Here at Defense Media Activity’s Emerging Media Directorate, we’ve been working on a special project. Servicemembers at more than 40 commands, based around the world, combined their creative talents and contributed countless hours of work to help us pull this project off.
Today, we proudly unveil the fruits of our effort: the soon-to-be-famous web video phenomenon “’Twas the Night in December,” featuring country music artist Toby Keith and members of the United States military. The entire story, “‘Twas a Night in December” and the listing of commands that both assisted and participated with this project are listed below.
‘Twas a Night in December:
(Story by Jian Deleon, Ian Graham and Lt. Jennifer Cragg)
‘Twas a night in December and all over the world,
At bases and stations where our flag flies unfurled,
The Holiday season had long since commenced,
And spread its spirit of cheer through the Department of Defense.
Combat boots sat at ease by the fence line with care,
In hopes that a return date soon would be there.
At home, loved ones slept sound in their beds,
With visions of troops coming home in their heads.
As Moms perform night patrols, and Dads conduct checks,
A long winter’s nap is the last thing they expect.
When out on the tarmac arose such a clatter,
Soldiers and sailors sprang up to see what was the matter.
Away to the deck, they hustled, they dashed,
Some ran through a passageway, one opened a hatch.
In Antarctica, moonlight shimmered on the snow,
A sliver of light shown on the objects below.
And what to our wondering eyes should appear,
But letters and packages bundled with care.
Yet it wasn’t just there that we saw these things land,
We received them as well, here in Afghanistan!
They were packaged so well that they could withstand,
The harsh desert winds full of Iraqi sand.
Onto Nicaragua with volcanoes and lakes,
Padded so carefully that nothing would break
Addressed from our family and friends we hold dear,
With Holiday greetings and a “Wish You Were Here!”
We lined up and claimed them, with smiles ear-to-ear,
Every person overcome with Holiday cheer.
Your support and your thoughts are the best possible gift,
We send you our thanks for giving our spirits such a lift.
Thanks from the National Guard
Thanks from the Army,
Thanks from the Navy,
Thanks from the Marines,
Thanks from the Air Force,
Thanks from the Coast Guard,
We want you to know how much this gift means.
In our eyes you’re super, and we mean A-OK
We will do our duty and keep defending our freedom,
And wish you and yours the very best this Holiday season!
Command participants in this holiday video include:
1st MLG (Forward) Marines and Sailors
10th Space Warning Squadron
173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team
2/1 Advise and Assist Brigade in Iraq
97 Air Mobility Wing
319th Air Refueling Wing
Air Education and Training Command 59th Medical Wing
Air Force Global Strike Command
Air Force Reserve Command 920th Rescue Wing
Air Force Materiel Command
Air Force Space Command 45th Space Wing
Air Force Space Command 50th Space Wing
Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa
Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater
Coast Guard Station Washington
Coast Guard Sector San Diego
Coast Guard Air Station Houston
Columbus Air Force Base
Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute
Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System
Global Strike Command
Lackland Air Force Base
Malmstrom Air Force Base
National Guard
NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan
Patrick Air Force Base
Peterson Air Force Base
U.S. Air Force Public Affairs
U.S. Air Force 1st Special Operations Wing
U.S. Army Africa
U.S. Coast Guard HQ Multimedia
Office of the Defense Representative, U.S. Embassy Islamabad, Pakistan
U.S. European Command
U.S. Military Group Nicaragua
U.S. Naval Academy
U.S. Navy Office of Information
U.S. Southern Command
United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron “Thunderbirds”
U.S. Transportation Command
USS Enterprise
The Pentagon Channel
Scott Air Force Base
Sheppard Air Force Base
