The Battle of Viet Nam

Annotation

Double-sided Vietnam War single (Sims Records # 288), released by Hal Willis - a Canadian country singer based in Nashville, Tennessee. Co-written by Hal and Ginger Willis. The a-side track "Doggin' in the US Mail" made a small reference to the war, praising the work of the US mail service in carrying "an envelope from Vietnam...and a cheque from Uncle Sam". The b-side song "The Battle of Viet Nam" took a strong patriotic, pro-government line, arguing that the US needed to "solve this evil thing in Vietnam" and protect freedom. The single received a spotlight review in Billboard on 18 June 1966: "up tempo novelty from the pens of the Willises should quickly establish the talented singer in the country chart".1 It charted in the Hot Country Singles, peaking at # 45 after four weeks, on 3 September 1966.2Sources1Billboard, 18 June 1966↩2Billboard, 3 September 1966↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: In Vietnam our soldier boys are fighting for their life / What is the reason for all this bloody strife / When a doctor operates he's got to use the knife / So now is the time to back-up Uncle Sam / And try to solve this evil thing in Vietnam... / We must step in to nip it in the bud / Before our flag of freedom is trampled in the mud

Notes

Sims Records 288, white D. J. copy labels, vocal by Hal Willis, English Music, Inc., BMI. Side 288 B: "The Battle of Viet Nam" (Ginger & Hal Willis), time 2:20; side 288 A: "Doggin' in the U.S Mail" (Ginger & Hal Willis), time 1:55. [From the record sleeve and labels]

About the artist

Canadian-born country singer, born 6 February 1933 in Rouyn, Quebec, Canada ('The Lumberjack'); died 3 October 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee. [Source: Wikipedia]

Themes

Patriotic

In collections

US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]