I ran across this discussion stream by accident about the Green Beret March. It was written by the United States Military Academy bandmaster at the time, W.O.
Ken Whitcomb. General Yarborough desired to have a melody put to the SF prayer and which would be appropriate for ceremonies. He approached the Army band and was put in contact with Whitcomb who had quite a reputation for composing music. The result was published by Music! Music! Music! and played by several bands around the country. It was praised by and accepted by Yarborough. Just a short time later, however, Yarborough heard "The Ballad of the Green Berets" at a gathering at Fort Bragg. He felt it needed some work, so approached Robin Moore, a novelist and a magazine reporter, who had just completed going through SFQC as a civilian. (This was the only way that Yarborough would give permission for the book.) Yarborough asked Moore to finesse the lyrics and Robin is attributed as co-author. The music then was published and became an "overnight" hit. Yarborough embraced the song as the official song for Special Forces and sent Sadler on the road.
The march was relegated to our files.
Roxanne
Roxanne M. Merritt
Director, JFK Special Warfare Museum
910-432-4272/DSN: 239
910-432-4062 (fax)/DSN: 239
merrittr@socom.mil