He wouldnt be around for Christmas, which he informed us was tomorrow.

In my view, counting days was akin to tempting fate.

Life at Con Thien was dicey enough without that kind of distraction.

US Marines in Christmas religious services in Vietnam War

Marines gather near a bunker to pray on Christmas Day in Vietnam. The location of the base means issued weapons remain close at hand. Image: U.S. Marine Corps

Dont guess well be getting a white Christmas.

Berntson was masterful in his grasp of the obvious.

In fact, if those clouds hover like they usually do…

USMC Pfc Frank Bunton on patrol in Vietnam War with Christmas tree 1967 Con Thien

In December 1967, Pfc. Frank N. Bunton carries a small decorated Christmas tree while on a patrol north of Con Thien, Vietnam. Image: NARA

He paused to wipe a layer of mud from his G.I.

spectacles with a section of his equally muddy t-shirt.

Id say its gonna be a wet Christmas.

Marine Corporal Larry Nabb reads next to a Christmas tree December 1968 in Vietnam War

Marine Cpl. Larry Go Nabb of Colorado finds a moment of peace next to a decorated Christmas tree at Quang Tri Combat Base in 1968. Image: Staff Sgt. D. Shearer/NARA

All along our section of Con Thiens perimeter, Marines began to count.

It sounded like a game show where the audience counts down to the big prize drawing.

We thought it would be a big hit Stateside.

Marines decorate a Christmas tree at Con Thien December 1968

Pfc. Steve Boggn and Cpl. Ren Horton decorate a Christmas tree at Con Thien in December 1968. The tree had been sent from home by Boggn’s grandmother. Image: U.S. Marine Corps

Something like Hunker in the Bunker or Sing for Your Shrapnel.

Nothing ourNavy Corpsmencouldnt handle.

Just another dreary day on a shell-pocked little knob of dirt that the Vietnamese called the Hill of Angels.

Santa Claus visits 5th Marine Division in Christmas Day 1969 during the Vietnam War

Using hisChinooksleigh, Santa Claus delivers presents to United States Marines deployed to Vietnam on Christmas Day, 1969. Image: U.S. Marine Corps

And Peace On Earth… Elvis was just winding down his rendition of Blue Christmas when an oily-voiced G.I.

disc jockey came on with the days top news.

The lead story prompted hoots and croupy chuckles from everyone within earshot of Berntsons radio.

Marines at Fire Support Base Dick Republic of Vietnam 1968

U.S. Marines at Fire Support Base Dick spend Christmas Day 1968 making the most of the holiday. Image: NARA

A Christmas ceasefire had been declared throughout Vietnam.

Just goes to show you, I grumbled.

Theres always that 10 percent that dont get the word.

Marines decorate a Christmas tree near Danang Vietnam

Known as “Mr. Christmas,” Lance Cpl. Ronald Christmas decorates a Christmas tree with Navy Chaplain Lt. Vernon Awes at Force Logistic Command, near Da Nang. Image: NARA

He pointed at Berntsons radio and growled.

Some of you sweethearts probably heard about that ceasefire horseshit.

As usual, the Gunny was candid and direct.

Santa leads Marines in Christmas carols in Vietnam during 1968

Santa leads Marines of the 9th Marine Regiment in Christmas carols in Vietnam on Christmas Day 1968. The woman on the left was a journalist who delivered gifts from Jacksonville, Florida. Image: NARA

For the past two weeks, wed been on a solid C-ration diet.

Desperate battles had broken out over cookie crumbs from parental care packages.

Now they planned to bring a Christmas meal complete with turkey and trimmings up to us skeletal waifs?

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Was there something to this Hill of Angels business that wed so loudly and roundly cursed?

Speculation ran rampant throughout the bunkers.

A major part of those prayers was answered on Christmas Day, which dawned bright and cloudless.

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Santa, in a gaggle of Marine Corps helicopters, had been cleared to fly.

Ever cautious and leery of them heathen commie bastards, the Gunny organized us into 10-man sections.

I counted just four, likely the anti-christ battery, declaring that Hanoi aint the boss of them.

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Regardless, we were within safe distance of our bunker if we sprinted.

But sprinting risked spilling the glorious feast on our paper plates.

We hunched our shoulders over the chow and did a version of the green-apple quickstep.

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Four HE rounds hit well away from me as I watched my Christmas dinner disappear into the slime.

Who knew cranberries would float?

The True Spirit…

Thats when I became familiar with the true spirit of Christmas.

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Berntson divided his dinner into precisely equal proportions and gave me half.

Every year around this time of year, I find myself remembering that time with a smile.