Christmas At Sea 1945 by J.M. McDowell USN

The US Navy has long had the tradition of the Christmas or New Years poem. (No one said they were great.) Here is a rather old one. (I wrote some myself and put them in the log in 1986 and 1987.)

CHRISTMAS AT SEA, 1945

A Merry Christmas, which I know
Is better here than in Sasebo!

Next Christmas, and the ones to come,
I hope all hands will spend at home.

Let’s hope and pray that ne’er again,
Must we spend Christmas killing men.

That peace will reign beyond our time,
No guns compete with Christmas chimes.

Let’s offer thanks for where we are,
For Christmas time not spent at war,

And honor those who gave their lives,
While we head home toward our wives.

— Commander J. M. McDowell, U.S.N.
Commanding Officer, ex-H.I.J.M.S. I-400.