- Wrote military songs, including the famous "Ballad of the Green Berets."
- Served with 7th Special Forces Group as medic in Vietnam
- Sang "Ballad of the Green Berets" on "The Ed Sullivan Show"
- Purple Heart winner
- In the decade before his death, he enjoyed a successful second career as an author, particularly of the "Casca" series, the fantasy adventures of a Roman centurion who witnessed the crucifixion of Jesus, and who, for mocking Him, was condemned to live through eternity as a mercenary soldier.
- He named his son Thor, after the Scandinavian god of thunder and war.
- He had a large collection of Nazi war relics: guns, uniforms, banners, etc.
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