A Marine's Night Before Christmas

[thedrifter]

A MARINE'S NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS


'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, THE STARS SHINING
BRIGHT,
THE SENTRY WAS WALKING, HIS LEFT, THEN HIS RIGHT.

HIS RIFLE IT SWUNG FROM HIS SHOULDER WITH EASE,
HIS HEAD KEPT ALERT FROM A CHILL IN THE BREEZE.

THE TROOPS WERE ALL NESTLED AND WARM IN THEIR RACKS,
WHILE HE STOOD HIS DUTY, HIS FEET MAKING TRACKS.

FOR HE, IN HIS HELMET, WITH HIS RIFLE AT SIDE,
HAD JUST SETTLED DOWN IN THAT 12 TO 4 STRIDE.

THEN WHAT TO THE SHOCK OF THE SENTRY APPEARED,
WAS A LITTLE GREEN SLEIGH PULLED BY CAMOUFLAGED DEER,

WITH A LITTLE OLD DRIVER IN DRESS BLUES AND SWORD.
THE SENTRY JUST STOOD THERE NOT SAYING A WORD,

HE WATCHED IN AMAZEMENT WITH EYES ALL AGLOW,
AS THE REINDEER, IN SILENCE, PULLED THE SLEIGH LOW.

WITH A WINK FROM THE DRIVER, A TIP FROM HIS COVER,
THE SLEIGH LIKE A HUEY, JUST PULLED UP AND HOVERED.

THE SENTRY WAS STARTLED, BEWITCHED, AND IN DOUBT,
BUT DUTY PREVAILED AND THESE WORDS RANG OUT:

"NOW WAIT A MINUTE - HALT WHO GOES THERE!?"
BUT THE LITTLE MAN SMILED, "YOU'VE NOTHING TO FEAR,

FOR AS SURE AS IT'S CHRISTMAS, AND AS SURE AS YOU'RE
HERE,
I'VE STOPPED ON MY ROUTE JUST TO BRING YOU GOOD
CHEER!"

"NOW ATTENTION TO ORDERS!" HE SAID WITH A FLAIR,
THEN READ FROM A PAGE THAT HE HELD IN THE AIR:

"FOR ATTENTION TO DUTY WHILE WALKING YOUR POST,
ON THE DAY OF THE YEAR THAT WE CHERISH THE MOST,

HERE IN THIS PLACE ON THIS SOLEMN OCCASION,
I THANK YOU, MARINE, ON BEHALF OF THE NATION!"

HE SALUTED THE SENTRY, AND CUT SHARP AND CLEAR,
THEN HE TOOK UP THE REINS AS HE CALLED TO HIS DEER,

"ON BELLEAU, ON IWO, ON AN-HOA AND CHOSIN,
ON YOU NAMED-FOR-PLACES BOTH HELL-HOT AND FROZEN!

AND HE CALLED OUT ONCE MORE AS HE SPED OUT OF SIGHT,
MERRY CHRISTMAS, MARINES, CARRY ON AND GOOD NIGHT!"

SEMPER FI!!!!!
(Author unknown)


Sempers,

Roger

[thedrifter]

CHRISTMAS IN THE CORPS

Unknown Author

T'was the night before Christmas and all through the Corps,
Not a soul had liberty, the troops were all sore.
They were all sacked out, every man in the lot,
On racks of nails, called Marine Corps cots.

When out on the lawn, there rose such a clatter,
I sprang from my rack to see what was the matter.
All out of breath, I hid behind the door
With pounding heart I waited for more.

A rolly-polly gent appeared on the scene,
And to my surprise it was the Commandant of Marines.
Yes it was the Commandant, there was no doubt,
For he had on his poncho, green side out.

He tiptoed around to each man's rack,
And carefully inspected each man's pack.
To a chosen few, a ninety-six chit,
But to the majority, a ration of ****.

As he pulled away; in gold plated tank,
Pulled by ten colonels, all bucking for rank.
I heard him say, and he said with a shout.
"Merry Christmas you bastards, You'll never get out."

Sempers,

Roger

[thedrifter]

THE NIGHT SANTA BECAME A MARINE

As told by Kris Kringle




T'was 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,
An to see whom in this house, so small, did live.

As I looked all around, a strange sight did I see,
No tensel, no presents, not even a tree.
No stocking by the fire, just boots full of sand,
On the wall hung pictures of a far away land.

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




I'd heard stories about them, so I had to see more,
I walked down the hallway and pushed open the door.
And there he lay sleeping, silent, alone.
Curled up on the floor of his one bedroom home.

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

His head was clean shaven, his face weathered tan.
I soon understood this was more than a man.
For I realized families that I had seen just that night,
Owed their lives to these men so willing to fight.

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

I couldn't help but 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.

He must have awakened, for I heard a rough voice,
"Santa, don't cry. This 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 and dove back to sleep,
I couldn't control it, I continued to weep.
I watched over him for hours, So silent, So Still
I noticed he shivered from the cold night's chill.

So I took off my jacket, the one made of red,
To cover this Marine from his toes to his head.
Then I put on his tee-shirt of scarlet and gold,
With the Eagle, Globe and Anchor emblazoned so bold.

Although it barely fit me, I began to swell with pride,
For one shining moment I was a Marine deep inside.
I didn't want to leave him, so quiet in the night,
This guardian of honor, so willing to fight,



Half asleep he rolled over and said, in a voice so clean and pure,

"Carry on Santa! It's Christmas Day, All Secure!"
One look at my watch and I knew he was right,
Merry Christmas, my friend . . . Semper Fi and good night!


Sempers,

Roger

[thedrifter]

A BARRACKS CHRISTMAS

Unknown Author


Twas the night before Christmas the night filled with gloom

Stuck in the barracks, three people shoved in a room.

No Christmas tree, Egg nog, Christmas music playing proud..

All because I live in the barracks and its not allowed.

No Christmas ham, potatoes or holiday roast.....

No fortified wine to make a holiday toast.

No friends staying up late sharing holiday cheer...

Cause 2200 is the curfew for people who live here.

No Apple pie, no pie ala'mode

Cause we're allowed only a micro....what we need is a stove.

No toaster, crock pot, or electric grill....

They won't start a fire, but they're not allowed still.

No stockings hung on the wall with care...

I'll get hit with gear adrift if I dare leave them there!

Strict rules with no freedom, their afraid I'll go wild.

I'm a US Marine, but treated like a child.

So I'll sit in my room, the tv my guest.

Heat up a frozen dinner, The Hungryman's Best!

Drink non-alcoholic Eggnog, and sit all alone

Sing carols in my head and dream of memories back
home.

There's a knock on my door! Oh who could it be.....

I rush from my chair so I can see...

Its the barracks duty who greets me with a grin,

He says, "the laundry room needs cleaning, and your the only one in."

Christmas day in the laundry room, Cleaning driers and walls...

Instead of Christmas lights ..I have Christmas lint balls.

I'll just go back to my room and just go to bed....

While thoughts of another Barracks Christmas Dance in my head.

I'll give warm wishes to all as I turn out the light......

Merry Christmas barracks Marines, and to all a lame night.


Sempers,

Roger