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Posted on 03/17/2026 5:47:17 AM PDT by 11th_VA
Exactly 60 years ago today, on March 11, 1966, a song that was widely embraced at the time was the No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100. While ‘The Ballad of the Green Berets’ by Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler was a huge success, the track would ultimately earn a reputation as one of the most divisive No. 1 songs in U.S. chart history.
Released in January 1966, SSgt. Barry Sadler’s ‘The Ballad of the Green Berets’ quickly caught on with many listeners. After the song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 on February 5, 1966, it reached No. 1 on March 5 and held that position for five weeks. That means that 60 years ago today, on March 11, 1966, the track was dominating the charts.
In addition to reigning supreme over the charts in March 1966, the song would enjoy a staggering amount of sales success for much longer than that. After all, it spent a total of 13 weeks on the charts in total, and History.com reported that ‘The Ballad of the Green Berets’ became “Billboard magazine’s #1 single for all of 1966.“
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Fighting soldiers from the sky
Fearless men who jump and die
Men who mean just what they say
The brave men of the Green Beret
Silver wings upon their chest
These are men, America’s best
One hundred men will test today
But only three win the Green Beret
Trained to live off nature’s land
Trained in combat, hand-to-hand
Men who fight by night and day
Courage take from the Green Berets
Silver wings upon their chest
These are men, America’s best
One hundred men will test today
But only three win the Green Beret
“Became One of the Most Controversial Songs to Top the Charts”
Says who?
The success that it had proves that it wasn’t “controversial”.
Like everything else fitting that description it is thereby “controversial.”
Touting American exceptionalism is always divisive in the pea brain of a liberal
Well the halftime air was sweet perfume
While sargeants played a marching tune...
Good song.
I never knew that
I had the 45 record but don’t remember, what was the B side song? Anyone?
The left loves to use that word to belittle anything they don’t agree with.
One of my local lib news channels uses it frequently.....always to describe something or someone conservative or otherwise right wing.
Good summary, but the photo shows Buck Sergeant, not A1C. Three stripes and a highlighted star.
Colonel, USAF JAGC (Ret)
“Controversial”......means anything the Left doesn’t like.
1966... what a year for great music... The masterpiece..Beach Boys Pet Sounds, The Beatles Revolver, Dylan’s Blonde on Blonde.... f’ing Bad Bunny... an illiterate thugs, that is popular music today.
Loved that song.
Speaking of 1966, it was the best year for garage rock, so many great tunes I am discovering from that era, I had never heard before.
I had not known that he served a hitch in the Air Force from 1958-1961.
He’s from Carlsbad, NM. Near me. Very rough place and people.
Never met anyone from Carlsbad who was fully sane.
Sir, USAF Sgt here, I was in 66-70 and during the time of that photo it was A1C. It changed just before I made Three stripes in 69.
Then he wrote a series of novels about Casca, the eternal mercenary.
I been Phil Spector'd, resurrected.
I been Lou Adler'd, Barry Sadler'd.
Well, I paid all the dues I want to pay.
And I learned the truth from Lenny Bruce,
And all my wealth won't buy me health,
So I smoke a pint of tea a day.
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