June 15, 2019 via The New York Times — On Jan. 30, 1966, Ed Sullivan went on the air with a typical program. Dinah Shore was there, as were the Four Tops. There were three comedy acts, including one featuring the Italian puppet Topo Gigio. But the most resonant performance of the evening came when Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler, a member of the Army Special Forces, sang “The Ballad of the Green Berets.” Standing ramrod straight, in uniform, before an image of the Green Beret insignia bearing the Latin motto “De oppresso liber” (“To free the oppressed”), Sergeant Sadler painted a portrait of valor and strength. Later that year, the song hit No. 1.