the Normandy invasion. Then the lyrics lead you from the Battle of the Bulge to Remagen, ending with a part about the war graves in Europe.
The High Price for Freedom
They came from small towns, in rule America; they came from big cities across the land,
They joined to fight for, liberty, and freedoms they did not have.
They were young, and they were bold, they carried their pride in their hearts and souls.
For they knew some won’t be coming back, the sacrifice for freedom
Freedom, Freedom, Let Freedom ring across the land
Freedom, Freedom, the greatest generation we ever had.
From the ships from the sea, they hit the shores, traveling across the land
From the skies they fell so, heroically, with a rifle in their hands.
From the mountains they climbed, through the forests they run, into the valleys below,
Through the cities they fought for, liberty, and freedoms we now all know.
Freedom, Freedom, Let Freedom ring across the land
Freedom, Freedom, the greatest generation we ever had.
And in their darkest hours they did fight, the bombs where bursting through the night.
They stood their ground for, they dug in, against all odds but, they did win…………….
For Freedom, Freedom, Let Freedom ring across the land
Freedom, Freedom, the greatest generation we ever had.
By the rivers they crossed, through the cold waters of the Rhine, they pushed forward into Remagen,
And in that town, they fought for the bridge, crossing into Freedom.
The autobahn lay not, far away, the objective within their reach,
The highway to hell, one soldier yells out, the last words he’ll ever speak.
Freedom, Freedom, Let Freedom ring across the land
Freedom, Freedom, the greatest generation we ever had.
Now their bodies lie, in graves overseas, forever interned for all to see,
They travel far and wide, across the globe, to pay their respects to thee.
The road to freedom is never an easy path, it’s secured by blood spilled on the ground.
I for one shall never forget, the High Price for Freedom!!!!!!
Freedom, Freedom, Let Freedom ring across the land
Freedom, Freedom, the greatest generation we ever had.
www.music4vets.nl
Music4 Vets Nederland is a music initiative for Dutch Veterans and their families. The concept of Music4 Vets is the use of music as a form of therapeutic release for Dutch Veterans, spouses and their families. The phrase “music heals” implies that soldiers returning from different tours of duty throughout their enlistment, carry with them, battle field memories. We use music to soften the effects of these memories and other combat related injuries. To aid in the readjustment back into society, after returning from tours of duty in hostile environments while serving on active duty. We also encourage active duty soldiers along with their families to participate in the program as well.- Mark Chernek
The post The High Price for Freedom appeared first on World War Media.
]]>