Black Sheep Christmas

The meeting @ the VFW had ended. Gunny and his crew were cleaning the hall. Charlie was commenting how great the first graders had recited the "Pledge of Allegiance." The heart throbbing stories of each child telling about where Dad was stationed. Many also mention their hero Grandpa and where he had served. The Hall echoed many stories filled with love.

The cleanup was finished and Gunny bought the guys a beer. The stories began with memories of their grandpas and grandchildren. The pain of the grandchildren missing their Mom's & Dad's hung heavy on their hearts. Wheel chair bound Fred wistfully commented commented "Wouldn't it be great if we grandpa's could bring those Mom & Dad's home for Christmas?" They finished their beer but the seed of an idea had been planted.

Y'all know there is nothing more powerful than a grandpa, except perhaps a grandma. When Gunny shared the story with his wife the seed began to germinate. Before the weeks end the grandma's had motivated the grandpa's to take action. Gunny got his list of the "Black Sheep" squadron and began making phone calls.

The secret meeting of the "Black Sheep" would have made Army, Navy, and Marine logistics folks shake their heads. Many were in wheel chairs and using walkers but all wanted a piece of this mission. Gunny check everyone's credentials. Most couldn't pass a physical but they were all grandpas and grandmas. One problem were the officers...But they too were grandpa's and were willing to take orders from Gunny.

The men and women formed a small platoon. The plan was to liberate 2 or 3 C-130s and fly to Iraq. Replace the Guys & Gals for a week and send 'em home to celebrate Christmas with the grandkids. Now how do we get into the computer systems to make this happen? Gunny found a young Marine with a heart and made her an honorary Grandma...Kelly worked those computers just like Uncle Sam had taught her.

The flights took off on schedule Refueled over Germany without too many lies. They landed in Baghdad and quickly climbed into then assigned vehicles. From out of no where came a line of Marine MPs surrounding the trucks. The first man on the ground was a Gunnery Sargent with a chest full of fruit salad. Gunny looked out the window and smiled....Climbing down he shouted "Helluva way to greet your old man!" It was his son. They quickly headed the "Black Sheep" to their mission with a few bachelor Marines to assist...

One by one the Vet's dropped off the truck, took a flack vest, weapon, and ammo and put a Gi in his place. Black Sheep squadron managed the mission with the precision of a battle field ballet. Eight days later the GI's returned and reversed the maneuver with one slight change. In the breast pocket of each flack vest was a candy cane to remind them of the season of love.

A few short weeks later It was Valentines Day and the "Black Sheep" squadron has made it home with only one tragedy (Fred had lost the wheel of his wheel chair in the Baghdad airport) Somehow Kelly had managed to lose all the court martial papers in the computer world. The grandkids were smiling again. The Guys at the VFW still claim it was the best Christmas yet... Mizpah ;-]]>