Big & Rich's "8th of November" Quiz

Answer: South Dakota, nineteen

The Vietnam War is, by most Americans, considered a "War That Should Never Have Been". Beginning in the 1950s, US troops were being sent over to Vietnam to assist Southern Vietnam in fending off the Viet Cong from the North. The citizens of the United States were told that our troops were over there fighting along with Southern Vietnam for democracy.

In the ensuing years during the Vietnam War countless lives were lost on both sides of this devastating war.

Answer: Was dropped, napalm

"According to "The Condensed Chemical Dictionary", napalm is the aluminum soap of a mixture of oleic, naphthenic and coconut fatty acids. It is a granular powder which, when mixed with gasoline, forms a sticky gel that is stable from -40 to 100 deg C."

Quote can be found at: http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/aug98/897682073.Ch.r.html

Answer: Twenty-nine

"On November 8, 1965, the 173rd Airborne Brigade on "Operation Hump", war zone "D" in Viet Nam; were ambushed by over 1200 VC. 48 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."

The introduction for the "8th of November" music video was narrated by Kris Kristofferson.

The direct quote can be found in the lyrics to the song "8th of November"

While Big and Rich's lyrics give the US death toll for Operation Hump as twenty-nine; the official death toll was forty-eight.

Answer: Crying

"No event in American history is more misunderstood than the Vietnam War. It was misreported then, and it is misremembered now." --Richard M. Nixon, 1985.

Fifty-eight thousand American soliders lost their lives, while 304,000 were wounded. Aside from those dead and wounded, far too many would suffer with nightmares, and mental instability. Many also contracted Agent Orange, due from the chemicals dropped on North Vietnam. However, the effects of Agent Orange would not be known for many, many years after a cease fire ended the Vietnam War.

Answer: Hell all

Casper Platoon was also involved in Operation Hump. Don Bliss and Dick Hathcock were heliport medics within their platoon, during the battle, they were swooping down into the raging battle to retreive the wounded and dead. At one point, their chopper was having difficulty in clearing the trees...due to an over abundance of weight of the men on board. Thankfully, Bliss and Hathcock's chopper made it to safety.

Answer: Fifty-eight

Big Kenny and John Rich, met Niles Harris in 2002, while performing at the Buffalo Bar in Deadwood, South Dakota...the duo were entertaining for "eats and lodging" (they were relatively unknown). Harris was wearing a specially made top hat that night, and Big Kenny noticed it and admired it; so Harris let him use the now famous top hat for the rest of music session...and in the end told Big Kenny that he could keep it.


Direct quote can be found at: http://aquiram.wordpress.com/2006/09/22/69/

Answer: Limps, shrapnel

Most states have a Veteran's Hospital, where war veterans go to government funded hospitals for treatment of ailments that may or may not be caused from wartime.

Answer: Grey

On September 17, 2002, Niles Harris had the opportunity to take Big and Rich around Deadwood...showing them all the old mines, etc...when Big Kenny noticed the 173rd Airborne Brigade emblems on Harris' jeep and jacket. Niles was asked if he minded speaking about Vietnam, and he told Big and Rich that he didn't mind...what he proceeded to tell them, would rattle their nerves and give them a better understanding of war and what our soliders do to serve and protect us.

Answer: The fallen, tall one

In 1987, the city of Philadelphia dedicated a Vietnam Veteran's Memorial at Delaware Avenue and Dock Street.

Answer: Operation Hump

While our servicemen and women protect us every day, it is our duty to honor them in any way that we can.

Big Kenny and John Rich have done just that...they have paid honor to our great servicemen and women...not just from the Vietnam war, but from all wars that have been raged and for those that are still yet to come.