Merry Christmas Poolees!

[Marine84]

For some of you this will be your last Christmas/New Year as a slimeball/maggot/unsat bonehead/wuss/Mama's boy - but, you'll be

United States MARINES!

And you'll start new traditions of your own to do at the holidays, will have met some folks that you will develope a bond with for life, fall in and out of love (a kazillion times), will discover different cultures, see different places of the globe, do stupid $h!t and push your bodies and minds to limits YOU didn't even know you had. You'll amaze your family and friends with the changes that they'll see that you've made having gone through Marine Corps bootcamp for 3 months! You'll dance like this thing :banana: once you earn the Title! I won't sugarcoat it for you.........there will be times when you'll ask yourself if you made the right decision by joining and you'll want to smoke some of what it was that you smoked that made you decide the Corps in the first place. ALWAYS keep your head up (except for when and if you ever see conflict - you want to keep it down then) and understand that God won't give you more than you can handle. When you get out of the Corps, you'll join the ranks of the rest of the brothers and sisters (ones that paved the way for you guys) and we got some old a$$ Jarheads and BAMS (yes, I said it! By now ya'll KNOW them things have widened) in here too - we don't know each other from Adam but we all have that Marine Corps bond. Bootcamp taught it to us and, even at our ages, we STILL have it.

You guys stay motivated and I wish all of you the best of luck trying to get that Title. I sure don't know if I could do it now - you guys (ESPECIALLY the females in the house) ROCK!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOODNIGHT!

Now go WORK for that Title - think about how F'ing GOOD you're gonna look in that uniform!

[christine_06]

I'll second what Marine84 wrote, it will be a challenge but everything that's happens will be worth while. I wish all of you the best of luck and i have faith that you'll all do just fine. Well stay moto and keep up the good work. Merry Christmas.

[jackson07]

Thank you very much, and have a merry Christmas your selves. God bless you all.

[USMC90]

Thought I'd share this poem I found on a Marine Corps website.

A Marine Corps Christmas Poem
Written by Jessica, Wife of a 1/7 Marine

"Twas the nite before Christmas,
they lived far from home,
in dark,sandy quarters,
but not all alone

After clearing the checkpoints,
and with presents to give,
I wanted to see the Marines
Who in these quarters did live.

As I looked all about,
an awesome sight I did see,
some of the few and the proud,
U.S. Marines

Some young, some old,
with boots full of sand,
Marine Corps brothers
with rifles in hand.

Seeing bravery, courage,
and toughness of mind,
a sobering thought came thru my mind

For these quarters were different,
housing hardcharging Marines;
Who make it through
with various routines

The only easy day was the one they just got thru;
Uncommon valor, still a common virtue

Yet their spirits were high,
Minds and bodies were strong;
Despite the months
that were trying and long

These were the heroes
of whom I had read;
Whose main purpose was
to make the enemy dead

I knew the Americans
who i saw on this night
owed their lives to these men,
the first ones to fight.

Soon 'cross the country,
Americans would rise;
ready to celebrate
with joy in their eyes

Each one enjoyed freedom,
each day of the year;
because of Marines...
like the ones I saw here

I had to wonder
how many deeds went uknown,
of the men spending Christmas
in a land far from home

Thinking of this,
brought tears to my eyes;
my knees hit the deck,
and i started to cry

Some Marines turned to me,
saying "santa don't cry,"
"We're here for a purpose,
we'll get these bad guys"

We fight for freedom,
each other, the Corps;
and for this reason,
we'll win this war

Before turning away,
they said "This is our job."
I couldn't control it,
I continued to sob

I continued to watch
and silently weep;
seeing the esprits de corps
that ran so deep

I wanted to stay
on that cold desert night,
with these warriors for freedom,
so willing to fight

But a Marine came to me,
eyes steady and voice sure,
"It's Twenty-five December,
So carry on Santa, All is secure."

In that instance I knew,
the cause was just and right,
"Merry Christmas Marines;
Semper Fi and good night" "

Kinda early but.. oh well. :thumbup:

[FFSteve]

The chief of my fire hall sent this to me, read it and tell me what you think.

A Different Christmas Poem



The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear, "Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night." "It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram alway! s remem bers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this ! flag wi ll not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,

"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come h! ome, ei ther standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."


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.


P. S.
I'm new to leatherneck although i've been in poolee
since october.


Steve W.
Pittsburgh, PA





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[Soon2BeVIP]

Thank you and same to you. Everyone has been getting on my nerves today and that just completely changed my attitude. Have fun with your friends and family this next week and a half of holiday-ness. Cheers :beer: