Media Type

Audio

Physical Location

Stacks D031.4A

Copyright Statement

This item is copyrighted

Number of Media

1

Language(s)

English

Format

Record/LP

Time - Hr:Min:Sec

11:24

Digitized in HD?

No

General Note

Bill Ellis, a rifleman with the 1st Air Cavalry Division, represents soldiers at the foxhole level- where dirt and weariness, fighting, and dying are as commonplace as the raw courage and spirit that typify these magnificent young men. For all men, the sights and sounds of combat make vivid impressions; Bill has preserved his in song.

First Cav traces the FIRST TEAM's history, and is one of the first modern songs written about the entire division.

It once was said that combat is ninety per cent boredom and ten per cent terror. Bill captures the gut-grabbing geeling of battle in Firefight. The "snap" of Russian AK-47s and the line "Flip your iron to rock 'n' roll" (M-16 on full automatic) will stir a veteran's memories.

Inherent in the hardships of combat are misery and loneliness- the theme of Grunt, whose lyrics reflect the changing vocabulary of war. "Humped a click" has replaced "marched a mile," the "Log Bird"- the logistics helicopter that brings food and water, and mail to units scattered far from roads- has replaced the old kitchen truck.

Finally, for every man in Vietnam comes a day when it's all over, when that big jet flies him home. All the yearning the soldier feels as he counts the days until he's "back in the world" comes through in the haunting melody Freedom Bird.

Although these songs were written about the Skytrooper of the 1st Air Cavalry, they eloquently tell the story of all the gallant men who have fought in Vietnam... and to them this record is dedicated.