It’s starting to look…

A lot like Christmas!

I know that many of you will be taking time off, so let me take this time to wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  

Please take a moment to remember our service men and women serving far from home this year… 

A SOLDIER’S CHRISTMAS

Michael Marks

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 eye 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, “It’s 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 always remembers.”
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 sisters and brothers
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To insure for all time that this flag will 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 home, either 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.”

+++++++++++

 LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN

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 always remembers.’
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 will 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 home, either 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.’

Comments

It’s starting to look… — 5 Comments

  1. Here is the Marine Corps Version (No I am not a Former Marine). My First MOS was Infantry. So I can relate to Marine Infantry.

    Marine Twas the Night before Christmas
    Posted in Holidays, and Military Life

    Tonight, I will fill our stockings and climb into a comfy bed with my Marine as he is safely home with me on this December eve. Sadly, there are many other families who will be without their deployed loved one. This evening, as we remember the birth of our Savior and the sacrifices that He made for us, we will also be remembering those troops who are far from home – looking up into the night sky – thinking of loved ones at home. We will pray for their safety. We will pray that the will know the comfort and saving grace of our Savior.

    Merry Christmas, My Friend
    Marine Twas the Night before Christmas

    Boots Cover Sleeping Bag

    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.

    As I looked all about, a strange sight I did see
    No tinsel, no presents, not even a tree
    No stocking by the fire, just boots filled with sand
    On the wall hung pictures of a far distant land.

    With medals and badges, awards of all kind
    A sobering thought soon came to my mind
    For this house was different, unlike any I’d seen
    This was the home of a U.S. Marine.

    I’d heard stories about them, I had to see more
    So I walked down the hall and pushed open the door
    And there he lay sleeping, silent, alone
    Curled up on the floor in his one-bedroom home.

    Marine Sleeping on Ground

    He seemed so gentle, his face so serene
    Not how I pictured a U.S. Marine
    Was this the hero, of whom I’d just read
    Curled up in his poncho, a floor for his bed?

    His head was clean-shaven, his weathered face tan
    I soon understood, this was more than a man
    For I realized the families that I saw that night
    Owed their lives to these men, who were willing to fight.

    Soon around the Nation, the children would play
    And grown-ups would celebrate on a bright Christmas day
    They all enjoyed freedom, each month and all year
    Because of Marines like this one lying here.

    I couldn’t help wonder how many lay alone
    On a cold Christmas Eve, in a land far from home
    Just the very thought brought a tear to my eye
    I dropped to my knees and I started to cry.

    EGA

    He must have awoken, for 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.”

    With that he rolled over, drifted off into sleep
    I couldn’t control it, I continued to weep
    I watched him for hours, so silent and still
    I noticed he shivered from the cold night’s chill.

    So I took off my jacket, the one made of red
    And covered this Marine from his toes to his head
    Then I put on his T-shirt of scarlet and gold
    With an eagle, globe and anchor emblazoned so bold.

    And although it barely fit me, I began to swell with pride
    And for one shining moment, I was Marine Corps deep inside
    I didn’t want to leave him so quiet in the night
    This guardian of honor so willing to fight.

    But half asleep he rolled over, and in a voice clean and pure
    Said “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, Semper Fi and goodnight.

    Semper Fi

    James M. Schmidt, who was a Lance Corporal stationed in Washington, DC wrote this poem in December, 1986. While serving as Battalion Counter Sniper at the Marine Barracks 8th and I in Washington, DC under Commandant P.X. Kelly and Battalion Commander D.J. Myers, Schmidt wrote this poem to hang on the door of the Gym in the BEQ. When Colonel Myers came upon it, he read it and immediately had copies sent to each department at the Barracks and promptly dismissed the entire Battalion early for Christmas leave. The poem was placed that day in the Marine Corps Gazette, distributed worldwide and later submitted to Leatherneck Magazine and was published in December, 1991. There have been many other versions, but this is the original version.

  2. Sabre- Excellent one. I ‘was’ going to do that one tomorrow, but you’ve saved me the trouble. Thanks! And thanks for the backstory!

    WSF- Yep, and some gave all.

  3. “Shall not perish from this Earth”, not sure I agree with his politics, but the sentiment is true