American Heroes

Annotation

The group formed in Ohio, US, in 1981, led by Wayne Barker Jr., a Vietnam veteran. They released their first Vietnam-related single in 1982, called The Wall (Echo Records # E-104), a reference to the Vietnam memorial in Washington D.C., that listed the names of US military personnel killed in the war. The group often performed at veteran gatherings. The back of the single said that "the group was formed to help the Vietnam veterans, through the support of the Vietnam Veteran of America, Ohio State Council. Funds raised through the sale of records, show, concerts, etc. will be donated to the Vietnam Veterans of America for veteran-related projects".1234 Ten years later they released the song "American Heroes" (Fraternity Records # F-3557), a soaring patriotic tribute to those that fought in Vietnam "for the freedoms of each woman, child, and man". Interestingly, they also praised those back home for being heroes, such as the demonstrators: "I fought for this great land...like the four dead in Ohio, and the others who took a stand". The group concluded by calling for unity to help the US go forward. With regards to praising the role of the Vietnam veterans, this can be seen as part of the 1980s / 90s attempts to overcome the 'Vietnam Syndrome', a trend often seen in post-war songs and films - the perception that domestic controversies over the war led to the US taking a less interventionist position in US foreign affairs. This term also applied to veterans, who may have felt guilt or shame about the war, influenced by the domestic climate they returned to in the US.5Sources1Wall, The (The Vettz)↩2engineersvietnam.com (archived copy)↩3ReverbNation (link no longer available)↩4efolkmusic.org: Wayne barker (link no longer available)↩5The Columbia History of the Vietnam War (David L. Anderson, 2010)↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Kent / Jackson State Songs

The group formed in Ohio, US, in 1981, led by Wayne Barker Jr., a Vietnam veteran. They released their first Vietnam-related single in 1982, called The Wall (Echo Records # E-104), a reference to the Vietnam memorial in Washington D.C., that listed the names of US military personnel killed in the war. The group often performed at veteran gatherings. The back of the single said that "the group was formed to help the Vietnam veterans, through the support of the Vietnam Veteran of America, Ohio State Council. Funds raised through the sale of records, show, concerts, etc. will be donated to the Vietnam Veterans of America for veteran-related projects".1234 Ten years later they released the song "American Heroes" (Fraternity Records # F-3557), a soaring patriotic tribute to those that fought in Vietnam "for the freedoms of each woman, child, and man". Interestingly, they also praised those back home for being heroes, such as the demonstrators: "I fought for this great land...like the four dead in Ohio, and the others who took a stand". The group concluded by calling for unity to help the US go forward. With regards to praising the role of the Vietnam veterans, this can be seen as part of the 1980s / 90s attempts to overcome the 'Vietnam Syndrome', a trend often seen in post-war songs and films - the perception that domestic controversies over the war led to the US taking a less interventionist position in US foreign affairs. This term also applied to veterans, who may have felt guilt or shame about the war, influenced by the domestic climate they returned to in the US.5 Sources1Wall, The (The Vettz)↩2engineersvietnam.com (archived copy)↩3ReverbNation (link no longer available)↩4efolkmusic.org: Wayne barker (link no longer available)↩5The Columbia History of the Vietnam War (David L. Anderson, 2010)↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: As a child of this nation under god for which I stand / I would fight for the freedoms of each woman, child, and man / Yet there's a few that's been forgotten, like...the homeless man / They're the ones that made it home or died for this great land / American heroes, I want to thank you all / American heroes, from grace you'll never fall / Soar like an eagle, in my heart you'll never fall / American heroes, we thank you all / Now as a child of this nation I fought for this great land / Not unlike the many others that never went to Vietnam / Like the four dead in Ohio, and the others who took a stand / And through it all we survived it and you all deserve a hand... / We've all felt the healing, and all felt the loss / So let's stick together / Now as children of this country there's good reasons to be proud / We've faced many battles and made it through somehow / We've all learned to stand together and pushed that single plow / Hey we'll all in this together, let's stand and take our bows /American heroes, we want to thank you all / American heroes, you've risen from the fall / American heroes, we thank you all

Notes

Fraternity Recording Corporation F-3557-A, Side 1, 45 RPM, stereo, light-blue label, (U-26419); "American Heroes" (W. Barker Jr.-C. Arnspiger), time 3:10; © 1990 by Fraternity Records, Cinti, Ohio; Big Ron Pub., B.M.I.; producer Shad O'Shea, executive producer Curt Arnspiger, engineer Dale "Smitty" Smith. [From the record sleeve and labels]

About the artist

Formed 1981, USA. Currently Franklin, Ohio, USA

Themes

Vet · Military · Kent State · Vietnam Syndrome

In collections

Kent / Jackson State Songs · US Military & Veteran Songs