The Green Berets is a 1968 American war film featuring John Wayne, George Takei, David Janssen, Jim Hutton and Aldo Ray, nominally based on the eponymous 1965 book by Robin Moore, though the screenplay has little relation to the book.

Thematically, The Green Berets is strongly anti-communist and pro-Saigon. It was produced in 1968, at the height of American involvement in the Vietnam War, the same year as the Tet offensive against the largest cities in South Vietnam. John Wayne was prompted by the anti-war atmosphere and social discontent in the U.S. to make this film in countering that. He requested and obtained full military co-operation and matériel from President Johnson. To please the Pentagon who were attempting to prosecute Robin Moore for revealing classified information, Wayne bought Moore out for $35,000 and 5 percent of undefined profits of the film.

By Miklós Rózsa

Lyrics

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 Americas best
one hundred men will test today but
only three win the Green Beret
trained to live off natures land
trained in combat hand to hand
men who fight by night and day
courage take from the Green Beret
(Choris)
Silver wings upon their chest
these are men Americas best
one hundred men will test today
but only three win the Green Beret
Back at home a young wife waits
her Green Beret has met his fate
he has died for those oppressed
leaving her this last request
put silver wings on my sons chest
make him one of Americas best
he’ll be a man they’ll test one day
have him win the Green Beret