Operation Song, Dave Bray USA & Legion Logistics
Our guests:
- David Kent – Nashville Songwriter
- Dave Bray USA – Rock ‘n Roll Patriot, Songwriter and Performer
- Nick Wilson, Chief Revenue Officer, Legion Logistics
Welcome Home + Business Certification - March 5, 2023
“Welcome Home from Vietnam” with Nashville songwriter Kent
Final Day of the Vietnam War – March 29, 1973
The Operation Song Alumni Group has been meeting for their spring ’23 songwriting sessions and the fruit of their most recent session (February 3, 2023) is a song titled “Welcome Home From Vietnam”. This song was a group write, along with the very accomplished Nashville songwriter, David Kent. David has been writing in Nashville for more than 25 years and for Operation Song for more than eight years. He has written well over 100 songs for veterans from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghan wars and Gold Star children and surviving spouses.
The theme for “Welcome Home from Vietnam” was a suggestion from one of the alumni members (an Iraqi War Vet) to honor our Vietnam Veterans for the upcoming March 29th commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the official ending of that war.
DAVID KENT
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David: I can tell you this about my time with Operation Song, which I believe has been about seven or eight years at this point. It has been the most rewarding songwriting I have done in my life, because we are dealing with real stories and real lives. As a matter of fact, the most successful songs I have written outside of Operation Song… In other words for the country music market, have been based on real life stories that happened to me or people I know, so when every song that you write, as in the Operation Song program, is based on a real life story, there is always meat on the bone, and substance to work with. I cannot tell you how many songs I have written since joining the program, my guess is somewhere between 50 and 100. There have been extremely sad songs, some very scary, some hilariously comical, and some funny and “off- color”. Although more than 50% of the songs I have written, you could call country, in style, I have also done rock numbers, blues numbers, bossa nova, and one big band Andrew Sisters style song which we produced with a full horn section and three female singers. Veterans Radio: Thank you David for your service to our veteran community. |
Veterans Radio: What can you tell us about your professional songwriting career and your involvement with Operation Song?
Lyrics and MP3 Links
Welcome Home from Vietnam – Lyrics
INTRO
The politicians lied, and sixty-thousand died
Made us question why we ever joined the fight
But we took it out on you, and now it’s time to make things right…
V1:
On the TV, in the papers, you were treated so unfair
You got blamed for Vietnam instead of the ones who sent you there
Some folks called you baby killers, called you monsters and worse
In the land where you were born, you were spit upon and cursed
You were filled with painful memories from the things you had to see,
Losing limbs, and losing best friends, losing half your sanity
And what made it even worse was how it ended
How you were treated by the country you defended…
So here’s a song…. just for you….
And even though it’s 50 years overdue…
CH:
Welcome home …from Vietnam…we’re so thankful for the sacrifice you made
Welcome back… where you belong….you know there shoulda been a ticker tape parade
Every soldier, sailor, airman, and marine who served
You’re all heroes now so come and get what you deserve…
We salute you… you’re with your own
So, welcome home… from Vietnam… yeah, welcome home !!
V2:
You grabbed your things and left the transport, hit your knees and kissed the ground
With no idea of what was waiting for you back in your home town
They said, ”ditch that uniform, boy, if you know what’s good for you
The girls aren’t linin’ up to kiss you like the end of WWII”
It was shameful, it was ugly, it was rude
Ain’t it time for some respect and and a little gratitude…
CH:
Bridge:
And we pray that those who left us… and flew up to meet “Their King”
Reached the golden shores of Heaven, and could hear those angels singin’…
CH:
Welcome home …from Vietnam
Welcome back… where you belong
We salute you… you’re with your own
So, welcome home… from Vietnam… yeah, welcome home
Welcome home… Brothers and sisters, welcome home
CREDITS
Written in Collaboration with Operation Song Writer David Kent and the Operation Song Alumni
Operation Song Has Produced Over 1,000 Songs to Date
There has never been, nor will there ever be, a charge to any veteran or family member for our services. It is our honor to serve those who have served in the United States Armed Forces.
For More Information: www.OperationSong.org
Legion Logistics – A CERTIFIED Veteran-Owned Business
Nick Wilson, Chief Revenue Officer, for Legion Logistics talks with host Jim Fausone about the company, its veteran owner and why NVBDC certification as a veteran owned business was so important to Legion and the power of NVBDC networking.
From Legion Logistics website:
Legion Logistics is a third-party logistics provider (3PL) based in Newport, Kentucky.
We specialize in FTL freight – particularly refrigerated and frozen food, over-dimensional freight, multi-pick and multi-drop shipments and fresh produce.
Dave Bray USA – The Rock ‘n Roll Patriot
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