"It Happened One Night"

Before we get to Okinawa, and as it IS Christmas, I dug out a forty year old "poem" I'd almost forgotten I had. I doubt it'll ever make the public library, but this is the way it went...........

"It Happened One Night"---------by Mike Bradbury, "K" Company 3rd platoon, 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines, Vietnam---------

I saw many strange things in Vietnam but the night we broke all laws,

Was in a lagoon, when our platoon, gunned down Santa Claus

It was shortly before midnight, on a humid December day,

On top of a hill, waiting to kill, whoever might come our way

T'was then we heard this "jingling", definitely heading our way,

When into the clear came a squad of reindeer, and an old fat man in a sleigh

"Credit the Lukes" said our Captain, "These zippers don't miss a trick,

Trying to screen a bunch of Marines, by posing as Old Saint Nick"

He was flying at treetop level, and then as he tried to go higher,

"WASTE HIM GUYS, HE'S A LUKE IN DISGUISE!" And everyone opened fire

The night was ablaze with gunfire, the sleigh would pitch and would roll,

The reindeer leaped and came down in a heap, from our 30-caliber holes

My bazooka was ready and loaded, but I never got off a shot,

The sleigh hit the sand and threw the old man, the situation was hot

The bearded one scrambled for cover, he moaned and he hacked and he coughed

He fell on his butt screaming "You guys are NUTS", Our machineguns finished him off

We gathered around all the bodies, to admire the carnage we'd caused,

But our Gunny said "LOOK", this ain't no Luke, it really IS Santa Claus!

The Captain commanded "Keep Silent!" No photographs or reporters

Back in DaNang they'll be looking to hang, the screwball who issued this order

"Well sir, what do you think? Is it more than fable and lore?"

"Ya'll ain't too quick, there AIN'T no Saint Nick.........leastwise not anymore!"

Our Company Chaplain came forward, and prayed for every sinner,

"No matter the cost, all is not lost, There'll be VENISON for dinner!"

In classic Marine tradition, we'd shot him off of his skids,

And as we say in Company "K", "MERRY CHRISTMAS, KIDS!"

....................(Next stop-----Okinawa).............