THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
(ON USS BROOKE)
(With apologies to the original authors)
'Twas the night before Christmas aboard U.S.S. Brooke
Not a sailor was stirring except the standing
watch and the duty cook
The dungarees were hung on the racks with care
In hopes that a liberty port would soon would be
there;
The crew were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of Subic danced in their heads;
And the captain in his P.J.s and I in my skivvies,
Had just settled down for a few hours of Zzzzzzs,
When up on the deck there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my rack to see what was the matter.
Away to the main deck with speed none could match,
Ran up the ladder and threw open the hatch.
The moon on the seas and the star filled night
Gave the luster of mid-day, what a beautiful
sight,
When, what to my wondering ears should I hear,
But that “whoop whoop” sound every sailor holds
dear
With a helmeted pilot and running lights aglow
I knew in a moment it must be the “mail” helo.
More rapid than an eagle the chopper came,
And pilot radioed and called Brooke by name;
"Mystic Isle, Mystic Isle, are the decks clear?”
“I’ll need to refuel cause I’m carrying lots of
gear”
To the top of the radar! to the top of the bridge!
Let’s get this evolution moving because I feel
like I’m in a fridge!"
So down on the flight deck the helo they flew,
With the chopper full of mail, and some new
movies too.
And then, in a twinkling, I saw something weird
It was the pilot in a red suit and a bushy white
beard
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Across the flight deck St. Nicholas came with a
bound.
He was decked out in fur, from his head to his foot,
And he looked like a snipe cause he was covered
in soot;
A sack full of goodies he had flung on his back,
And he looked like my Chief after he had just
climbed out of his rack.
He had a red face and a large round belly,
That shook, when he walked like a bowlful of
jelly.
He was chubby and plump, with a coffee cup in hand
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of the
extra duty I would stand;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had plenty to dread;
And still I hopped he would give me a reprieve,
Because even the Chief has a heart on Christmas Eve
He spoke not a word, but left with his pack,
Leaving mail and goodies on everyone’s rack,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
Down the main passageway and up to the flight
deck he rose;
He sprang to his helo, to his crew gave a shout,
“Spin this baby up and lets cut-out”.
But I heard him exclaim, as he disappeared into the mist,
“Merry Christmas to all and you owe me big time for
this”
USS Brooke was
in commission for twenty two years. That's twenty two Christmas Days by my
sailor math. Below is a listing of where she was on Christmas Day for each of
those twenty two years (with the exception of 1969 since I didn't have a copy of
the command history for that year). I hope this brings back some memories for
you of that time in our lives so long ago.
DECEMBER 25, 1966: INPORT SAN DIEGO, CA
DECEMBER 25, 1967: INPORT SAN DIEGO, CA
DECEMBER 25, 1968: INPORT SAN DIEGO, CA
DECEMBER 25, 1969: NOT SURE, DON’T HAVE 1969 COMMAND
HISTORY
DECEMBER 25, 1970: INPORT LBNS, LONG BEACH, CA
DECEMBER 25, 1971: INPORT SAN DIEGO, CA
DECEMBER 25, 1972: YANKEE STATION, GULF OF TONKIN
DECEMBER 25, 1973: INPORT SAN DIEGO, CA
DECEMBER 25, 1974: INPORT SAN DIEGO, CA
DECEMBER 25, 1975: INPORT HONG KONG
DECEMBER 25, 1976: INPORT SAN DIEGO, CA
DECEMBER 25, 1977: INPORT SAN DIEGO, CA
DECEMBER 25, 1978: INPORT SAN DIEGO, CA
DECEMBER 25, 1979: INPORT LBNS, LONG BEACH, CA
DECEMBER 25, 1980: INPORT SAN DIEGO, CA
DECEMBER 25, 1981: SRF, SUBIC BAY, PI
DECEMBER 25, 1982: INPORT SAN DIEGO, CA
DECEMBER 25, 1983: INPORT SAN DIEGO, CA
DECEMBER 25, 1984: INPORT SAN DIEGO, CA
DECEMBER 25, 1985: INPORT SAN DIEGO, CA
DECEMBER 25, 1986: INPORT SAN DIEGO, CA
DECEMBER 25, 1987: INPORT SAN DIEGO, CA
22 CHRISTMAS DAYS IN COMMISSION. FIVE AWAY FROM HOME PORT
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