"The late Merle Haggard knew his way around storytelling. Like so many others have done, and will continue to do.The first time you hear this song, it catches you by the throat in the third verse. You're driving home after a long day, and the sun is dropping golden light on the horizon. Country music has a long and storied history of soldier songs. Tim McGraw sings, from the perspective of a soldier, writing a potential farewell letter.

Along with The Warren Brothers, Tim McGraw co-wrote one of the most powerful modern-era country songs about the military and soldiers with 2007’s “If You’re Reading This.” In this song, a soldier’s last letter is delivered to his family He says his goodbyes to his mother, father and his pregnant wife. They are songs about the ravages of war on families. It has gas pumping through it, and life, and it is passed down from generation to generation. "And I can't call in sick on Mondays/ When the weekend's been too strong. We hear of men finding gallows humor overseas. Plus—high school football. Added 9 years ago by guest, 1 point .

"Then the mother knelt down by her bedside/ And she prayed Lord above hear my plea/ And protect all the sons who are fighting tonight/ and Dear God, keep America free. They are songs about the war itself. They share beer together, he jokes, and they laugh. It's 7:12 p.m. You've got a soggy McDonalds cup sweating sweet tea in your cup holder. Striking us right in the heart, it’s hard to fight off the sadness we feel over a loss described in this track.The story behind this song started on one Memorial Day years ago when the writer heard an interview on the radio of a dad who lost his son in Afghanistan. All we know is he wrote it to his wife. A soldier telling his momma not to scold him for having shaky handwriting on a battlefield is a tragically human moment. He doesn't ever want to get his buddies down, he wants them to raise hell and drink and remember him with love, not with sadness.We can all remember a conversation over a couple dozen beers ending with the same altruistic, tough, sentiment. It's quiet, it's between two people. Song American Soldier; Artist Toby Keith; Licensed to YouTube by UMG (on behalf of DreamWorks Nashville); UNIAO BRASILEIRA DE EDITORAS DE MUSICA - UBEM, LatinAutor - SonyATV, LatinAutor, Muserk Rights Management, AMRA, Abramus Digital, EMI Music Publishing, Rumblefish (Publishing), UMPI, BMI - Broadcast Music Inc., and 21 Music Rights Societies They give up everything to defend their homeland, even if they pay the ultimate price. Many of the songs on this list of country war songs are, understandably, incredibly emotional. (: Added 9 years ago by guest, 3 points .

They are songs of love, and of loss. Listen to Craig Morgan's song above. To commemorate the impact of those soldiers’ dedication on this significant holiday, Sounds Like Nashville created a playlist of the country songs that honor the fallen and the sacrifices they made.One of the greatest gifts that country music gives to its listeners is the ability to heal hearts after tragedy strikes. John Michael Montgomery builds us in the walls of a world that feels gritty but perseverant in the first two verses. "One thing that has always struck me as disappointing in songs about soldiers is that the survivors get forgotten somewhere along the line. "In the years before World War II, the Air Corps wanted to prove its worth. "Our love will never end/ Waitin' for the soldier to come back again. We can guess how long he's been overseas. "This song was actually written and performed by Bruce Robison first. Although the Dixie Chicks politically polarized country music fans in 2003, the rendition of the song is unquestionably impactful.There is a vulnerable brokenness to its performance. Toby Keith channels the strength behind a soldier’s motivation in this patriotic ballad.Everyone remembers exactly where they were when they heard the horrific news on 9/11. It challenged the Navy to an exercise -- and won.The message hit days before President Trump vowed to ban the China-linked TikTok video-sharing app over security concerns.The Army esports team will resume gaming on Twitch after taking a five-week pause.If zeal could be weaponized in wartime, the Confederacy might have had a chance.A UH-1N Huey with 1st Helicopter Squadron was on a training mission when its crew was forced to make an emergency landing.The former officer received kickbacks in a $5 billion health scheme involving compounded medicine prescriptions.One of the children suffered injuries including a fractured skull, a broken arm and a fractured spine.The Air Force's newest combat search-and-rescue helicopter, the HH-60W Jolly Green II, hit another milestone.He was booted from service five months before retirement for a child molestation conviction 10 years before.Japan on Saturday marked the 75th anniversary of its surrender in World War II.Taiwan finalized the purchase of F-16 fighter jets from US aircraft manufacturer Lockheed Martin on Friday, a source...The U.N. Security Council on Friday resoundingly defeated a U.S. resolution to indefinitely extend the U.N. arms embargo on...Lawmakers urged Postmaster General Louis DeJoy on Friday to reverse disruptive changes at the U.S. As Trace Adkins captures in this tearworthy tune, the sound of twenty-one guns can make any heart break over the grieving circumstances of battle.Alright, this song may not sound like the most flag-waving dedication to the lost ones of war. Here we find a brother left to find meaning and reason to his life after his brother makes the ultimate sacrifice.He connects with him by tearing up fields and peeling out in his old truck, blaring the same country station he left it on, highlighting the connective power of country music in the lives of people around the military.