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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 42
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Thank you! there is more there than any works can express. I already miss my brother, its only been 2 months, 18 to go.
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,876
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Once a member of "U Sucka's Miss Christmas" (USMC Dec. 26, 90 - Dec. 25, 94)I found that rather heart warming.
Reguardless of weather you might be for or against this war in Iraq, (personnally against it for reasons I wont go into here) one thing must remain clear. That the images you see on that video are only distant and glossy reflections of a much harsher reality. Being there... is something else. Especially during the Holidays. It's a job and they do it well, no over-time, no holiday pay, no week-ends, and if you average it out to dollars and hours it is half of minimum wage for most, and the rest not much more, even with $190 combat pay per month. IMPO Not one should be allowed to purchase their own dinner or drinks when they return. And X-mas and Thanksgiving rescheduled for thier return.
Mark
Mark Heller "Well - I oughta....." -Jackie Gleason
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 25
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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 SLIENT 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, WHISPERED,"CARRRY 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."
This poem was written by a Marine stationed in Okinawa, Japan.
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 806
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adamb, welcome to ECN....
And thank you for posting that poem. It brought tears to my eyes.
God bless you and all our servicemen and women.
Stupid should be painful.
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 25
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mxslick It brought tears to my eyes too, right or wrong our troops are away from home, missing little ones and loved ones x-miss, to try to make our life safer. Hopefully they know our thoughts are with them.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS WHERE EVER YOU ARE!!!!!
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Posts: 32
Joined: June 2004
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