CHRISTMAS WITH THE CORPS
T’was the night before Christmas and all through the Corps;
no one had liberty; the troops were all sore.
We were all sacked out – every man in the lot;
on our beds of spikes; the Marine Corps cot.
Then out of the night there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my rack to see whats the matter.
I rushed to the window while craning my neck,
but I tripped on my locker and fell on the deck.
The door opened wide, and it seemed to get colder;
when I saw that St. Nick had four stars on his collar.
It was the Commandant, there was never a doubt;
he was wearing his poncho, with the green side out.
He tip-toed around by every man’s rack;
closely inspecting each man’s field marching pack.
A chosen few got a ninty-six chit,
but most of us got a ration of shit.
Then he took off in his gold plated tank;
drawn by 8 colonels, all bucking for rank.
Going over the trees, he turned with a shout;
“Merry Christmas, your bastards, you’ll never get out!!”
Semper Fi!!!
I spent 3 Christmas while in The Corps 1st was at ITR Geiger but we were surprised by getting a 96 and got to go home for the holiday. 2nd was at “The Liberty Bridge” standing watch in the .50 Cal bunker ( Christmas Eve) with 2 grunts from the 1/5. 3rd was at Rifle Range Camp Lejeune,however got leave and spent Christmas at home. Semper Fi and Merry Christmas Harry 1371 MC 1967-1970
Merry Christmas!! Semper Fi
Merry Christmas to all the military and their families.
My Marine passed Dec. 2018.
There’s a special place in my heart for the Marines. Love all the military, but my Captain Christmas has a special place.
Merry Christmas to all my brothers, who are not going to be home for Christmas. You will never have to
worry as you are all in my heart and prayers. As a”MARINE VETERAN” i know how it feels to be thousand of miles away from love one’s. As we celebrate holiday i promise in my house you will not be
forgotten. May God look over you all, and thank you for your service.
Semper Fi
David
very enjoyable read-thanks for making me laugh
Thanks for the great laugh, loved it. Semper-Fi Marine and Merry Christmas 56-59 3rd Marines
Jingle bells
shotgun shells
VC in the grass
Take your Merry Christmas tree
And shove it . . .
well, you get the point.
Merry Christmas, fellow jarheads!
Two Christmas’ in Vietnam with my brothers gave me the true meaning of what a Christmas away from home means and what sacrifice those who serve and those who served paid. Especially the families! God Bless one and all!
Every day a celebration, every meal a feast.
I remember this when I was in
OUT STANDING!!!!!!
OOH-RAH to all Marines, Sgt. Tom Cheevers, 73-77, Motor T, Embassy Guard. Semper Fi.
To Marines at duty stations around the world, from posts more distant from the guardhouse than my own I shout out to you “Merry Christmas ” defenders of freedom! Having spent 4 Christmas’s away from home, 2 while deployed aboard the USS Peleliu and the USS New Orleans I know the sacrifice and commitment you make to our beloved Marine Corps. To each and every Marine you make a difference each and every day you serve! Merry Christmas to you and your families!
Mid-December, 1965 – not quite Christmas, but close – on an operation a few “clicks” South of Chu Lai, someone placed a small – 2 foot ? – conifer type tree with Christmas lights right outside a command tent. At approximately 22:00 hours a huge “Grunt” – 6′ 4″, 220 lbs, at least – walked up chanting “Ho-Ho-Ho, Merry Christmas” as he tossed a dead V.C. under the tree.
“Merry Christmas, ya’ filthy animals” and Semper Fi
From a hooch in the ville
Where we huckered from chill
We heard him bark out
As he rode out of sight
Piss on you all
It’s a hell of a night.
Merry Christmas to all…..
OK, who’s going to set the record straight?
Loved the poem, Christmas with the Corps, but I maintain that one line is incorrect. Another Marine and Vietnam vet says that he has no recollection of a poncho liner.
The one line I question is, “he was wearing his poncho with the green side out”: I say that there were not TWO sides to the poncho, but there were two sides to the poncho LINER.
He well remembers his poncho, but not the poncho LINER. At age 79, I may be losing it, but I’m still remembering the poncho liner that helped a little bit from those cold nights in I Corps during monsoon season!
It’s called pentameter and part of poetic style. I realize there were only solid, green, rubber ponchos, but the words are needed to make the poem flow. Just change the line to: “he was wearing his helmet cover, with the green side out.” Semper Fi!!
So if he wore his poncho green side out,it could be inside out. What other color would it be? Poncho liner was camo. Did they make a camo poncho? Harry 1371