The Freeper Foxhole - Christmas 2006 - December 25th, 2006

[snippy_about_it]

Lord,

Keep our Troops forever in Your care

Give them victory over the enemy...

Grant them a safe and swift return...

Bless those who mourn the lost.
.

FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer
for all those serving their country at this time.


...................................................................................... ...........................................

U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues

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Merry Christmas Everyone



As we celebrate another Christmas in the United States, please take a moment to remember those that gave up spending Christmas with their family and friends so that we may enjoy our Christmas in peace.


********

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"





For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,

I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night." "It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.

My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.

I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.

I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?

It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.

To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.

Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,

That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

---

---

FReeper Foxhole Armed Services Links

[snippy_about_it]

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 Stockings 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,
Whispered, "Carry On Santa,
It's Christmas Day, All Is Secure."

One Look At My Watch,
And I Knew He Was Right.
"MERRY CHRISMAS My Friend"
And To All A Good Night"

[snippy_about_it]

For a wonderful history of our military at Christmastime please see our thread from 2003.

The FReeper Foxhole Remembers Our Troops at Christmas - (Dec 1776 - Dec 2003)

[Cindy]

"Lord, Keep our Troops forever in Your care Give them victory over the enemy... Grant them a safe and swift return."

In Jesus' Holy Name.
Amen.

[PAR35]

Up late or up early?

Merry Christmas to you and Sam.

[E.G.C.]

Merry Christmas from Southwest Oklahoma.

((HUGS))

[alfa6]

Merry Christmas to all the denizens of the Freerer Foxhole.

Your prayers would be appreciatted for my neighbors two doors down. Their house caught fire this morning about 5am. I don't think any body got hurt but it's to dark to see much. I will post more when I find out.

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[snippy_about_it]

Up early.

Merry Christmas PAR35. It was a rainy night in Georgia. Mid 50's for our first Southern Christmas.

[snippy_about_it]

and Amen.

[snippy_about_it]

Christmas (((Hugs)) for you from Southern Georgia.

[snippy_about_it]

Oh my, of course. Prayers lifted up for your neighbors.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Merry Christmas, snippy!

Pretty good spread at the Mainside DFAC aboard al Taqaddum Air Base today. I'm stuffed! Our troops here are doing pretty well this Christmas. Even saw Santa's sleigh this morning (or it might have been a John Deere Gator disguised to LOOK like Santa's sleigh.)

[AmericanMade1776]

Thank you lord for our soliders, who stand gaurd over Freedom, while we celebrate Christmas. I pray that you will protect all of our troops from harm, and may their enemies falter, and may Peace rule today...today on Christmas!
Amen

[snippy_about_it]

Very cool. Thanks for the Christmas update. I'm glad our soldiers and support staff are eating well. Merry Christmas. btw-Santa only drives the very best!

[Cannoneer No. 4]

From Left: explosive ordnance disposal technicians, Sgt. Sean D. Pinckney, 30, a native of Jeffersonville, Ind., Staff Sgt. John Pado and Sgt. Harry W. Parker, 34, a native of Cedar Hill, Texas, perform a controlled explosive detonation while counteracting improvised explosive devices in Al Anbar Province. Currently, the Marines with 2nd EOD Platoon, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), spend six months away from their family every year, but they feel their job makes a difference. “It has been greatest decision of my career,” said Pado, 27, a native of Toledo, Ohio. “Nowhere in the Department of Defense will you find anyone who can perform at a level as (EOD does).”

[GailA]

Merry CHRISTmas Snippy and every one.

May our Lord keep his hand on our men and women in harms way and let not one be harmed or killed this day. In the name of Jesus, amen.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Sgt. James Mendiola, 24, training supervisor with Support Company, Marine Wing Support Squadron 373, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) and a native of Sequin, Texas, receives a slice of pecan pie during a Thanksgiving Day celebration at the main-side dining facility of Camp Taqaddum November 23. When service members walked through the doors, they stepped into a room containing a colorful variety of confetti hanging from the ceilings and balloons on the floor. Dominating the center of the dining room was a dried-icing sculpture of a giant turkey, compliments of the chow hall staff. During the festivities, the service members ate ham and turkey with cornbread stuffing, vegetables and shrimp. After dinner they moved on to desert with a selection of pies, ice cream and other pastries.

I had the pecan pie today, with a scoop of Baskin-Robbins Pralines & Cream ice cream. It's the gym for me tomorrow.

[snippy_about_it]

Times sure have changed and it's a good thing. Thanks for the pictures.

[snippy_about_it]

Merry Christmas Gail.

[manna]

Hi!

[Soaring Feather]

Merry Christmas, FOXHOLE!




May there be peace on earth.