Santa, Do You Remember Me?

Dear Santa Claus,


You probably don't remember me because, well I haven't believed in you since I was a kid. But, here goes nothing. 


My name is SSgt Mj Smith* and I'm 21yrs old. I am currently stationed in this god-forsaken desert country somewhere. I've never really been this far away from home before. I thought I would be rotated home for the holidays but unfortunately, that isn't going to happen. 


I'm really not sure what they are going to do for us guys over here, but I'm sure it won't be anything as good as Grandma's apple pie and Mom's homemade sugar cookies. The food here isn't bad per say, but I'd much rather be sitting at home eating with my brothers and sisters. 


What do I want for Christmas? Well, first I would ask for this fucking war to end. I'd ask for the nightmares to go away, for all my friends to stop dying around me. Most of all Santa, I'd like to come home in one piece. 


I love being a Soldier, don't get me wrong Santa, but when I signed up I didn't really understand just how hard it is. I didn't know that I would look forward to phone calls at 3am from home because it's daytime there. I didn't know that I would have to stare in the face of my best friend and watch him die while I laid helpless beside him. I never knew there was so much damn hatred in the world and that people could be so inherently cruel to one another. Most of all, I never knew how much I would miss myself. 


It's so hard to find reasons to smile or to laugh anymore Santa. Couldn't you find it in your compressed time frame and stop by here. I don't need much. A candy cane and maybe some chocolate and a phone card. OK lots and lots of phone cards. I believe in you Santa. I have to. If I don't believe in you, I won't believe in anything.


You are everything that is good and pure and wonderful on this earth. That is worth believing in. That is worth me fighting for and that is worth me dying for if that is my destiny. (kinda don't want that last one though)


So, Santa, if you can make it, please stop by Christmas Eve. Me and the guys here will do our best to make sure you land safely with the Reindeer (on the sand though the tents suck for supporting the sleigh). 


Thank you Santa, for letting me ramble on. 




Yours ever so truly,


SSGT Mj Smith 




p.s. If it isn't too much trouble, I could really use The Vampire Diaries on Blu-Ray and Lost Girl.  












*name and story are purely fictional and not to be confused with anyone dead or living*

Christmas in Uniform. Making Merry for Our Military

Christmas in Uniform

Making Merry for Our Military

We watch the television and see our men and women who are overseas fighting/peace-keeping and wonder how we can make their holiday season go a little better?

With the recent Wars, more focus has been placed on our Military Personnel stationed in far away lands.  With having little comforts of home and a long depressing holiday season ahead, it should be 'our' responsibility (yes I said responsibility); to ensure that they are not forgotten.

Yes, their respective families and friends send care packages, letters and trinkets to let them know they are thought of, but at this time of the year that simply isn't enough. Sending a care package to someone overseas doesn't have to be expensive or elaborate.

A simple shoe box filled with non perishable goods like trail mix, candy bars, gum, phone cards (believe me, phone cards mean so much). Letters, postcards and quick notes to say 'Hey, you are thought of and appreciated this holiday season', can make the difference in a Soldier's outlook. Christmas in a desert, isn't like celebrating on your home soil. Christmas trees are a thrill to have on post. Of course, the best gift to send a Soldier this holiday season, is the gift of hope and love.

If you knew that your freedom came from someone standing tall. Guarding you from invaders.  Wouldn't you want to express your gratitude?

Below is a list of companies that can help with sending a care package to 'ANY' serviceman or servicewoman around the world. If you choose one selfless act to do this holiday season, send a piece of your heart to a Soldier. It won't go unappreciated and you may just change someone's life (including your own).

COMPANIES THAT CARE

http://www.uso.org/

http://anysoldier.com/

http://www.thesoldiersfamily.com/

http://www.ustroopcarepackage.com/

http://www.operationshoebox.com/  (one of my personal favorites)

http://www.giddygiftbox.com/military.html

http://www.operationgratitude.com/

http://www.cookiesdirect.net/?gclid=CNjgxt765KwCFacZQgodUCMJJA

http://militarymomathome.blogspot.com/2009/01/care-package-ideas.html (another favorites)

http://www.ehow.com/how_5239081_make-care-packages-soldiers.html

http://troopcarepack.com/ ( great site and company)

I AM A SOLDIER.....excerpt from 'Written in Blood'

I  AM A SOLDIER

Long hours with little pay

Respected by my peers hated by others

Passport full of distant land stamps

Letters from home close to my heart

Voices and nightmares converge into one

Politicians deciding where I lay my head

Fed clothed and sheltered

Home is but a sheltered dream

A Brotherhood in Arms 

Sacrificing my life to save yours

I protect your home and your land

You call me a murderer to my face

I gave my blood sweat and tears

Never asking for anything in return

Freedom given with a cost

I’m a soldier and this is my life

 

A New Soldier..excerpt from "Written in Blood"

A New Soldier’s Life

Fresh faced and innocent signing up to fight

Weeks of basic training enduring on the mind

Rugged and tough eyes opened to new realities

Still unaware of the life to come

Deployed to a war zone engulfed in courageous fear

Prepared to stand post until properly relieved

Letters from home sparse but give hope

News and goodies welcomed sight to behold

Days turn into months, endless sleepless nights

Drills and exercises become second nature

Movie and popcorn a thrill on a Saturday night

A slight moment of relaxation within the bounds of war

Battle lines drawn memories embedded

Tour of duty concludes with bittersweet goodbyes

Plane ride home engulfs joyful anticipation

Family awaits their heroic soldiers return

A new soldiers life filled with challenge and awe

Regaining some semblance of normality

Daily routines begin to take hold

Always ready to protect our freedom

Thank You is Never Enough..excerpt from 'Written in Blood'

A Thank You Is Never Enough

For Standing proud day or night

For wearing the Uniform that some may hate

For sacrificing friends and family

A Thank You is Never Enough

 

For cold lonely nights in far away lands

For having MREs instead of a home cooked meal

For early morning PT in sub zero temperatures

A Thank You is Never Enough

 For staring down the barrel of a gun

For facing your own mortality day after day

For countless nightmares that haunt

A Thank You is Never Enough

For coming home battered or bruised

For not coming home at all

For finding peace within the loud silence

A Thank You is Never Enough

For yearly holidays taken for granted

For parades and ceremonies and medals adorned

For being a SOLDIER

A Thank You is Never Enough

Written in Blood..excerpt from `Written in Blood`

Written in Blood


Standing at the gates of death
Awaiting my turn for judgment
The book filled with thousands of pages
A few names engraved crimson red
                                              
I asked around and wondered why
Some names had no coloring
The gatekeeper pondered on how to answer
What you do is how you are engraved

Still in uniform with the lethal wound
Looking down on my friends and family
I snuck a peek and saw my name
Etched in red so everyone could read
Tears well up within my eyes
As the explanation began
You see you were killed in action
Your name is Written in Blood

You have a special place within the gates
A brotherhood of perfect strangers
Brought together in life and death
Welcome Home Solider you are loved