DECEMBER 10, 1971
Why Are You Crying, John?
Why me, John? I didn't want to fight this blasted war. It was my patriotic duty; that's what everyone told me. If being patriotic means dying, then forget it.
Who'd ever think there'd be a raid on Christmas Day, during a cease fire yet?
The pain, John, stay with me, help me. Things keep going thru my mind, like I remember when I was younger and Christmas. It sure meant a lot to me - putting up the tree, fighting over who would put on the star, all the whispering about who's getting who what.
And the smell of all the spicy, sweet cookies and cakes. On Christmas Eve we would hang up our stockings and crawl close to our father while he'd tell us the story of "The Night Before Christmas." 0 n Christmas morning we would practically fly down the stairs and dive into the presents piled all around the tree.
One year I got an actual gun for hunting, and I thought it was the most wonderful thing I'd ever received - shows how wrong you can be sometimes.
What's that, John? No, I'm not crying. Well, maybe a little. It's an awful feeling to know you're going to die soon.
Did you receive a card this afternoon that said Christmas Greetings - from your captain? Thought it was nice of him. I got it just before the raid alarm sounded.
The pain - it's getting so bad. I can't see anymore! John, are you still here? Words are going through my mind. I can't tell what they are. Wait they're getting clearer - words to some Christmas carol, I think. Now I've got it. The line goes "Peace on Earth, Good Will Towards Men."
Why are you crying, John?