While walking in the concrete water drainage ditch that I usually use to strengthen my leg muscles (a thirty degree incline going up the exit) last week, I found a cardboard picture on the ground with the title "Happy Holidays".... showing two soldiers decorating a Christmas tree. On the backside of the picture, was this above titled poem (scroll down the page to find the bold print title), authored by Lance Corporal James M. Schmidt. as it appeared in Leatherneck magazine back in 1991.
According to Snopes.com (scroll down the page to find the following two paragraphs):
"The true story is that while a Lance Corporal serving as Battalion Counter Sniper at the Marine Barracks 8th & I, Washington, DC, under Commandant P.X. Kelly and Battalion Commander D.J. Myers [in 1986], I wrote this poem to hang on the door of the Gym in the BEQ. When Colonel Myers came upon it, he read it and immediately had copies sent to each department at the Barracks and promptly dismissed the entire Battalion early for Christmas leave. The poem was placed that day in the Marine Corps Gazette, distributed worldwide and later submitted to Leatherneck Magazine.
Merry Christmas, My Friend has been a holiday favorite among “leatherneckphiles” for nearly the time it takes to complete a Marine Corps career. Few, however, know who wrote it and when. Former Corporal James M. Schmidt, stationed at Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., pounded it out 17 years ago on a typewriter while awaiting the commanding officer’s Christmas holiday decorations inspection … while other leathernecks strung lights for the Barracks’ annual Christmas decoration contest, Schmidt contributed his poem to his section."
Beloved, not only enjoy reading the poem, but please share it with others as the Christmas season quickly approaches, to honor our veterans, both past and present (including Lance Corporal Schmidt). And to all my Marine Corps friends who read this blog ..... "Semper Fi"!
---Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets .... proudly served in the U.S. Air Force, Vietnam era -- August 1965-- July 1969, with tours in both Okinawa (Naha) and England (Bentwaters).
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