A Soldier's Silent Night

Thank you...

To all the men and women who have protected, continue to protect, and will protect freedom around the world! 

To all of the friends and family of these brave people who wait patiently for their return!

The Story Behind The Recording of

"A Soldier's Silent Night"

Father Ted Berndt was a priest at Bread of Life Charismatic Episcopal Church in Dousman, Wisconsin, a proud Marine and a WWII Purple Heart recipient and my Dad.

We recorded "A Soldier's Silent Night" two years ago in one take, since Dad was a former radio guy in the '40's.  Our project received a national A.I.R. (Achievement in Radio) award from the March of Dimes and was played on radio stations across the United States.  This year, radio listeners are hearing our project in Ohio, Chicago, West Palm Beach, Florida, Detroit, Dallas and the Fox Valley in Wisconsin; as well as in Milwaukee!

May "A Soldier's Silent Night" transcend any opinion about this war or any war, and go deeper to foster an appreciation for the sacrifice and courage of our military and their families.

My father passed away on March 19th, 2004, after battling pancreatic cancer.  All he ever wanted to do was to touch lives...to make a difference. 

We are blest to share "A Soldier's Silent Night" again, with you this Christmas.

How The Words Came To Be Written

The poem's author, James M. Schmidt, was a Lance Corporal stationed in Washington, D.C., when he wrote the poem back in 1986.  In Corporal Schmidt's own words (December, 2002):

"The true story is that while a Lance  Corporal serving as Battalion Counter Sniper at the Marine Barracks 8th & I, Washington, D.C., under Commandant P.X. Kelly and Battalion Commander D.J. Myers (in 1986), I wrote this poem to hang on the door of the gym in the BEQ.  When Colonel Myers came upon it, he read it and immediately had copies sent to each department at the Barracks and promptly dismissed the entire Battalion early for Christmas leave.  The poem was placed that day in the Marine Corps Gazette, distributed worldwide and later submitted to Leatherneck Magazine."

Schmidt's original version, entitled "Merry Christmas, My Friend," was published in Leatherneck (Magazine of the Marines) in December, 1991.

As Leatherneck wrote of the poem's author in 2003:

"'Merry Christmas, My Friend,'" has been a holiday favorite among 'leatherneckphiles' for nearly the time it takes to complete a Marine Corps career.  Few, however, know who wrote it and when.  Former Corporal James M. Schmidt, stationed at Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., pounded it out over 17 years ago on a typewriter while awaiting the commanding officer's Christmas holiday decorations inspection...while other leathernecks strung lights for the Barracks' annual Christmas decoration contest, Schmidt contributed his poem to his section."

Over the years the text of "Merry Christmas, My Friend," has been altered to change Marine-specific wording into Army references (including the title: U.S. Marines do not refer to themselves as "soldiers") and to incorporate line-ending rhyme changes necessitated by those alterations.

We invite you to listen to "A Soldier's Silent Night."