Military Xmas

[CAS3]

'Twas The Night Before Christmas, He Lived All Alone, In A One Bedroom House Made Of Plaster And Stone.

I Had Come Down The Chimney With Presents To Give, And To See Just Who In This Home Did Live.

I Looked All About, A Strange Sight I Did See, No Tinsel, No Presents, Not Even A Tree.

No Stocking By Mantle, Just Boots Filled With Sand, On The Wall Hung Pictures Of Far Distant Lands.

With Medals And Badges, Awards Of All Kinds, A Sober Thought Came Through My Mind.

For This House Was Different, It Was Dark And Dreary, I Found The Home Of A Soldier, Once I Could See Clearly.

The Soldier Lay Sleeping, Silent, Alone, Curled Up On The Floor In This One Bedroom Home.

The Face Was So Gentle, The Room In Such Disorder, Not How I Pictured A United States Soldier.

Was This The Hero Of Whom I'd Just Read? Curled Up On A Poncho, The Floor For A Bed?

I Realized The Families That I Saw This Night, Owed Their Lives To These Soldiers Who Were Willing To Fight.

Soon Round The World, The Children Would Play, And Grownups Would Celebrate A Bright Christmas Day.

They All Enjoyed Freedom Each Month Of The Year, Because Of The Soldiers, Like The One Lying Here.

I Couldn't Help Wonder How Many Lay Alone, On A Cold Christmas Eve In A Land Far From Home.

The Very Thought Brought A Tear To My Eye, I Dropped To My Knees And Started To Cry.

The Soldier Awakened And I Heard A Rough Voice, "Santa Don't Cry, This Life Is My Choice;

I Fight For Freedom, I Don't Ask For More, My Life Is My God, My Country, My Corps."

The Soldier Rolled Over And Drifted To Sleep, I Couldn't Control It, I Continued To Weep.

I Kept Watch For Hours, So Silent And Still And We Both Shivered From The Cold Night's Chill.

I Didn't Want To Leave On That Cold, Dark, Night, This Guardian Of Honor So Willing To Fight.

Then The Soldier Rolled Over, With A Voice Soft And Pure, Whispered, "Carry On Santa, It's Christmas Day, All Is Secure."

One Look At My Watch, And I Knew He Was Right. "Merry Christmas My Friend, And To All A Good Night."

Air Force Army Marines Coast Guard Navy
A Marine stationed in Okinawa Japan wrote this poem. The following is his request.

"PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our U.S. service men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities.

Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us. Please, do your small part to plant this small seed."I think his is more than reasonable!!! If you agree Please Pass It On!!

[Doc Crow]

I Love seeing this every year

[Devildogg4ever]

I love it, too! Never gets old!!

http://www.angelfire.com/realm2/elitewarriorsworld/Asmily/usmcsantaknit.gif

[rsta]

Very Good! Devildogg4ever, I love your graphics.

Bob

[Robert Carnot]

Just an updated version of CAS3's Military Xmas

'Twas The Night Before Christmas,
> He Lived All Alone,
> In A One Bedroom House
> Made Of Sandbags and Stone.
>
> I Had Come Down The Chimney
> With Presents To Give,
> And To See Just Who
> In This Home Did Live.
>
> I Looked All About,
> A Strange Sight I Did See,
> No Tinsel, No Presents,
> Not Even A Tree.
>
> No Stocking By Mantle,
> Just Boots Filled With Sand,
> On The Wall Hung Pictures
> Of a Far Distant Lands.
>
> With Medals And Badges,
> Awards Of All Kinds,
> A Sober Thought
> Came Through My Mind.
>
> For This House Was Different,
> It Was Spartan and Clean,
> For this was the fighting hole


of a United States Marine
>
> The Marine Lay Sleeping,
> Silent, Alone,
> Curled Up On The Floor
> In This One Bedroom Home.
>
> The Face Was So Gentle,
> The body so lean,
> Not How I Pictured
> A U S Marine.
>
> Was This The Hero
> Of Whom I'd Just Read?
> Curled Up On A Poncho,
> The Floor For A Bed?
>
> I Realized The Families
> That I Saw This Night,
> Owed Their Lives To These Marines
> Who Were Willing To Fight.
>
> Soon Round The World,
> The Children Would Play,
> And Grownups Would Celebrate
> A Bright Christmas Day.
>
> They All Enjoyed Freedom
> Each Month Of The Year,
> Because Of The Marine,
> Like The One Lying Here.
>
> I Couldn't Help Wonder
> How Many Lay Alone,
> On A Cold Christmas Eve
> In A Land Far From Home.
>
> The Very Thought
> Brought A Tear To My Eye,
> I Dropped To My Knees
> And Started To Cry.
>
> The Marine Awakened
> And I Heard A Rough Voice,
> "Santa Don't Cry,
> This Life Is My Choice;
>
> I Fight For Freedom,
> I Don't Ask For More,
> My Life Is My God,
> My Country, The Corps."
>
> The Marine Rolled Over
> And Drifted To Sleep,
> I Couldn't Control It,
> I Continued To Weep.
>
> I Kept Watch For Hours,
> So Silent And Still
> And We Both Shivered
> From The Cold Night's Chill.
>
> I Didn't Want To Leave
> On That Cold, Dark, Night,
> This Guardian Of Honor
> So Willing To Fight.
>
> Then The Marine Rolled Over,
> With A Voice Soft And Pure,
> Whispered, "Carry On Santa,
> Christmas Day, All Is Secure."
>
> One Look At My Watch,
> And I Knew He Was Right.
> "Merry Christmas My Friend,
> And To All A Good Night."
>
>
> This poem was written by a Marine stationed in Okinawa, Japan many years ago .
> The following is his request. I think it is reasonable.....
>
> PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our U.S.service men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of wha t we owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us. Please, do your small part to plant this small seed.


Semper Fidelis,
Thom


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.431 / Virus Database: 242 - Release Date: 12/17/2002

[CAS3]

a senior SNCO's response

Twas the night before Christmas as I've pondered on your rhyme
It's the same old song and dance; I've heard it a thousand times
You complain so very loudly on this Christmas Eve
But remember it was your choice, not to take some leave
The chow hall is open...with great food and drink
You've got close friends near you, doesn't that mean a thing?
3 hots and a cot, you really shouldn't complain
Marine that served on Tarawa wished they had the same
You want your apple pie and your own cooking devices
A burning stove and a grill to make your own ham slices
I understand your frustration, but you really need to rethink
what you have is plenty, but instead you think it stinks
Gestures from your leaders invite you to their very home
You told them you had other plans and chose to stay alone
Our rules and regulation, they keep good order about
The same would go for a college dorm if you decide to get out
As you sit alone in your barracks room, with your selfish attitude
Remember those that went before, but to you it's misconstrued
We forget the word "Service" requires some sacrifice
Everybody does their time, it helps "Get Your Mind Right"
There's a knock on your door that's sounding an alarm
America is asking for your freedom to keep theirs safe from harm
We've heard so much about the Corps, they do it all with less
For every type of mission, they always pass the test
Christmas day in the barracks, you're feeling so mistreated
"Unfair" is your Battle Cry, yet your enemy has not retreated
As this poem comes to a truthful end, remember the Corps is rough
If you were given everything, would you be as tough?
No hard feeling on my end as I bid you "Semper Fi"
Just remember on this Christmas Eve, there is no Semper "I"

[Devildogg4ever]

Thats tough, CAS3!! Thanks for posting it!!

[TracGunny]

Got this off the Internet, real General or not, the poem is good; yes, I will research its authenticity -TracGunny

In the spirit of the season, General John Borling (GOP U.S. Senate candidate- http://www.borlingforsenate.com/ ) recalls the holidays he spent as a POW in North Vietnam for 7 years by writing poetry mentally composed (including the one below) while in a communist prison camp. Borling would tap it through the walls as a present to his comrades and as a reminder of what Christmas means. Since our nation is blessed to have the continuing service of its military men and women, the message is contemporary still.

The Other Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas, and out at alert, Not a creature was stirring, card table desert, The pilots and crewchiefs in bunk rooms asleep Toss fitful awaiting the klaxon to leap, And off in the corner, a dark, tinseled tree, It's Christmas again in the land of the free.

Twas the night before Christmas out over the pond Where a Starlifter strains for far Europe beyond. The drone of its engines an ole carol say, Germany tomorrow, Mid-East next day. The instrument panel dull red all aglow, Back home at McGuire, it's starting to snow.

Twas the night before Christmas so far out at sea, Be it cruiser, destroyer or Battle Group CV Up forward, the lookout marks tolling of bells, No church steeples here, just salt spray, and ground swells. And on watch, on the bridge, the O.D. doth roam, The Captain's Chair empty, both here, and at home.

Twas the night before Christmas, up over the pole, There's a B-52 on atomic patrol. With peace their profession, its crew doth attend Their fortress of strength to deter and defend. Strange, all electronics of this modern day Show nary a sign of old Santa and sleigh.

Twas the night before Christmas, a deployment call comes, So good-bye little children who dream sugar plums, Tomorrow they'll wake, their young eyes all alight, Then blink back the tears, Daddy's left in the night. Now far from the hearth where each stocking is hung, Cross cold, starlit skies, a small aircraft is flung.

Twas the night before Christmas, down deep in the pad Stands a Minuteman poised, if the world should go mad. Its cold chimney silo hath no warming place Nor rooftop awaiting a swift courser's pace. And what yuletide missal from men waiting still, Though strange it may seem, peace on earth, and good will.

Twas the night before Christmas mud up to the knee, here's a lone foxhole dug by a young PFC. He's only eighteen, Christmas Eve seems to close But ready he stands, to destroy unknown foes. He's scared, but he'll do the grim job that he must, In him have we placed, our defense and our trust.

Twas the night before Christmas, all over the earth, There's a serviceman standing, no mistletoe mirth. He's Army and Navy, Air Force and Marines, If asked, he could tell you, how much Christmas means. You don't know his names, waiting children or wife, But for you, if need be, he'll lay down his life.

Twas the night before Christmas, and then, Christmas Day, And just maybe you'll think of those troops far away, And just maybe, take out a moment or two, Say a short prayer for them, the family and you. A small price indeed for your bright, tinseled tree, It's Christmas again, in the land of the free.



Found it; its for real and on the General's campaign site: http://www.borlingforsenate.com/htdocs/holiday_greetings.html
-TracGunny

[Doc Crow]

TRACGUNNY this was great it is on the fast track around the net as I write this.

Semper Fi

[CPLRapoza]

I thought you'd all get a kick out of this




' Twas the night of the capture, when all through the hole,
Not a creature was stirring, except for one soul;
> > The operation started with stealth and care,
> > And American forces would soon be there;
> >
> > Saddam was snuggled inside his dirt bed,
> > With visions of recapturing power dancing in his head;
> > And there in a hole getting ready to nap,
> > Living like vermin, Like a dirty old rat,
> >
> > When up from above there arose such a clatter,
> > The deposed dictator rose to see what was the matter.
> > Our troops had descended in such a great flash,
> > So he grabbed his pistol and his $750,000 in cash,
> >
> > The troops had come before he would know
> > Shining a flashlight on the dictator below,
> > When, what to his wandering eyes would appear,
> > But United States troops, and his worst fear,
> >
> > He looked dirty and tattered like an old bum,
> > He knew at that moment his judgment had come.
> > More rapid than eagles Special Forces they came,
> > And he threw up his hands, when they called him by
> > name;
> >
> > "Come out Now! Do not resist!
> > We urge you to give up, Cease and Desist!
> > To the top of the hole! With your hands up high!
> > Surrender peacefully or you will die!"
> >
> > And then in his pants tinkling, confronting the truth
> > The United States forces would soon have their proof.
> > As he threw up his hands, down below the ground,
> > A security perimeter was set up around.
> >
> > He looked unkempt and tired from his head to his foot,
> > And his clothes were tarnished with mud and soot;
> > A layer of grime now covered his back,
> > He looked like a bum who had just smoked some crack.
> >
> > His eyes--filled with tears! His dimples not merry!
> > His cheeks sunken in, his beard dirty and hairy!
> > His confident smile was now a great droop,
> > He was now in our custody in one fell swoop.
> >
> > He was haggard and slumped, a shell of his old self,
> > And I laughed when I saw him on the news in spite of
> > miself;
> > A Medic shining a flashlight into his eyes and twisting his
>> head,
> > Soon the Iraqi people will know they have nothing to
> > dread:
> >
> > He was cooperative and spoke words, and will soon confess > > his evil work,
> > And we can rejoice in the fact that they captured this jerk,
> > To the critics who to this point that have held their nose,
> > Another terror of mankind has now been deposed:
> >
> > To those who don't believe, listen to the Iraqi people
> > and whistle,
> > Away his regime goes down like a dud SCUD missile.
> > Then I heard the Ambassador claim, right there in plain
> > sight,
> > "American troops captured Saddam Hussein last night!"
> >
> > Merry Christmas all!

[Devildogg4ever]

Hee, hee, wonder how that SOB liked his early Christmas????