BARRY SADLER

Most everyone is familiar with Barry Sadler or at least his song "The Ballad of the Green Berets". He also wrote another song, "The A-team".

Before joining the Army and becoming a Special Forces medic, Barry had joined the Air Force as a 17 year old high school drop-out. After an honorable discharge from the Air Force in 1961, Sadler joined the Army.

Sadler volunteered for the Airborne and Special Forces. He served in Viet Nam for 5 months. He was wounded by a punji- stick booby-trap while on a combat patrol in the Central Highlands. An infection resulting from the feces-tainted wound led to his evacuation to Clark AFB Hospital in PI and eventual return to Ft Bragg. He was discharged from the Army in May 1967.

Barry had various roles as an actor in a number of minor guest appearances on T.V. shows.

In Nashville, TN, Sadler wrote the first of his 22 books in the "Casca" series. The main character was Casca Rufio Longinius, the Roman soldier who lanced Jesus during the crucifixion. Forever condemned to remain a soldier for eternity, Casca fights in every war, forever.

In 1978, Sadler killed Lee Emerson Bellamy, a country music song writer who had been stalking and threatening Sadler and his girlfriend. One shot between the eyes. Sadler believed Lee to be armed, later disproved. Sadler was convicted of man slaughter and served 28 days in the county workhouse.

Sadler moved to Guatemala where he continued to write. Involved himself in various arms deals, military advisory work and voluntary medical aid in the rural countryside.

In Sept 1988, Sadler was shot in the head while in a cab in Guatemala City. Self inflicted while goofing around with a loaded handgun while intoxicated or an attempted robbery or assassination. The circumstances are conflicted, the results are the same. He was flown to the US by friends in a private jet reportedly paid for by his friend LTC Robert K Brown of "Soldier of Fortune" fame.

Sadler was in a coma for six weeks. The injury resulted in him being a quadriplegic with severe brain damage. He died of cardiac arrest on Nov 5, 1989 just prior to his 49th birthday.

A sad ending.

I didn't know the "rest of the story" as Paul Harvey used to say. Thanks for sharing that.

I think I have read most of the "Casca" series.

I did not know the rest. I bought his album when I was a kid. Had some good tunes on it.

I remember when the movie came out . My dad was USAF and was stationed at Lowry AFB in Denver . A bunch of us Boy Scouts went to see it . At the time the war wasn't being dragged through the mud . Whenever I watch the Green Berets , it's one of those I can see over and over , I remember how I felt when I was a kid watching it , that Americas military could do anything .

He had a composition "Garet Trooper" about in-uniform phonies and poseurs.

That song inspired me to join the army when I was a kid. Sad to hear what a mess Sadler was in the end. "Heroes" are flawed people just like everyone else.

I still have a copy of that album somewhere.

Very interesting story. I remember when "The Ballad of the Green Berets" first came out. I loved it. Now, hearing the rest of the story, it's kind of a sad ending for a man who influenced so many for good.
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ri6ZLWIQjVs"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ri6ZLWIQjVs[/ame]

I believe I still have the record.

I didn't know that Sadler shot that man in TN, but it seems warranted. (What kind of idiot stalks a man like Sadler?!) The light sentence for manslaughter probably says volumes. But the fact that the judge COULD have sentenced him to over a year would disqualify him from buying firearms. As a convicted felon, he couldn't even own a gun. Maybe a reason why he left the USA.

I have always understood that his shooting was by an enemy. Didn't know that he lingered so long. I've seen reports that the wound was inflicted by a rifle, from a distance.

For a HS drop-out, he could write! Excellent vocabulary and English usage. And he knew history well, too. I greatly enjoyed those Casca books. My favorite was probably the one where Casca was on the Cortes expedition to conquer Mexico.

A good friend knew him years ago and gave me this. I think I’d better read it.
Regards,
turnerriver

Here’s my Green Beret Buddy.
Hand Salute, Don!

Went to Army basic in August, 1962 with Barry (Ft. Ord, Calif.); then to advanced infantry with him, then on the jump school at F. Benning with him. After jump school I went to the 101st Airborne (ft. Campbell) and Barry went to Ft. Bragg for Special Forces.
I was pulled out of my new unit (501st) and told that the division needed medics, so I was sent to Ft. Sam Houston (San Antonio) for medical training and Barry arrived at the same time from Bragg for the same training. The post looked to us more like a college campus than the usual military installations we had been used to, and Barry said "What kind of military post is this? nobody even has a gun!" So we went downtown San Antonio and each bought a handgun. I bought an old Colt SAA, and Barry bought a Mauser Broom-handle. He had to buy my gun for me, as I was only 20 years old (1963). Sad that his life ended so soon.

Thanks, Chief, for the info...and others for helping fill in this intriguing story. I knew parts of it, but it is fascinating to learn more. MG34/bar, amazing that you personally knew the man. We sure have a diverse and well traveled and experienced group here.

Thanks to all for the input.

Best Regards, Les

Very sad ending....

Another sad ending was Elliot Ness of the Untouchables fame. The latter part of his life was a hodge podge of failed jobs, failed elections, failed citizenship, failed morals and he spent most of his time wheedling drinks for telling 'war' stories.

However the man who played him on TV, Robert Stack was a world class skeet shooter and is in the American Skeet Shooting Hall of Fame. I don't think he ever shot skeet with a 'chopper' though.

Fascinating and sad story, most of which I had never heard or read.

Very interesting story about Sgt. Barry Sadler. I never heard what or where he wound up.Many Thanks.

Thanks for that bit of history, learned something I didn't know. I've always liked Barry Sadler's music and still have his album.

I have to admit.....

It's been over 50 years now and I still like the song. Besides being a 'good song', it really says something about the spirit of people that go in harm's way.