ProwlerOnline, Plymouth/Chrysler Prowler Discussion Forum
Off Topic
A Christmas Poem for our Service Men & Women (Page 2)
UBBFriend: Email This Page to Someone!
profile | register | preferences | faq | search
|
|
ProwlerOnline, Plymouth/Chrysler Prowler Discussion Forum
Off Topic
A Christmas Poem for our Service Men & Women (Page 2)
profile | register | preferences | faq | search
|
| This topic is 2 pages long: 1 2 This topic was originally posted in this forum: Tires, Rims Discusssion |
| Author | Topic: A Christmas Poem for our Service Men & Women |
|
BeWare Prowler Junkie Posts: 18511 |
posted 12-10-2001 01:52 PM
I had to post this > > >- Christmas Poem ------------------
|
|
ETMIDZT Prowler Junkie Posts: 2278 |
posted 12-10-2001 02:09 PM
Whata poem! Really makes ya think!! |
|
JUST JP Prowler Junkie Posts: 1023 |
posted 12-11-2001 05:41 AM
BeWare, I hope A LOT of Kat owners read this. I see it every Christmas it seems, from one source or another. As I'm sure you have, I myself spent a Christmas in a far off land. For me, it was Saudi Arabia. Desert Shield/Storm. I was lucky enough to come home to a U.S. that appreciated it. I have a feeling you were not so lucky. If that is the case, let me be one of the people who now shows some appreciation. Thank you for your service. ------------------ |
|
BeWare Prowler Junkie Posts: 18511 |
posted 12-11-2001 07:31 AM
Thanks JP. Your right when I came home from Vietnam we did not even dare wear our uniform in public. In fact when we left Vietnam we were advised to change into our civi's as soon as we hit the states. Thank You for your service and action in Desert Storm. ------------------
|
|
CJ Prowler Junkie Posts: 18860 |
posted 12-11-2001 07:36 AM
JP is right.....this surfaces every year at this time. It is a very moving poem. I Couldn't Help Wonder The Very Thought The Soldier Awakened I Fight For Freedom, There are so many again, this year, who will not be with their families. Just a little story for you...... When my son (USAF) was stationed in England a few years ago, he was not going to be able to get home for Christmas. He called us on Christmas Day to talk. He told us that a local English lady invited him and two other soldiers from his unit to her home for Christmas dinner. She made them a wonderful meal and made them feel at home. She was widowed with two young daughters. They played games, read stories and shared life stories. She insisted that my son and his friends call their families at home and talk to them......on her nickel!! I can't tell you how appreciative they were for all of her efforts. I made my son put her on the phone so that I could personally thank her for sharing her holiday with my son who couldn't be with his family. I think it almost meant as much to me as it did to my son that someone would do this for him. It's always hard being without him on a normal basis, let alone the holidays. So, if you have the opportunity to do this for one of our servicemen or women, please do. It's a small gesture, but one that means alot. |
|
Rich Tilden Prowler Junkie Posts: 343 |
posted 12-18-2001 09:33 AM
This is excellent and thought provoking, but just to get the facts correct, it started circulating the Internet back in 1998. I guess it's so good that people keep it alive. "The soldier who takes credit for composing this poem is not "a Marine stationed in Okinawa, Japan" (or, in a more recent version, one serving in Afghanistan) but a Major in the United States Air Force named Bruce Lovely, who says he wrote this piece on Christmas Eve 1993 while stationed in Korea (and saw it printed in the Ft. Leavenworth Lamp a few years later). We certainly owe a debt of gratitude to all the members of our armed forces, who during their active service have to give up some of the civilian freedoms the rest of us enjoy, and who are part of an organization that has to operate around the clock every day of the year and can't simply shut down and send everyone home for the holidays. However, nearly all of the soldiers we've heard from have commented that Christmastime was never as dreary for them as this poem might imply -- they were always invited over to other soldiers' homes for Christmas, or enjoyed the hospitality of local families wherever they were stationed, or at the very least spent the day in the company of their comrades in the barracks. Of course the point of the poem is its sentiment and not its literalness, but more than a few servicemen have asked us to express that although they appreciate the sentiment, they'd like everyone to know that few of them may have been exactly where they wanted to be at Christmas, but none of them passed Christmas Eve alone -- sleeping on a cold stone floor in a foreign country or anywhere else." |
|
Voodoo Prowler Junkie Posts: 216 |
posted 12-18-2001 10:10 AM
I think that this is a great poem. I have seen it two years in a row now and I hope it keeps going. I'm not in the armed services, I went another route--United States Merchant Marine. But this is the first year in 4 that I will be home for Christmas, so I know what it is like. The past four Christmas' were spent out at sea on one ship or another with about 20 to 30 other lonely souls. It can be hard and it's not for everybody but for those that do it, we should take a minute to say thank you. Voodoo |
|
ed monahan Prowler Junkie Posts: 33595 |
posted 12-19-2001 01:31 AM
Rich, I am not totalling disagreeing with you or trying to contradict you. I was drafted on May 21, 1965 and went to Ft. Knox for Basic Training and then stayed there for Radio Operator school. I was then transferred to Ft. Gordon, GA for an additional 11 weeks of radio teletype school, secret clearance and crypto training. I arrived in Uijongbu, Korea at my new assignment on Christmas Eve. I knew one guy that I had met at Ft. Gordon. We were assigned to a temporary Quonset Hut that was heated by a Kerosene stove, fed by a 5 gallon jug. The 5 gallons did not last the entire night, of course. The weather there was very similar to Cincinnati and it was pretty darn cold. We were not allowed to go to Christmas Eve Midnight Mass since we had just arrived and did not have a pass or any other papers. We were not the only guys in the Quonset Hut so technically we were not alone. We did not sleep on the floor but it was only a crummy cot. It was pretty cold. I am not looking for sympathy since that was 36 years ago, but trust me, that was one LOUSY Christmas, being 21 and in a third world country and away from your family for the first time, during the holidays. By the way, I never saw a radio the entire time I was in Korea, or thereafter for that matter. But they needed me in Korea and I had to go without getting a leave before hand. I'll bet this Christmas will be a lot better for me but there are a lot of families who will have a close relative that is not living so large. GOD BLESS AMERICA and pray to keep our soldiers, sailors, marines and Airmen safe. ------------------ |
|
CJ Prowler Junkie Posts: 18860 |
posted 12-19-2001 01:48 AM
Thanks for the story Ed......and thank you for enduring those hardships in the name of our Freedom!
This message has been edited by CJ on 12-19-2001 at 01:49 AM |
|
blackcat Prowler Junkie Posts: 1744 |
posted 12-20-2001 01:00 AM
I spent 3 Christmas's At Danang in Viet Nam and anyone who has been there knows that's the monsoon season. It rains 24x7. My first Christmas was spent at the end of the runway trying to save 12 Air Force troops who were aboard a B52 which had lost all hydraulics and crashed. All aboard were killed. I can also remember walking to the mess hall for Christmas dinner holding my mess kit above my head because the water was waste deep. Seems like they always camp the Marines in the crappiest part of the base. I'm not looking for sympathy here either. I actually got to see Bob Hope and his troupe 3 times. I will never forget and always cherish what I enjoy now. Merry Christmas to all. ------------------ |
|
BeWare Prowler Junkie Posts: 18511 |
posted 12-24-2001 10:50 AM
BC, I missed Bob Hope and his troupe, I was pulling KP in the officers mess and they would not allow us to leave to see the show. Christmas in Vietnam was just another day and as you pointed out the weather was lousy. It was the week of Christmas the canvas roof on our hut blew off and everything inside got soaked. We had to wring our matresses out like you would a sponge. I am not seeking sympathy either. In many ways I am glad I went to Vietnam. I learned allot. POW's & MIA's YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN |
|
pumpkin Prowler Junkie Posts: 7907 |
posted 12-24-2001 01:24 PM
Both myself and my wife were in the military, I myself retired from the navy with 23 years. Being home for xmas is wonderful.So our hearts go out to all the troops that are away from home. A merry xmas to all on this wonderful web site. Norm and Pat |
|
sunbird Prowler Junkie Posts: 595 |
posted 12-24-2001 11:20 PM
I spent 14 months in Viet Nam. First at DaNang and then moved to ChuLai. I spent Christmas at ChuLai. Monsoon was a real mess there!! ------------------ |
|
JUST JP Prowler Junkie Posts: 1023 |
posted 12-27-2001 12:11 PM
blackcat, Funny thing, I too got to see Bob Hope. Not only did I see his show, but he happened to be at the chow hall when I had my camera. I got this awesome shot of him from about two feet away as he walked around a corner where I was. I thought the world of him for coming over. Unfortunately, the Saudi gov't wouldn't allow him to bring any lovely ladies with him. That was a bummer. All in all, I not only grew up over there, I learned to appreciate ALL the little things in life. I would gladly do it over again. ------------------ |
| This topic is 2 pages long: 1 2 All times are CT (US) | This is an ARCHIVED topic. You may not reply to it! |
All material contained herein, Copyright 2000 - 2012 ProwlerOnline.com
Powered by Infopop www.infopop.com © 2000
E-Innovations, LP
Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.45c
