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
Responses: 176
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Christmas 1971, Phan Rang AB, Vietnam. I was with OSI,responsible for gathering intelligence about possible attacks of the enemy, strange sightings, etc. We were not amused with military TV, set on auto-control Christmas Eve, showing soap-opera TV shorts that were 10-15 years old. Horseplay ensued to better occupy our time. I concocted a phony "Enemy sighting" I sent to the Base Commander, to the effect of, "A sighting was made of a strange man dressed in red and white, out of shape physically, and singing to himself as he drove a sleigh across the rice paddies drawn by several caribou. The intelligence community suggests we respond with a helicopter gun-ship prepared to meet the enemy, probably disguised as a jolly old man so as to catch us off guard in these holiday hours. Our Air Base is manned with 200 Air Force personnel without aircraft, as our planes were prematurely sent to Cam Ranh Air Base. 200 other personnel are at Long Binh Army Post for the Bob Hope show. To be blunt, we need Army or Marine support ASAP. Our only weapons carrier has a flat tire. " It was lucky for me that the Base Commander had a good sense of humor and ignored this important message!
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10 hour and 20-minute combat flight on Christmas day. Enjoyed an in-flight roast beef on crumbly bread and a small chocolate milk. Same as I had on Thanksgiving and New Year day. It helped tp be doing something on those special days away from my family.
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SP 5 Bruce Waltz
Christmas in Viet Nam. The Bob Hope Special was great, Enjoy the entire show surrounded by men and woman serving our country. However, after the show went back to my hooch and into immediate depression... All alone. Crasher on my bunk....laid there for about an hour, when someone knock on my door, it was the mailman on Christmas Day. I was so surprised, I told the specialist I didn't expect anyone to be working, he said to me, that this was his greatest joy, delivering packages to his fellow GIs... He handed my a large box, as I opened the box I found fresh apples, oranges, tons of candy and cookies. All sorts of salami too and a letter from my family. Seconds after I opened the box my hooch started filling up with guys from my unit... I shared all the goodies with everyone. It was great, giving/sharing simple things (apples, oranges & candy) to those homesick men, seeing them enjoy a few moments of the world back home. We all had a wonderful time and a great blessing sharing food and stories of home. We all knew we had each others backs.
God I love my country and those fighting for her.
Christmas in Viet Nam. The Bob Hope Special was great, Enjoy the entire show surrounded by men and woman serving our country. However, after the show went back to my hooch and into immediate depression... All alone. Crasher on my bunk....laid there for about an hour, when someone knock on my door, it was the mailman on Christmas Day. I was so surprised, I told the specialist I didn't expect anyone to be working, he said to me, that this was his greatest joy, delivering packages to his fellow GIs... He handed my a large box, as I opened the box I found fresh apples, oranges, tons of candy and cookies. All sorts of salami too and a letter from my family. Seconds after I opened the box my hooch started filling up with guys from my unit... I shared all the goodies with everyone. It was great, giving/sharing simple things (apples, oranges & candy) to those homesick men, seeing them enjoy a few moments of the world back home. We all had a wonderful time and a great blessing sharing food and stories of home. We all knew we had each others backs.
God I love my country and those fighting for her.
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My Christmas in the ‘Gulf
The day before Thanksgiving onboard USNS SHUGHART - a Military Sealift Command Ship off the coast of Dubai - we learned “All liberty was canceled” during morning Quarters. Threat Condition Bravo had started. Effective immediately, there would be no going ashore for the planned Thanksgiving Party. We heard the ship engines change sound, & soon found we were headed out to sea.
Thirteen of us were US Navy, the rest of the crew – Civilians or as we called them “Civ-Mars” meaning Merchant Marine Sailors. We lived on a ship the size of an aircraft carrier, loaded with military equipment.
Christmas was approaching soon & since hostilities began, there was no personal mail. Everything was reserved for operational necessities. Although spaces were decorated, it would be a rather somber Christmas.
As the Admin – Postal – Supply - Chief, the role of Morale, Welfare & Recreation fell to me. I thought about the rather Spartan Christmas we would be experiencing. Since I had to go ashore & the opportunity presented itself to do a little shopping. I loaded up on candy, nuts, little goodies and trinkets & stuffed them into my bag along with other supplies.
Back onboard, I scrounged for colored paper, tape & glue. One of the CivMar’s wandered into my lair & was commandeered into Elfdom, gluing Christmas Cutouts from wrapping paper onto the construction paper. By zero dark thirty on Christmas Eve, all fifty four bodies onboard had personalized, gaily wrapped cornucopias hanging from their doorknobs along the passageways.
Finally, a poem was taped to the bulkhead across from the Galley & job finished, tired but satisfied; we stumbled off to our respective bunks to sleep.
The next day was great. Grown men gathered in the galley with their goodies happy as little boys with Christmas Stockings! The spirit of Christmas could not be denied. Operation Desert Fox notwithstanding.
The day before Thanksgiving onboard USNS SHUGHART - a Military Sealift Command Ship off the coast of Dubai - we learned “All liberty was canceled” during morning Quarters. Threat Condition Bravo had started. Effective immediately, there would be no going ashore for the planned Thanksgiving Party. We heard the ship engines change sound, & soon found we were headed out to sea.
Thirteen of us were US Navy, the rest of the crew – Civilians or as we called them “Civ-Mars” meaning Merchant Marine Sailors. We lived on a ship the size of an aircraft carrier, loaded with military equipment.
Christmas was approaching soon & since hostilities began, there was no personal mail. Everything was reserved for operational necessities. Although spaces were decorated, it would be a rather somber Christmas.
As the Admin – Postal – Supply - Chief, the role of Morale, Welfare & Recreation fell to me. I thought about the rather Spartan Christmas we would be experiencing. Since I had to go ashore & the opportunity presented itself to do a little shopping. I loaded up on candy, nuts, little goodies and trinkets & stuffed them into my bag along with other supplies.
Back onboard, I scrounged for colored paper, tape & glue. One of the CivMar’s wandered into my lair & was commandeered into Elfdom, gluing Christmas Cutouts from wrapping paper onto the construction paper. By zero dark thirty on Christmas Eve, all fifty four bodies onboard had personalized, gaily wrapped cornucopias hanging from their doorknobs along the passageways.
Finally, a poem was taped to the bulkhead across from the Galley & job finished, tired but satisfied; we stumbled off to our respective bunks to sleep.
The next day was great. Grown men gathered in the galley with their goodies happy as little boys with Christmas Stockings! The spirit of Christmas could not be denied. Operation Desert Fox notwithstanding.
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Its Christmas! but the show must go on.
Doctors, nurses, fireman, Police, Power plant workers, Truck drivers, essential workers and all of the workers that keep Christmas shining and wonderful though their efforts, I thank you. Being in a base camp 20 miles north of Saigon in 1968 Christmas eve Christmas day does not stop the advance of threat or harm to a Combat unit. In the fields of combat where life a death is a toss-up depending on the circumstances of the moment, a combat company would deploy for the night, ambush squads of mostly 10 men to protect the main companies night time position. Most of the time they were called Tiger Alfa Teams in my unit C co 3/7 199th Light infantry Brigade. The teams would assemble just before dust and move out to their coordinated positions for the night. This was a daunting task for any night but Christmas eve and Christmas night and being 20 years old and an Army Staff Sergeant in charge of 3rd platoon with the choices of who goes out on ambush and who stays in on Christmas eve and Christmas night Is the one tough decision we know sergeants in similar positions need to make. Here is the most inspiring and courageous part. When I assembled the platoon and spoke. I said “Listen up! we have command orders for one squad for tiger alfa duty for Christmas eve and Christmas night”. I figured I start by asking for volunteers then look at my rotation list to see who was next for tiger alfa duty. I said. “Listen up my beauties, do we have any volunteers for tonight’s and tomorrow night’s Tiger Alfa’s”? Incredibly, the hole Platoon raised their hands. Now we know sergeants never twitch but there was a tear in my eye. No worries no one saw it. I went to my rotation list which always included me and off we went to do our jobs for Christmas eve and Christmas night.
Veterans Listening Post. Vlpost.com
Coach Chris Uzzi.
Doctors, nurses, fireman, Police, Power plant workers, Truck drivers, essential workers and all of the workers that keep Christmas shining and wonderful though their efforts, I thank you. Being in a base camp 20 miles north of Saigon in 1968 Christmas eve Christmas day does not stop the advance of threat or harm to a Combat unit. In the fields of combat where life a death is a toss-up depending on the circumstances of the moment, a combat company would deploy for the night, ambush squads of mostly 10 men to protect the main companies night time position. Most of the time they were called Tiger Alfa Teams in my unit C co 3/7 199th Light infantry Brigade. The teams would assemble just before dust and move out to their coordinated positions for the night. This was a daunting task for any night but Christmas eve and Christmas night and being 20 years old and an Army Staff Sergeant in charge of 3rd platoon with the choices of who goes out on ambush and who stays in on Christmas eve and Christmas night Is the one tough decision we know sergeants in similar positions need to make. Here is the most inspiring and courageous part. When I assembled the platoon and spoke. I said “Listen up! we have command orders for one squad for tiger alfa duty for Christmas eve and Christmas night”. I figured I start by asking for volunteers then look at my rotation list to see who was next for tiger alfa duty. I said. “Listen up my beauties, do we have any volunteers for tonight’s and tomorrow night’s Tiger Alfa’s”? Incredibly, the hole Platoon raised their hands. Now we know sergeants never twitch but there was a tear in my eye. No worries no one saw it. I went to my rotation list which always included me and off we went to do our jobs for Christmas eve and Christmas night.
Veterans Listening Post. Vlpost.com
Coach Chris Uzzi.
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Christmas 1980, Nurenburg, FRG. Christmas in Germany was extra special as we had the worlds best and largest Kriskringel Markt in the Nurenburg town center. Truly awesome at night with all the Christmas lights, stalls set up with handmade toys, fresh bakery items and especially the smell of spiced wine simmering in large vats. Tasted great too. It just felt so traditional and not commercialized like back in the world! I miss Germany, and I miss being in the Army that allowed me that chance to be stationed in Western Europe!
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My most memorable Christmas deployed? Waking up my first morning in Vietnam, and seeing the Replacement Detachment in daylight for the first time. Moved on to Can Tho on the 26th. Christmas 1969.
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Spent Christmas of 67 in Nam but was on R&R in Bangkok for Christmas of 68.
Don't remember how I pulled that off but enjoyed the crap out of it for sure.
L/Cpl Robert J. Burke
Don't remember how I pulled that off but enjoyed the crap out of it for sure.
L/Cpl Robert J. Burke
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I was driving up from Navstar to Cedar II and it had been raining all day. I saw a Bulgarian convoy who only had second hand body armor hanging over their trucks as protection from IEDs. We RPed at C II and the parking lot was a sea of mud. When I jumped down, i sank up to my hip, we slogged inside to the DFAC and they had Christmas dinner ready, it was dry and warm and it wouldn't have mattered if the food sucked,[it didnt] this was December 2005..
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Spent one Christmas with the Air Attaché to Guatemala. Flew C130 in to Guat City on 22 Dec. Blew a prop seal. Weather crumped. Relief aircraft with new prop and maintenance people couldn’t get in until 26 Dec. We stayed in hotel downtown but it wasn’t safe for North Americans at the time. Invited to Colonels home for Christmas dinner. His wife and two domestic servants put out a great meal for our aircrew of 7. Flew back to Howard AB on 27th.
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