Greetings and salutations,
Some of you might remember me from ages past. I am Jon Spratling, formerly TankerJoe. It's taken a couple of years since I dissappeared to get my life half way straightened out. I look forward to to catching up with the old timers and getting to know the new faces. I found a poem from years ago that yall might get a chuckle from.
Santa's a Tanker
T'was the night before defense and all through the tank,
not a crewman was stirring so there wasn't a clank,
Our ammo was stowed in the turret with care,
in hopes that some targets soon would be there.
The crewmen were sleeping on the back deck,
I pulled the first watch, figured oh what the heck.
CO's in his HUMVEE and I'm on the steel,
I'm watching our sector cause I know the deal.
When out in the EA there arose such a clatter, -EA, engagement area-
I went to my sight to see what's the matter.
To TRP RED I slewed like a flash, -TRP RED target reference point designated RED-
Flipped it off stand-by (this sight's worth the cash). -thermal sight in the M1A1, stand-by to active-
When the thermal cut on with it's eerie green glow,
gave the luster of midday to the objects below.
When what to my wondering eyes did appear,
But an M60 tank I could see quite clear.
With a crusty old TC so lively and quick,
I could tell in a moment it must be St. Nick.
Now faster than lightning in a dust cloud he came,
He cursed and he shouted and called out some names:
Now Sherman! Now Stewart! Now Abrams and Patton!
On Walker! On Christie! On Pershing and Lee!
To the top of the hill we're in some soft dirt,
so if he throws a track his driver could get hurt. -Like kicking his ass, cause the driver should know better, it's always the driver's fault
-
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
when they meet with an obstacle they blew right on by.
So up to the hilltop from the backside he drew,
With a tank full of Class VI, and St. Nicholas too. -Class VI, BOOZE!-
And then in a twinkling on my turret roof,
the old man sat down and let out an oof.
As I drew in my head and was turning around,
down through the hatch came St. Nick with a bound.
From his old black beret to his Graf jacket worn, -US army tankers wore black berets long before Rangers or todays everybody has one shit-
you could tell he's a tanker since the day he was born.
A bundle of FMs he had flung on his back, -FM Field manual, or slang for porn-
He looked like a Mike Golf just opening his pack. -Mike Golf, the company master gunner, source for all knowledge of tanks-
St. Nick is a tanker, in this I have faith,
he reeked of old diesel, and had grease on his face.
Hes demeanor was rude, his clothes were a mess,
When his boots last saw polish was anyone's guess.
A cigarette butt is held tight in his teeth,
If I tell hime to lose it I might get some grief.
His moustache was too long, it's not by the Reg, -Reg, Regulation 670-1, Wear and Appearance to the Military Uniform-
This crusty old Mike Golf sure looked like a dreg.
He was filthy, ill mannered, but a happy old self,
And I knew he would help me in spite of myself.
A wink of his eye and a look in my sight,
soon gave me to know I had nothing to fright.
He spoke not a word but went right to his work,
Boresighted my tank, said "Your gunner's a jerk."
And laying a wrench aside of his nose,
and giving a nod out of the hatch he rose.
He sprang to his cupola, have his driver a curse,
and away his tank roared like he'd just stolen a purse.
But I heard him exclaim as he roared out of sight,
"Merry Christmas to all and to all.... DAMMIT DRIVER I SAID TURN RIGHT, WHAT HELL ARE YOU ........................."
Hope to hear from you all soon. jon_spratling@yahoo.com
Fri Mar 29, 2013 3:15 am
