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A Marine’s Christmas
Gunny Claus
To all my sons and daughters who wear the EGA and my fellow proud parents who get to claim one of them for their own.
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
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.
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 right 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.
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 secure.”
One look at my watch and I knew he was right,
Merry Christmas my friend, Semper Fi and goodnight.
— By James M. Schmidt, a Marine Lance Corporal, as published in Leatherneck.
Published in General
I love, love, love that picture.
Where is your Marine son this Christmas?
He’s home. He’s a reservist and besides his duties he works part time and goes to school full time. We hear rumors of his unit being activated and we just try to ignore them until something really happens.
Thank you for what surely will be one of the nicest gifts I am likely to receive this Christmas. We send our prayers to you and yours along with our prayers and hopes for your Marine. We thank him, and all who have served, to their honorable service to this the Greatest Nation ever Created, by “Nature and Nature’s God.”
Sincerely, Jim
Thank you for this, EJ! (Share a Panda Hug with your Marine, from an Honorary sis…S/F, and Merry Christmas!)
Semper Fi and Merry Christmas!
Thanks EJ, my Marine is away this Christmas.
S/F, and Panda Hug, @mountie! Prayers, of course!
What a poignantly powerful poem.
Merry Christmas to you and yours and a big Ricochet hug and gratitude to your Marine son.
I’ll throw in for those in, or those with loved ones, in the US Army and all the armed forces.
Merry Christmas EJ. May God keep your boy safe.
Hoowah, Amen, and Blessed Christmas, Doc!
Of course, @docjay, we don’t forget our Army brethren, despite the fact that we’re licking our wounds from a second straight loss at Army-Navy.
Merry Christmas to you and yours!
My latest Christmas wish: for this post “A Marine’s Christmas” to get the most likes of any in the month of December in honor of our Marines.
Merry Christmas to you and your marine, @ejhill, and to all our service men/women wherever they are and the families who miss and pray for them.
This is fantastic. Howaah, indeed. I rest easier each night because I know that the United States Marines are out there, and on watch. —And, as you know, we’re a Navy family!
God Bless!
Semper Fi.
Our Marine is back and out, so we don’t have to worry about him any more. But he carries a wound that will probably haunt him the rest of his life.
Prayers for and thanks to you and your Marine, RW…S/F.
Thanks, Nanda.
Read something like this before, only it was a ranger curled up in a ‘cho liner.
Doesn’t matter, tell your Devil Dog Merry Christmas from all of us.
De Opresso Liber.