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 who in this home did live. As I looked all around, a strange sight did I see, no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree. No stocking by the fire, just boots filled with sand, on the wall hung pictures of far distant lands. With medals and badges, awards of all kinds, a sobering thought soon came to my mind. For this house was different, unlike any I'd see.. this was the home of a Marine. I'd heard stories about them, I had to see more, so I walked down the hall, pushed open a door. There he lay sleeping, silent, alone, curled up on the floor in his one bedroom home. He seemed so gentle, his face so serene, not how I pictured a Marine. Was this the hero, of whom I had read? Curled up in his poncho, a floor for his bed. His head was clean shaven, his weathered face tan. I soon understood, this was more than a man. For I realized the families that I saw on this night, owed their lives to these men, who were willing to fight. Soon around the nation, the children would play, and grown ups would celebrate a bright Christmas Day. They all enjoyed freedom, each month and each year, because of Marines like this one lying here. I couldn't help wonder how many lay alone, on a cold Christmas Eve, in a land far from home. Just the very thought bought a tear to my eye, I dropped to my knees and started to cry. He must have awoken, for 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." With that he rolled over, drifted back to sleep, I couldn't control it, I started to weep. I watched him for hours, so silent and still. I noticed he shivered from the night's chill. So I took off my jacket, the one made of red, and covered this Marine from his toes to his head. Then I put on his T-shirt of scarlet and gold, with an eagle, globe and anchor emblazoned so bold. And although it barely fit me, I began to swell with pride, and for one shining moment, I was Marine Corps deep inside. I didn't want to leave him, so quiet in the night, this guardian of honor so willing to fight. But half asleep, he rolled over and in a voice clean and pure, said, "Carry on Santa, it's Christmas Day, all secure" One look at my watch and I knew he was right, Merry Christmas my friend, Our Troops! and goodnight.
However, the author was able to find out what happened from retired Marine Gen. Charles Krulak, who was commandant when the story took place. Every Christmas during his tenure, Krulak delivered cookies to every Marine duty post around Washington and Quantico, Va. Back in 1998, he was making his final delivery to Marine Corps Combat Development Command headquarters at Quantico when he asked the Marine on duty who the officer of the day was. “The young Marine said, ‘Sir, it’s Brigadier General Mattis.’” Krulak thought the Marine had misunderstood him, so he asked again, but he got the same answer. “I looked around the duty hut and in the back, there were two cots: One for the officer of the day and one for young Marine. I said, ‘OK, let me cut through all of this: Who was the officer who slept in that bed last night?’ “And the Marine said, ‘Sir, Brigadier General Mattis.’” At that moment, Mattis walked around the corner. “So I said to him, ‘Jim, what are you standing the duty for?’ “And he said, ‘Sir, I looked at the duty roster for today and there was a young major who had it who is married and had a family; and so I’m a bachelor, I thought why should the major miss out on the fun of having Christmas with his family, and so I took the duty for him.’ ” Never before or since has Krulak run into a general officer standing duty on Christmas Day. “I think it says volumes about Jim Mattis and his leadership style,” Krulak said. “He did it very unobtrusively. He just took the duty.” Some of us just can't wait for the new Sheriff to hit town....
