It was a few days ago when I realized that it’s been fifty years since my first Christmas in Vietnam. Fifty years…50...can you believe it? I actually don’t remember details of that first major holiday overseas except that I think I pulled guard duty on the western inner perimeter. The highlight of that night was that we were on an alert (red or yellow, I don’t remember which) because of the holiday, when all of a sudden there was an explosion on the refueling helipad to the east and then the chopper went up with a white-hot glow like I had never seen before.
Anyway, troubled times marked those days in our country’s history, much as they distinguish them now. The same they characterized Palestine over two thousand years ago. A lot of the world celebrates the holidays with Santa Claus, Father Christmas and Kris Kringle, but, of course, the real meaning of Christmas is contained in the name. I was talking with a friend some time ago and I mentioned to him that Jesus is a big deal to me. And he replied that Jesus was a big deal to him also! Jesus really became more real to me during my twenty-eight month tour in Vietnam, thanks to my platoon leader (who became my friend) CPT Larry Stallard. During my troubled times then when I was barely 21 years old, and over the past 50 years, Jesus Christ (who not what Christmas is all about) became and has continued to become more significant in my daily life.
In these troubled times in which we find ourselves, don’t be discouraged or lose hope. Believe it of not, God is still in control even if it doesn’t seem that this is true. God has said in his living Word the Bible that this life is a mystery, and he has shown himself to us in this holiday we call Christmas.
“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the Highest.’” (Luke 2:13-14) “To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ within you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27)
Merry Christmas everyone!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts Gordy. I say AMEN to everything you've said. I don't know how many jobs you had in the 225th, but when I arrived in the fall of 1968 and took over as XO when Bill Page was named Company Commander, you as Company Clerk and First Sergeant Hartman certainly made my job much easier. Thank you! May you and all our fellow Phanthomhawks have a BLESSED Christmas surrounded by your loved ones.
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