There was one small incident that happened to me while serving on the Micmac. We were on our usual coastal patrol which sometimes took us to Bermuda.  In December of 1959, we were docked there for a couple of days and due to some partying,  I was left behind in Bermuda but I won't get into that. When I was able to get free of the place, I hitched a ride home on the Cayuga which had come in a few days after Micmac left. During our homeward trip, Christmas came and the captain of the Cayuga challenged us all to a Christmas Poem contest. Many of the crew submitted entries, but guess who won? - me. I was 18 years old at the time and while I don't want to brag about my literary abilities I think it expresses an accurate attitude of my fellow sailors.  I called it  "A Christmas Poem At Sea".
 
 

A CHRISTMAS POEM AT SEA By OSLM Ron.O. Larsen 39824-H Aboard H.M.C.S. Cayuga December 25, 1959 Christmas comes but once each year Bringing happiness and cheer. With bright lights, red and green and white To brighten up the darkest night. Sleigh bells ring and spread the joy Into the hearts of girls and boys. They seem to overboil with glee To see wrapped gifts beneath a tree. Relatives and friends unite To sing their carols through the night. The city streets are white with snow Which sets your heart and soul aglow. There’s one place that we’d like to be Of course it’s home with families. Where friends we know will come and call And wish good cheer to one and all. But some of us must stand on guard And never let our ranks retard. It’s best that just a few should stand Than have cold fear spread through our land. We should be proud at Christmas time To let the bells of freedom chime. Our friends at home live joyfully While we stand by to keep them free. So let the Christmas spirit abide Among us here who ride the tide. It’s our turn now, someday we’ll go. We’ll see the days we used to know. It’s better to give than to receive And Christmas is no time to grieve. So lift your hearts ye men of war. Someday our sons will do this chore.