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 10 y ago
Responses: 175
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On Christmas 2006, at Kirkuik AB, Iraq, the chaplain and the Top 3 okayed the making of a Christmas tree. We made it out of a steel frame with camouflaged netting and lights, the base commander had a lighting ceremony and we all stood around singing Silent Night and a few other carols.
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During a cruise to the Middle East on a destroyer in '93 morale was quite low and there were pro and anti Christmas sentiment on the ship, as we had not been receiving mail regularly for some time. But with a little bit of luck and a lot of help, it turned out to be an okay Christmas.
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1980. Went by train from Naples Italy to northern Hollamd for Xmas. My friends family was of a Dutch background. Went thru the alps. Beautiful but cold. Saw a lot of Germany. When we got to our destination his grandmother had us stay upstairs w no heat but slept in a bed w feather pillows. She fought in WW2 w the underground. She did not speak any English. Sat w two nights s coming back. Met a guy from Iraq on train and I think he wanted to surrender to us since we were Americans. Got back to the John F Kennedy (CVA67) and finished our Med cruise. PN2 Mike Rickey
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I was stationed in Iceland unaccompanied from 93-95 while my wife, my 3yo, and my son was born on Christmas Day 1993 in Jacksonville, Florida. For my Sons 1st birthday, they flew to Iceland and spent Two weeks enjoying the Snow, extremely high winds, sledding and the blue lagoon. One of my Sailors dressed up as Santa and delivered Christmas gift to my 1year old and my 3 year old. It was great. We even flew to Amsterdam for 4 days to warm up a little. This event helped shape my youngest Sons career path as he is a Navy Seabee and really enjoys it. My other Son is in his last year of Medical School and, as expected, we are both proud of our young men. Merry Christmas to all my shipmates overseas and those at the tip of the Speer. I am proud of every man and woman serving our country. It makes us all better people. Stay Safe.
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no colder WX than when preflighting a Kef Ready Alert bird @ 0dark30 in the winter!
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In 1969 I was serving aboard USS Benner DD 807 on Yankee Station as plane guard for the USS Ranger CV 61 (nickname-TOP GUN). We were notified that a select few members of our crew would be helo- lifted to the carrier for the Bob Hope show. I was standing CIC radar watch while the show went on but in my minds eye, I was on the carrier. The other plane guard was the USS Eversole DD 789. Their crew was similarly given access to the show.
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My Christmas memory was kneeling in the sand tactically spaced outside in the embassy compound in Mogadishu with Marine snipers providing overwatch while a Catholic chaplain gave a mass to about 50 of us. Michael Toler LTC USArmy
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1975, 1976 USS INDEPENDENCE CV62, Christmas in Naples duty on Christmas Eve. Went down for Dinner and the Skipper was working the serving line. In the shop one of the guys made wine and we watched movies.
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The time my wife was banging another dude.
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