Wishing a Merry Christmas to all of our troops in all of the different service branches. Be safe in all of your duties be you stationed stateside or overseas in some other country. Also let us not forget the families of these service families and their sacrifices while their family is serving all of us. God bless our troops be they past / present / or future. .......... drill sgt.

Some of my greatest memories of my military career, were expediting on the flight line, with a handful of guys working the Christmas schedule. Most of the jets were done, and there was a lot of slack time during 12 hour shifts. But it was relaxed, and a lot of interesting stories about home, family and memories.


We had a "Christmas duty" and a "New Years duty", for about 2 weeks total. 12 hour shifts.
This allowed more folks time to take leave for the Holidays, and we got a nice (no leave charged) break for either Christmas or New Years by working. And the workload was pretty light.

I always asked my Jewish brethren and folks that did not "observe" to take the Christmas duty so more troops could have Christmas with their families.

No big thing, but I find I miss that now.

Merry Christmas to all who have that T-shirt, and especially to those who are "On the watch".

Yes, Merry Christmas and God bless!


ARman

Yes! Merry Christmas to all !

Absolutely!!! Merry Christmas to all those on the watch.

Thank you from a grateful American!

You're alright Drill Sgt,

Even if you type like a Marine!



We still keeping a look out, yall sleep well.

God bless them all.

I still can remember my first Christmas away from home while stationed on a US Navy Submarine.
Back in 1975...
Memorable and honored that I enlisted during the era of the draft.

To all serving, thank you so very much in maintaining the traditions and for protecting us throughout the years.
Merry Christmas to All.
Myron

I enlisted at age 17. Spent 11 years in uniform, 9+ years of it overseas. Mostly at my request.

I enlisted for an assignment to Germany. Spent 4 years there, during which time I met and married my wife. Now 62 years later! Did a tour as an advisor in Iran, then anther 4+ tour in Frankfurt. Both of those tours in the 3rd Armored Division.

Never regretted those tours, no matter where they were. Spent a lot of time along the E/W German border, watching them watch us.

And, yes! A merry Christmas to all our military no matter where they are stationed!

Right on, drill sgt!

I remember through the years, ( especially during deployments, ) the holidays.. especially Christmas time.

My thoughts are with our men and women in uniform around the world.

As a retired (20yr) Navy Chief, I :SALUTE: active duty, retired and former service members. Thank you and Merry Christmas !!!

My biggest Christmas regret? ... Deployment aboard my first of 4 ships, USS Bainbridge CGN-25 during Christmas. We received sacks of letter mail addressed to "Any Sailor" / "Any Service Member". Many had return addresses. They were left out on the ship's mess decks in boxes and available for anyone. I opened one such letter that contained a Christmas Card. I had every, well almost "every" I guess, intention of mailing a response to the family on the return address. Even hung onto the card for long after Christmas until it just became lost in the shuffle. I never got around to mailing a response and have thought of them often, especially during Christmas Holidays, although I've long forgotten their names. I wish I'd sent them a response and told them how much an anonymous heart felt warm Christmas message meant to me. To those who remember holidays and touch the hearts of those who serve ... I :SALUTE: you too. Thank you and Merry Christmas !!!

While enlisted I always found being on duty on Christmas/Christmas Eve to be special and profound. I can't explain the reason why - it just was.

quote:

Originally posted by sigmonkey:
I always asked my Jewish brethren and folks that did not "observe" to take the Christmas duty so more troops could have Christmas with their families.

Did you expect the Christians and/or Muslims to reciprocate to release the Jews on their holidays?

My first Christmas away from home was on a little mountaintop on the Oregon coast, with my folks back in Detroit, Michigan. We had established a family tradition that the family Christmas tree was put up and decorated on my birthday (21st), and so it was that year. I was comforted that my folks and I were doing it together, even though apart. This is a photo of my tree at Mt. Hebo AFS, Oregon in 1961:
Mt. Hebo Christmas 1961.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr

Merry Christmas to all!

flashguy

quote:

Did you expect the Christians and/or Muslims to reciprocate to release the Jews on their holidays?

Absolutely not. And furthest point from the reason.