SUBMARINE FLOTILLA ONE, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, 1961   FLOTILLA COMMANDER: CAPTAIN DAVID H. McCLINTOCK   SUBMARINE SQUADRONS THREE AND FIVE     THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS   By Richard R. Smith, USS Nereus (AS-17) Chaplain, Christmas, 1961  
                                                                    'Twas the night before Christmas,
                                                                    The sea was quite still.
                                                                    Not a sailor was stirring,
                                                                    or over the hill.
 
                                                                    The subs were all nested,
                                                                    Right close to the side.
                                                                    The tender was anchored,
                                                                    And riding the tide.
 
                                                                    The O.D. was watching
                                                                    the lights in the stream,
                                                                    When a short little snorkel
                                                                    Appeared on the beam.
 
                                                                    His periscope moving,
                                                                    He gave us a look.
                                                                    Then he surfaced the craft
                                                                    Right alongside the Snook.
 
                                                                    A weird looking boat,
                                                                    The strangest I've seen.
                                                                    It was Old Santa Claus
                                                                    In a submarine.
 
                                                                    He popped up on deck
                                                                    Of the cute little craft.
                                                                    And rowed alongside
                                                                    In a war surplus raft.
 
                                                                    We were all watching,
                                                                    And scratching our heads.
                                                                    Up the gangway came Santa
                                                                    In his GI dress reds.
 
                                                                    His seabag was heavy,
                                                                    It weighed near a ton.
                                                                    And was stuffed with presents
                                                                    for Flotilla One.
 
                                                                    "Avast all you Swabbies,"
                                                                    He let out a roar.
                                                                    "I'm stuck with the duty
                                                                    and can't get ashore.
 
                                                                    "So I brung you some presents,
                                                                    divide up the loot."
                                                                    Then he turned on his heels,
                                                                    With a salty salute.
 
                                                                    Down the gangway he clattered,
                                                                    As he left the ship.
                                                                    We cheered the old rascal
                                                                    For making the trip.
 
                                                                    He said as his submarine
                                                                    Started to dive,
                                                                    "Merry Christmas to you,
                                                                    SubRon 3, SubRon 5."