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Thu, January 02 2025, 10:42:52 [ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4, [5], 6 ]

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Date Posted: Mon, March 26 2007, 14:34:47
Author: Harry Larsen (been there, done that)
Author Host/IP: blv-proxy-04.boeing.com / 130.76.32.144
Subject: Re: Christmas Away From Home
In reply to: Jim Parkinson 's message, "Christmas Away From Home" on Sat, March 24 2007, 7:00:32

My Christmas away from home was much like any other day in the Marine Corps in Vietnam. I had an 8-hour watch (we were in a “cease fire” between Christmas eve and New Year’s Day). I wrote some letters during this slack time and then I had evening guard duty.

I’d already received a 3-jar pack of jam (strawberry, blackberry, raspberry) from an aunt in San Francisco (blackberry jar was broken when I opened it). I’d also received a number of Christmas cards from folks I’d been writing to, and my monthly “care” package from my Mom and sister, which contained an 8-inch long salami, half a dozen packs of Juicyfruit and Blackjack gum, a big bag of raisins, and chocolate cookie crumbs surrounded by popcorn and contained within a large coffee can.

There were a few attempts at Christmas trees throughout our cantonment, the one in our tent was made from paper and I’d seen others made from various scraps of whatever was handy.

I also received a care package from an elementary school student. It contained a paperback novel, a toothbrush, hard Christmas candy canes, and gum along with a homemade Christmas card handwritten by the third-grade student.

Similar small packages were distributed throughout our artillery battery. One of the guys in my tent received a “canned” cocktail from his student. (The cocktail can was about the size of a pudding cup.) He read his card which contained a note from the parent who’d been overseas during WW2 and figured the drink might be appreciated.

One of my Christmas cards had a $10 check in it. Trouble was I didn't know my bank acocunt number and somehow, I lost it. However, I had only four months to serve on my tour.

Christmas was a somewhat lonely time, as were all my days in Vietnam, but not particularly different than most other days.

We did have a special Christmas meal, but I can't remember what it was. I do remember New Years eve and congratulating my buddies on making it thus far.

Semper fi,

Harry

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