Posted on Nov 28, 2015
What is your most memorable Christmas while deployed?
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We sure didn't have the wherewithal all to decorate our hooches like this in Vietnam, but one of the parents of one of my men owned an Italian restaurant in Indianapolis and they sent all the table decorations and stuff to make a helluva Christmas dinner. I and my driver stole a case of frozen steaks from the ration break down point at Long Binh and I horse traded at the mess hall for a lot of other "necessities". The young man who had grown up working in the family restaurant worked his buns off setting it all up and we had a very Merry Christmas despite missing friends and family at home. The leftovers (and they were ample) were donated to an orphanage at Ton Son Nhut. We also stuffed stockings for the orphans with everything we could find as well as small gifts our families sent from home. It became a contest to see who could make the biggest stocking. Have you ever stuffed an Army issue wool sock? They expanded so large that most were taller than the kids. That was Christmas 1967. The Tet Offensive began less than two months later...
We sure didn't have the wherewithal all to decorate our hooches like this in Vietnam, but one of the parents of one of my men owned an Italian restaurant in Indianapolis and they sent all the table decorations and stuff to make a helluva Christmas dinner. I and my driver stole a case of frozen steaks from the ration break down point at Long Binh and I horse traded at the mess hall for a lot of other "necessities". The young man who had grown up working in the family restaurant worked his buns off setting it all up and we had a very Merry Christmas despite missing friends and family at home. The leftovers (and they were ample) were donated to an orphanage at Ton Son Nhut. We also stuffed stockings for the orphans with everything we could find as well as small gifts our families sent from home. It became a contest to see who could make the biggest stocking. Have you ever stuffed an Army issue wool sock? They expanded so large that most were taller than the kids. That was Christmas 1967. The Tet Offensive began less than two months later...
Deployment
Vietnam War
Christmas
Memories
Posted >1 y ago
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Every Christmas is always the best because I celebrate it with my friends. This Christmas I have sent the designer cards to my friends that I selected on
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Christmas 1981 Spinelli Barracks Mannheim Germany living on the top floor, had arrived about 3 weeks earlier. Germans love fireworks at Christmas, and I had a magnificent view of the city from my window!
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Probably my first December while stationed on Guam, in 1993. I called my mother and she asked how my first winter was in a foreign country. I told her that it was still a US territory, so not really a foreign country. I also told her that there wasn't winter there. Huh, what do you mean? Well, there are only two seasons here. I don't understand. The two seasons are the Wet Season and the Dry Season. Okayyyyyy, what's the difference? Well, right now it's the Wet Season, which means that it rains pretty much all day, every day. Okay, so what's the Dry Season, then? Well, the Dry Season means that it only rains once or twice a day and not for very long.
As a point of reference, during the Dry Season, if you had blue skies, not a cloud in sight, start the timer on your watch. Clouds roll in, rain for literally 5 minutes, then the clouds roll out again. Blue skies with not a cloud in sight. Check the timer on your watch? 10 minutes had gone by. After being home on leave for a few weeks, I started doubting that this was even real that things like this happened. Then I flew back to Guam and experienced it within the first few minutes out of the airport. Yep, really happens.
As a point of reference, during the Dry Season, if you had blue skies, not a cloud in sight, start the timer on your watch. Clouds roll in, rain for literally 5 minutes, then the clouds roll out again. Blue skies with not a cloud in sight. Check the timer on your watch? 10 minutes had gone by. After being home on leave for a few weeks, I started doubting that this was even real that things like this happened. Then I flew back to Guam and experienced it within the first few minutes out of the airport. Yep, really happens.
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Stationed aboard the USS McKean DD784 out of Long Beach, CA Naval Base; fortunate to spend Xmas 69 & Xmas 70 in Long Beach; phoned home both Xmases to speak with my parents and sister. No special celebration aboard ship. Many crewmen had families in Long Beach where they spent Xmas except those with the duty that day. Only the duty section aboard those days and those who couldn't go home or Xmas like myself.
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FSB Iron 1 Christmas 1969. I was detailed to bring 5 troops back to Lai Khe to attend the Bob Hope show. Upon arrival, I received an azz chewing from the REMFs that never set foot outside the gates of Lai Khe for not maintaining secure radio procedure in mentioning the show. So I was sent back to the FSB without seeing the show. There were 5 NFL players visiting the troops in Lai Khe. I wondered aloud why these magnificent physical specimens were not in uniform with us? That caused a questioning of my patriotism and a skeptical viewpoint on my behalf towards the flag waving hypocrisy of the NFL. Turns out I was right.
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When I was in Vietnam on the River boat.We had our Christmas diner on the River they flew it out to us
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Christmas of 1968, 9th Infantry, Dong Tam Base - Bob Hope Show. A refreshing break during an eventful year in the Mekong Delta.
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Christmas 1969...NSA DaNang...I was getting short...ETD would be 23Jan70...but Christmas in VN was still a bummer
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