'Twas the Night Before Christmas

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Tristan Truesdell
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  "'Twas the night before Christmas in the Missile Field,
All our Airmen were ready, as our nation's shield.

Their M-4s were hung from their shoulders with care,
Though nobody should, they wished someone would dare.

The chef had swept the last crumbs from the floor,
The FM had fixed every squeak in each door.

The day shift was nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of tater tots danced in their heads.

Missileers capsule, keys ready to turn,
Minutemen in the ground, boosters ready to burn.

When outside the LF there arose such a clatter,
The FSC looked to see what was the matter.

Away the fire team flew like a flash,
Jumped in a Humvee, held on to the dash.

There wasn't a light, no stars and no moon,
And the wind had been blowing since sometime in June.

When what to their wondering eyes did appear,
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.

They surrounded St. Nick with his hands held up high,
"See, that wind blew my sleigh right out of the sky."

"Are you really Santa, can I see your I.D.?"
"You can call NORAD, they'll tell you its me."

So they called and confirmed he was who he said,
The jolly old man, dressed as always, in red.

"I'll be on my way if you give me a hand."
So they dusted him off and they helped him to stand.

They righted his sleigh and they sent him along,
And he called out to his reindeer just like in the song:

"Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer and Vixen!
On Comet, on Cupid, on Donder and Blitzen!"

The fire team stood and they watched him depart,
They got back in the Humvee, but it wouldn't start.

But then with a twinkle, a star in the night,
Santa started the engine and flew out of sight.

The defenders returned to the MAF by and by,
The mission went on and they understood why:

They gave up their holiday to protect freedom,
Always ready, secure, and here if we need them.

Just one more thing, when it's all calm and bright,
"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night."