Ballad Of The Fort Hood Three
1969 · Columbia CS 9873 · New York City, New York
- Artist
- Pete Seeger
- Title
- Ballad Of The Fort Hood Three
- Release
- Young Vs. Old
- Year
- 1969
- Label
- Columbia # CS 9873
- Format
- LP · Album
- Language
- English
- Country
- New York City, New York, USA
- Songwriter
- Pete Seeger
- Genre
- Folk · Contemporary Folk
- Primary theme
- Peace, Protest & Anti-War
Annotation
Iconic American contemporary folk singer, Pete Seeger (born 3 May 1919 in Manhattan, New York, USA, died on 27 January 2014, same location) played a key role in the 1950s contemporary folk revival and the 1960s anti-war and Civil Rights movement. He often wrote political songs, protesting against war, segregation, and calling for environmental protection. (1) His body of songs referencing the Vietnam War is significant in both themes and volume [currently 18 identified]: "The Willing Conscript" on the album Broadside Ballads Volume 2 (1963); "Beans in My Ear", "King Henry", and "The Draft Dodger Rag" on the Dangerous Songs!? (1966); "Waist Deep in the Big Muddy" and "Down By the Riverside" on the album Waist Deep in the Big Muddy and Other Love Songs (1967); "Backlash Blues", "Talking Ben Tre", and "The Torn Flag" on the album Pete Seeger Now (1968); "Anti-Vietnam Songs / Waist Deep in the Big Muddy / Arts in a Changing Society / Violence and Protest" featured on the live album Sings and Answers Questions (1968); "Bring Them Home" and "Ballad of the Fort Hood Three" on the album Young vs. Old (1969); "I Feel Like I'm Fixin' to Die Rag" (1970) [promo single-only]; "Last Train to…
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Annotation
Also important on the album Young vs. Old (Columbia Records # CS 9873) was the song "Ballad of the Fort Hood Three", based on the true story of three soldiers who refused to be deployed to Vietnam in 1966. They were Private First Class James Johnson, Private David Samas, and Private Dennis Mora, stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, in the 142nd Signal Company, 2nd Armored Division. Taking the case to the Supreme Court in 1967, claiming that the Vietnam conflict was an illegal war, the Court dismissed the suit (Mora v. McNamara 389 U.S. 934). (3) The three soldiers were imprisoned. The lyrics noted that Mora "cast his vote for Johnson in 1964" (a reference to President Lyndon B. Johnson), but concluded that "this war's illegal, immoral, and unjust". Published in Broadside # 74, September 1966, the lyrics changed slightly for this 1969 album. It said sung to the tune of "Peter Amberly (traditional)". Seeger wrote in Broadside that:"the following verses were written August 20, 1966 right after reading the direct statements of three young soldiers, who showed unusual bravery. The poetry is not as good as it should be; I hope the folk process will improve it. If the choice of melody seems…
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Broadway musical
About the artist
Born 3 May 1919 in Manhattan, New York, USA, died on 27 January 2014, same location
Themes
Anti-War · Hitler · LBJ · Saigon · Credibility Gap