''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.

i Looked All About, A Strange Sight I Did See,
no Tinsel, No Presents, Not Even A Tree.

no Stocking By Mantle, Just Boots Filled With Sand,
on The Wall Hung Pictures Of Far Distant Lands.

with Medals And Badges, Awards Of All Kinds,
a Sober Thought Came Through My Mind.

for This House Was Different, It Was Dark And Dreary,
i Found The Home Of A Soldier, Once I Could See Clearly.

the Soldier Lay Sleeping, Silent, Alone,
curled Up On The Floor In This One Bedroom Home.

the Face Was So Gentle, The Room In Such Disorder,
not How I Pictured A United States Soldier.

was This The Hero Of Whom I'd Just Read?
curled Up On A Poncho, The Floor For A Bed?

i Realized The Families That I Saw This Night,
owed Their Lives To These Soldiers Who Were Willing To Fight.

soon Round The World, The Children Would Play,
and Grownups Would Celebrate A Bright Christmas Day.

they All Enjoyed Freedom Each Month Of The Year,
because Of The Soldiers, Like The One Lying Here.

i Couldn't Help Wonder How Many Lay Alone,
on A Cold Christmas Eve In A Land Far From Home.

the Very Thought Brought A Tear To My Eye,
i Dropped To My Knees And Started To Cry.

the Soldier Awakened And 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.

the Soldier Rolled Over And Drifted To Sleep,
i Couldn't Control It, I Continued To Weep.

i Kept Watch For Hours, So Silent And Still
and We Both Shivered From The Cold Night's Chill.

i Didn't Want To Leave On That Cold, Dark, Night,
this Guardian Of Honor So Willing To Fight.

then The Soldier Rolled Over, With A Voice Soft And Pure,
and Whispered, 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, And To All A Good Night."


NOTE:

This poem was written by a U.S. Marine stationed abroad. The following is his request I think it is reasonable.....

PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as may people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our US 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.

Please, do your small part to plant this small seed.

Dale King

I love that one. Thanks for bringing it back.

You're quite welcome!

Dale King

Thanks Dale,

This has been a difficult holiday season.

My son is stationed in Camp Lejeune, NC and we really hoped
he'd be able to meet us at my folks house in Fl, for Thanksgiving.

Unfortunately that didn't happen. Now we've learned that he'll be
spending Christmas in NC also.

He ships out to Iraq in the Spring, so we're gonna see him come
hell or high water.

My stepson is on a Navy frigate in the Mediterranean for another
month (he shipped out in July).

Your thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated.

And to anyone who's loved ones are in service, our best wishes
for their safe return.

Merry Christmas And Happy Holidays,

Yea it sucks, I leave for Qutar on the 26th for 4 months.

Godspeed my friend.

A.

You're quite welcome, Andy.

I realize there are a lot of heartfelt, untold stories like yours, that's why I posted this tribute to U.S. soldiers.

We shouldn't forget them.

All the best,
Dale King

I don't really know why... but for the last 5 years, right around christmas I can't get the "Ballad Of The Green Berets" song out of my head.

I have no idea if this was ever even released around christmas in the first place, but it always pops into my mind.

So here are the lyrics. Just give them a read if you like.

Fighting soldiers from the sky
Fearless men who jump and die
Men who mean just what they say
The brave men of the Green Beret

Silver wings upon their chest
These are men, America's best
One hundred men will test today
But only three win the Green Beret

Trained to live off nature's land
Trained in combat, hand-to-hand
Men who fight by night and day
Courage peak from the Green Berets

Silver wings upon their chest
These are men, America's best
One hundred men will test today
But only three win the Green Beret

Back at home a young wife waits
Her Green Beret has met his fate
He has died for those oppressed
Leaving her his last request

Put silver wings on my son's chest
Make him one of America's best
He'll be a man they'll test one day
Have him win the Green Beret.


A thankful Merry Christmas wish and prayers to all who are serving.

Thanks for that Dale...


My daughter leaves Camp Striker (outside Baghdad) early Christmas morning and heads to Kuwait where she'll catch a plane to either Germany or Ireland. From there she's goes to Atlanta. And from there to Buffalo... hopefully some time on the 27th.

We'll have her for two weeks and then it's back to Iraq with the 10th Mountain Division. We're hoping her tour ends in August. That will be a full year.

You're quite welcome, Michael.

Here's hoping the next year goes by quickly and safely for your family.

Dale King