Proud American

Annotation

Shortly after the above, Gober signed a recording contract with ABC-Paramount. The back of the record introduced Gober, describing him as a "singing, songwriting GI in Vietnam...serving as advisor to Vietnamese militia forces in the Delta...The songs were written by Lt. Gober and taped in Saigon" - thus, this fitted into the "In Country" category. It also said that having been initially stationed in Germany, Gober requested a transfer to Vietnam, arriving there in 1965. (1) On this record he goes by the title "1st Lieutenant". The contemporary folk song "Proud American" (ABC-Paramount # 45-10810) took a patriotic perspective, supporting the war and the fight for freedom: the "soldier, sailor, airman or marine...keeps America free". He also criticised the demonstrators back home, making a reference to previous wars (presumably World War Two): "now if you carry a placard...remember...someone died to give you that right". In the song "I Need You So", Gober narrated from the perspective of a soldier who missed his sweetheart. It described, in the first person, looking at the sunset in Vietnam, looking out at the sea, wishing that he could fly home to see his sweetheart. He expressed…

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

About the artist

Born 21 December 1936, Monticello, Arkansas, USA. Recorded rockabilly in the late 1950s-early 1960s as Hershel Almond; as an Army officer in Vietnam wrote and recorded war songs including the LP Proud American, performing for President Johnson in Vietnam in 1966 as the 'Singing Soldier'. Later Deputy Secretary and twice acting Secretary of the US Department of Veterans Affairs. Died 15 October 2024 [death location not stated in verified sources]. [Source: Wikipedia; Miller Center; Encyclopedia of Arkansas]

Themes

Patriotic · Military · In Country · Draft · Demonstration

In collections

US Military & Veteran Songs