God foretold the birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, through the prophet Isaiah, saying, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” (Isaiah 9.2 NIV) As the season brings light to the darkest nights, may it also bring you peace, pride, and gratitude. Your service matters, your stories matter, and you matter.
This Christmas, I’m thinking of my fellow Calhoun veterans. We know what it meant to serve in the depths, far from home and out of sight. We shared long watches, field days, drills, and a candor that comes from trusting the man next to you with everything. Those days demanded endurance, forged resilience, fostered humility, and a bond that only those who punch holes in the ocean can truly understand.
The holidays often remind us of time spent away from family – Christmases marked by missed moments and the sacrifice of absence. Yet they also remind us of the strength we carried through those patrols and the pride of knowing our stuff and doing our part. What we learned belowdecks – discipline, teamwork, and calm under pressure – has stayed with us, shaping who we are long after we carried our seabag ashore for the last time.
As we immerse ourselves in the present Christmas season, may it immerse you in peace, reflection, and a deep sense of pride in what we accomplished together. Maybe we don’t stand watch anymore, but the brotherhood remains, steady and enduring.
Merry Christmas, shipmates. May the year ahead bring calm seas, good health, and well-earned rest.
Fair Winds & Following Seas
Jim Bettison, Chaplain
USS John C. Calhoun Veterans Association