Advent Devotional for Christmas Eve

("Merry Christmas" in Vietnamese)

Christmas Eve, December 24, 1968
My most memorable Christmas.

Delta Company was at hill Charlie 2 (C2) the closest outpost to the DMZ (the demilitarized zone between North and South Vietnam) that existed. There was a ceasefire in place and we had not seen any action in several days. At night, Captain Smallwood would send out at least a squad of men to establish a forward outpost in case of enemy movement. Lt. Mike and the rest of 1st squad, 4th platoon and I were sent northwest of C2 to set up a forward post. We were not very concerned about going because of the ceasefire.

We went to an abandoned Catholic Church in a village that had been destroyed in the war. Catholicism was the second largest religion in South Vietnam. We set up our position in the steeple of the church. If we saw any movement I was to radio the base camp.

We had not been there long when Private Moody whispered to Lt. Mike that he had seen movement. Lt. Mike and I looked through the starlight scope (night vision scope) and watched as three North Vietnamese soldiers, carrying their weapons, approached the church. We lost sight of them, but we knew that they were inside the church. It became deadly quiet! Then we heard singing in the sanctuary. We could not understand the Vietnamese language but knew the tune the moment they started singing "Silent Night, Holy Night."

These three NVA (North Vietnam Army) soldiers were Catholic and were celebrating the birth of the Christ child. When they were finished with their worship, we watched them walk away into the jungle. We all talked about how neat it would have been to worship together. Soon the ceasefire ended and it wasn't long until we went back into combat. I wonder to this day if those NVA soldiers were in bunkers trying to kill us, and us them, in every fire-fight after that Christmas Eve.

Glen Smart, First UMC - McCamey