How many Christmas holidays have you missed because of the military?

2015-12-23T19:55:25-05:00

Response by Cpl Kurt Prinz made Dec 23 at 2015 8:01 PM

2015-12-23T20:01:29-05:00

Every one for Four Years but I still had fun. That's a drop in the hat for most people here.

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Dec 23 at 2015 8:08 PM

2015-12-23T20:08:26-05:00

Can't be exact,but over 10, Cpl Clinton Britt .

Response by SSG Trevor S. made Dec 23 at 2015 8:19 PM

2015-12-23T20:19:56-05:00

12 if you count being on staff duty as well as overseas and combat tours.

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 23 at 2015 9:22 PM

2015-12-23T21:22:44-05:00

Thankfully just four Thanksgivings and three Christmas days away from home despite 19 contingencies and field deployments.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 23 at 2015 10:08 PM

2015-12-23T22:08:56-05:00

Five.
More striking to me when I thought about it was that I have missed 12 of 16 wedding anniversaries.

Response by CPO Joseph Grant made Dec 23 at 2015 10:18 PM

2015-12-23T22:18:10-05:00

Just about all of them. Either at sea or inport. If inport I was generally either single or a geobachelor so I had duty for any Holliday

Response by CPO Patrick McGinn made Dec 23 at 2015 10:27 PM

2015-12-23T22:27:03-05:00

I served for 22 years and in that time at least 10, but I am not exactly sure.

Response by Sgt Kris Newcomb made Dec 23 at 2015 10:39 PM

2015-12-23T22:39:30-05:00

9 in the military. In the civilian world this is the first time that I have had off in 20 years.

Response by PO1 Brian Austin made Dec 23 at 2015 11:06 PM

2015-12-23T23:06:43-05:00

9 while in the military, 9 in the civilian world.

This year i'm actually off both Xmas Eve and Xmas Day and of course my wife (family emergency) and two of our kids are spread out from Canada to Japan to Wash St...lol

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2015 12:09 AM

2015-12-24T00:09:52-05:00

All of them at least once, some more than that.

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Dec 24 at 2015 10:53 AM

2015-12-24T10:53:58-05:00

A bunch, but not nearly as many as others on RP. What I have missed the most of is my birthday. I seemed to always be away from home on my birthday.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2015 12:17 PM

2015-12-24T12:17:44-05:00

I have missed so many holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries that I have lost count.

Response by LTJG Robert M. made Dec 24 at 2015 12:35 PM

2015-12-24T12:35:55-05:00

9 for me

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2015 12:51 PM

2015-12-24T12:51:32-05:00

it's not that I missed them, but just that I spent a good number away from family during Christmas.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Dec 24 at 2015 1:24 PM

2015-12-24T13:24:04-05:00

Just two.

Response by Sgt Benton Garrison made Dec 24 at 2015 7:21 PM

2015-12-24T19:21:51-05:00

All of them

Response by Cpl James Waycasie made Dec 24 at 2015 8:41 PM

2015-12-24T20:41:48-05:00

I never got to spend a Christmas at home while on active duty.

Response by LT Charles Baird made Dec 25 at 2015 3:37 AM

2015-12-25T03:37:44-05:00

Stopped celebrating Christmas once I found out December 25th was actually the birthdate of Nimrod and has nothing to do with Christ

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 25 at 2015 10:29 AM

2015-12-25T10:29:25-05:00

I am on staff duty right now.

Response by A1C Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 25 at 2015 2:47 PM

2015-12-25T14:47:18-05:00

So far I've been in the military almost 3 years, and I've missed every single one. But I've got my buddies right beside me, so that counts for something!

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Dec 25 at 2015 11:22 PM

2015-12-25T23:22:17-05:00

Probably Several in 21 years but I usually was on Leave with my wife and kids wherever they were at the time, Sometimes they were with me, My Two Westpacs were in the Middle of the Summer (Persian Gulf in the Summer Sucks). Nature of the Beat that is our Occupation. Now if you are away from home in Hawaii, You can't beat Chow at COMSUBPAC at Christmas Time. Pretty Damn Yummy.

Response by SSgt David Tedrow made Dec 26 at 2015 12:46 AM

2015-12-26T00:46:40-05:00

I did not miss any, I celebrated them all wherever I was at the time.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 26 at 2015 7:50 PM

2015-12-26T19:50:00-05:00

I haven't missed a single one. I've been overseas for several of them but the military never deprived me of a calendar and good people.

Response by Cpl Shawn Hueter made Dec 27 at 2015 12:55 PM

2015-12-27T12:55:02-05:00

I was extremely lucky and missed one holiday season in all of eight years on active duty.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2015 4:17 PM

2015-12-27T16:17:49-05:00

Almost 9 years active duty and and this was the 4th one I was home for

Response by MAJ Lee Goehl made Oct 4 at 2020 3:08 AM

2020-10-04T03:08:22-04:00

I never had regrets at that time but now its a little different. My kids from my late wife range from 35-29. and they refer to a specific Christmas or event, like I should remember, but I wasn't there. It's sad to look at old photo's a realize that every one of use have sacrificed so much of ourselves. Christmas, birthdays and so much more. My goal the last 20 years has been to never miss another one. I'm not perfect but damn close. Best wishes to all my RP brother and sisters out there to make those memories with your children and grandchildren. Leave them a legacy, to be proud of.