OT: That time of year again - A Soldier's Night Before Christmas

[Thomas Rogers]

A Marine stationed in Okinawa Japan wrote this poem. The following is his request. I think it is reasonable. . .PLEASE. Would you do me a thoughtful favor of sending this poem 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.

A Soldier's Night Before Christmas



Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone

In a one bedroom house made of plaster & 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 the fire, just boots filled with sand,

On the wall hung pictures of far distant lands.



With medals and badges, awards of all kind

A sober thought came through my mind.



For this house was different, so dark and dreary,

I knew I had found the home of a soldier, once I could see clearly.



I 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.



His face so gentle, his room in such disorder,

Not how I pictured a United States soldier.



Was this the hero of whom Id 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 then a man.



For I realized the families that I saw that night

Owed their lives to these men who were willing to fight.



Soon round the world, the children would play,

And grownups would celebrate on a bright Christmas day.



They all enjoyed freedom each month of the day,

Because of soldiers like this one lying here.



I couldnt 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 started to cry.



The solder awakened and I heard a rough voice,

Santa dont cry, this life is my choice;



I fight for freedom, I dont ask for more,

My life is my God, my country, my Corps.



With that he rolled over and drifted off into sleep,

I couldnt control it, I continued to weep.



I watched him for hours, so silent and still,

I noticed he shivered from the cold nights chill.



So I took off my jacket, the one made of red,

And I covered this Soldier from his toes to his head.



And I put on his T-shirt of gray and black,

With an eagle and an Army patch embroidered on back.



And although it barely fit me, I began to swell with pride,

And for a shining moment, I was United States Army deep inside.



I didnt want to leave him on that cold dark night,

This guardian of honor so willing to fight.



Then the soldier rolled over, whispered with a voice so clean and pure,

Carry on Santa, its 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!

 

[TrainTrac]

And, the Sailor's version:

A Sailor's Night Before Christmas

Author Unknown



Twas the night before Christmas,

the ship was out steaming,



Sailors stood watch

while others were dreaming.



They lived in a crowd

with racks tight and small,



In a 40-man berthing,

cramped one and all.



I had come down the stack

with presents to give,



And to see inside

just who might perhaps live.



I looked all about,

a strange sight did I see,



No tinsel, no presents,

not even a tree.



No stockings were hung,

shined boots close at hand,



On the bulkhead hung pictures

of a far distant land.



They had medals and badges

and awards of all kind,



And a sober thought

came into my mind.



For this place was different,

so dark and so dreary,



I had found the house of a Sailor,

once I saw clearly.



A Sailor lay sleeping,

silent and alone,



Curled up in a rack

and dreaming of home.



The face was so gentle,

the room squared away,



This was the United States Sailor today.



This was the hero

I saw on TV,



Defending our country

so we could be free.



I realized the families

that I would visit this night,



Owed their lives to these Sailors

lay willing to fight.



Soon round the world,

the children would play,



And grownups would celebrate

on Christmas Day.



They all enjoyed freedom

each day of the year,



Because of the Sailor,

like the one lying here.



I couldn't help wonder

how many lay alone,



On a cold Christmas Eve on a sea,

far from home.



The very thought

brought a tear to my eye,



I dropped to my knees

and started to cry.



The Sailor awakened

and I heard a calm voice,



"Santa, don't cry,

this life is my choice."



"Defending the seas

all days of the year,



So others may live

and be free with no fear."



I thought for a moment,

what a difficult road,



To live a life guided

by honor and code.



After all it's Christmas Eve

and the ship's underway!



But freedom isn't free

and it's sailors who pay.



The Sailor say's to our country

"be free and sleep tight,



No harm will come,

not on my watch and not on this night.



The Sailor rolled over

and drifted to sleep,



I couldn't control it,

I continued to weep.



I kept watch for hours,

so silent, so still,



I watched as the Sailor

shivered from the night's cold chill.



I didn't want to leave

on that cold dark night,



This guardian of honor

so willing to fight.



The Sailor rolled over

and with a voice strong and sure,



Commanded, "Carry on Santa,

It's Christmas, and All is Secure!"

 

[Dave Niederhauser]

My version...



Sung to Jungle Bells



Rocket shells

Mortar shells,



VC in the Grass,

Take you Merry Christmas and

Stick it up your *ss