Veterans · 2026
The Legend of Woody One Shot
“The Legend of Woody One Shot” (2026) is an original veterans tribute song written and recorded by John Schembari, a Vietnam War veteran of the U.S. Army 1st Cavalry Division, patriotic songwriter, and author. A tribute to a Vietnam sniper his men called “Woody One Shot,” and the brass casings that keep his memory close.
Veterans · 2026
The Story Behind the Song
What This Song Honors
This song remembers a battle brother: an American sniper the men called “Woody One Shot,” who served three tours in Vietnam, carried his men through, and came home with six Purple Hearts. Agent Orange took him in the end. The song follows the long drive to his funeral and the 21-gun salute, and the brass casing slipped into a breast pocket afterward as a promise to always honor him. It is about the bond between those who served together, and the duty to remember them.
- Veterans
- Vietnam War
- Brotherhood
- Sacrifice
- Remembrance
From John's Writing
Why I Write Songs for Those Who Served
TributeApril 3, 20262 min read
A song can say thank you in a way a handshake never could.
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