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WIKIPEDIA "
8th of November" is a song written and recorded by American country music duo
Big & Rich. It was released in May 2006 as the third and final single from their album
Comin' to Your City. The song became the duo's seventh Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, where it peaked at No. 18, in addition to reaching No. 94 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Content The song, which begins with a spoken introduction by Kris Kristofferson, tells the tale of Niles Harris, a soldier in the 173rd Airborne Brigade of the United States Army during
Operation Hump (see below) in South Vietnam on
November 8, 1965. The intro mentions that Harris was "the guy that gave Big Kenny his top hat", and that he was among the wounded who were saved by Army medic
Lawrence Joel, the first living African American to receive the Medal of Honor since the Spanish-American War of 1898.
The song is in a 6/8 time signature, and is in A mixolydian with a primary chord pattern of A–G–D–A.
Critical reception Kevin John Coyne, reviewing the song for Country Universe, gave it a positive rating. He said the song is the best war song since "Travelin' Soldier".Stephen Thomas Erlewine, in his review of the album for Allmusic, called it "awkwardly jingoistic".
Music video The music video was directed by Deaton-Flanigen Productions and premiered in the week of June 12, 2006. It first starts with
Kristofferson saying the intro, and then cuts to the duo performing in front of a large screen, showing the visuals of Harris' life.
Awards The song was nominated for the 2006 CMA Awards song of the year category; its music video was also nominated for video of the year categories for the CMAs, ACM Awards, and the 49th Annual Grammy Awards.
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Operation Hump is memorialized in a song by Big and Rich named 8th of November. The introduction, as read by Kris Kristofferson, is:
On
November 8th 1965, the 173rd Airborne Brigade on "
Operation Hump", war zone "D" in Vietnam, were ambushed by over 1200 VC. Forty-eight American soldiers lost their lives that day. Severely wounded and risking his own life,
Lawrence Joel, a medic, was the first living black man since the Spanish American War to receive the United States Medal of Honor for saving so many lives in the midst of battle that day. Our friend, Niles Harris, retired 25 years United States Army, the guy who gave Big Kenny his top hat, was one of the wounded who lived. This song is his story. Caught in the action of kill or be killed, greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for his brother.