What is your favorite memory of serving away from home during the holidays?

CPT Chris Loomis — Sat, 29 Nov 2014 23:11:59 -0500

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 29 at 2014 11:33 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 29 Nov 2014 23:33:08 -0500

One of my favorite memories is a Thanksgiving in Germany. Our small (5-6 person) office had a mannequin - I have no idea where it came from or how long it had been there - dressed as a German police officer. We called him Fritz. The NCOIC of the office and his wife invited everyone over to their quarters for Thanksgiving, and when we arrived, there was Fritz with a sign around his neck that said "Happy Thanksgiving"! That's a fond memory.

Response by SGT Richard H. made Nov 29 at 2014 11:49 PM

SGT Richard H. — Sat, 29 Nov 2014 23:49:11 -0500

Christmas in USMC Basic....our Drill Instructors advised us on Christmas eve that we were to hang a green wool sock on the end of our rack, explaining that Jesus and Santa Claus love the Marine Corps. In the morning, each sock contained a peppermint hard candy...the only sweet we had during the course of Basic Training (other than occasional applesauce in the chow hall). We also got an extra hour of free time after church and a phone call home. (we got a total of two of those during Basic).

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 30 at 2014 12:10 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 30 Nov 2014 00:10:34 -0500

Mine was Christmas 2012, mainly because I was so appreciative of my family and of every little thing I received from back home. Even though we had to work, Christmas ended up being a decent day.

I took a picture with Santa Clause and found that he didn't even speak English! It was so ironic that I had to laugh. Yep, definitely one of my better days. =)

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Nov 30 at 2014 11:17 AM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Sun, 30 Nov 2014 11:17:17 -0500

Getting in the kitchen and serving food to our troops in the chow lines and bantering with them all as they passed through.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Nov 30 at 2014 11:19 AM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Sun, 30 Nov 2014 11:19:47 -0500

And this. When do you get to sit on the Deputy Brigade Commander's lap?

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 30 at 2014 11:26 AM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 30 Nov 2014 11:26:10 -0500

Thanksgiving during basic 1996. Chow hall did a full blown Thanksgiving dinner. Everyone was in dress uniform and allowed dessert and extra time for phone calls home.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 30 at 2014 11:58 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 30 Nov 2014 11:58:17 -0500

Best memories are that anyone even puts effort into making it a holiday in a dangerous or potentially dangerous area. Can't replace what you are missing but the fact that people care enough to make that effort will always mean a lot to me.

Response by SFC Dr. Joseph Finck, BS, MA, DSS made Nov 30 at 2014 2:59 PM

SFC Dr. Joseph Finck, BS, MA, DSS — Sun, 30 Nov 2014 14:59:34 -0500

CPT Chris Loomis Sir, Christmas in Iraq, 2007, is one of my fond memories of Christmas in the Army (military in my case). I was lucky enough to be the 1SG for our unit and while we had mission requirements, we slowed long enough to have a white elephant gift exchange (picture #1) and one of my Soldiers and favorite NCOs (SSG Lance Waldo) created the Christmas card below. He is in the picture along with buildings near our compound.

It was a great time and I am a better person for it. Great unit, great people, great mission.

Response by TSgt Jackie Jones made Nov 30 at 2014 5:19 PM

TSgt Jackie Jones — Sun, 30 Nov 2014 17:19:53 -0500

Thanksgiving, in England, working the front gate. I have never seen more giving strangers than those that brought us all food and hot cocoa. And I have not seen a Thanksgiving spread of food so diverse and incredible since!! Thank you all!

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2014 1:23 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 13:23:31 -0500

I have several memories that come to mind.
1. Christmas 2010, deployed in Iraq running convoys between different FOBs. All members in my vehicle were wearing Santa hats while downloading supplies. A few minutes after midnight our Squadron Cmdr came up to us in full Santa gear taking pictures with all of us. Shortly after that we received IDF.
2. Christmas 2006, Deployed to Bahrain. A few days before Christmas we flew into Greece to board a Merchant Marine ship to pull security for it while is was transporting supplies through pirate waters. No joke. Best part was the Captain letting my small group of Marines call back home for a few minutes.

Response by CPL Rick Stasny made Dec 2 at 2014 1:27 PM

CPL Rick Stasny — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 13:27:41 -0500

When I was a brand new Private in Germany, I participated in a German/American exchange. I met a wonderful German family and was treated like gold by them for the rest of my tour. The father, after WWII emigrated to the US and served in the Air Force. He told me that he had to wear a unit award for the bombing of his home towm.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2014 1:43 PM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 13:43:12 -0500

I was only ever able to go home for Christmas once during my service. We were either deployed or underway the rest of them. My most remarkable memory is during the Desert Shield/Storm deployment I received a very large care package from my uncle's church. It had enough goodies to share with the whole shop!

Response by SGT William Howell made Aug 5 at 2015 6:59 AM

SGT William Howell — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 06:59:42 -0400