The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey and his wife Deanie offer holiday greetings to service members and their families.
Christmas Festival in Guam
From DMA Navy
Hundreds of local and military members welcomed the holiday season during the Guam chamber of commerce 19th annual Christmas festival, held at Skinner Plaza in Guam. This year’s festival, themed “The Gift of Christmas”, kicked off the 38 nights of Christmas lights at the plaza, which will continue throughout the month. The lights at Skinner Plaza are turned on nightly and will be on display through January 3rd. Dozens of parents and children wrote letters to Santa, visited Mr. and Mrs. Claus at Santa’s Toyshop, decorated cookies and cupcakes, took a spin on the holiday express train and more. Military members say it brings the military and the local community closer together.
Sustainment Soldiers Host Operation Toy Drop in Germany
Army News Service, By Spc. Iesha Howard, 21st TSC Public Affairs
From www.army.mil
Dressed in a Santa Claus suit, Sgt. Robert Vasquez, walks from the Alzey drop zone after jumping from a C-130 Hercules Aircraft while taking part in the 5th Quartermaster's Operation Toy Drop in Alzey, Germany. (By Spc. Iesha Howard, 21st TSC Public Affairs)
ALZEY, Germany – Hundreds of Soldiers, family members, and local nationals assembled at the Alzey drop zone Dec. 8, to watch the second annual Operation Toy Drop, as paratroopers from the U.S. Army and Air Force, the German Bundeswehr and the Italian Army dropped bundles of toys from various U.S. military aircraft during an airborne operation.
OTD, hosted by the 21st Theater Sustainment Command’s 5th Quartermaster Detachment, was the culmination of a coordinated effort consisting of collecting donated toys for less fortunate military families and then handing them out during the holiday season.
“Operation Toy Drop was established to give back to junior enlisted Soldiers that cannot afford toys and other items for their children at Christmas time,” said 1st Lt. Ulysses Nunez, executive officer with the 5th QM Det. “We collected donations from the 21st TSC and local establishments that wanted to donate.”
Once the bundles of toys were on the ground, they were given to the Kaiserslautern Army Community Service who will disperse the toys among the many different organizations within the Kaiserslautern Military Community.
“It is an honor to serve in this operation because our target is to help less fortunate children,” said Lt. Fabiano Beduini, an Italian paratrooper and training support officer in charge with the 3rd Italian Division. “To be involved in this operation with other jumpers, both German and American, is something special.”
During the jump, a paratrooper dressed as Santa Claus jumped onto the drop zone to not only greet the children who were in attendance, but also to hand out gifts.
“I came to see my husband jump and I brought our kids so that they can receive gifts from Santa,” said Spc. Daniella Molinares, a unit supply specialist with the 230th Military Police Company, 95th MP Battalion, 18th MP Brigade.
OTD is an annual event this time of the year and donations are accepted throughout the month of November and the beginning of December.
Medical Monday: Handling Holiday Stress
CDR Christopher L. Hunter, Ph.D. ABPP
DoD Program Manager for Behavioral Health in Primary Care
Office of the Chief Medical Officer, TMA
The holiday season can be especially challenging for military families. More than most Americans, families of deployed service members make great sacrifices and face uncertainties that can really hit home during the holidays. Here are some tips and resources to help military families cope with holiday stress.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers the following tips to cut down on stress at the holidays:
- Balance your family, work and personal time
- Don’t make too many commitments
- Don’t spend on presents you can’t afford
- Don’t get sick or hurt – stay warm, wash your hands, travel safely
- Be smoke free and drink in moderation
Following these tips, and keeping a positive outlook can make a difference at the holidays. There is no magical trick that can help you avoid or wipe out stress entirely, but you can take incremental steps that will make your life easier.
Thanksgiving Dinner for the Troops on Deployment
By Nick Sistrun, Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support
From www.defense.gov
Sgt. Maj. David Shaw of the 10th Mountain Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team, serves up a helping of turkey to Spc. Ariana Williams of the 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion during a Thanksgiving Day celebration on Camp Mike Spann in Northern Afghanistan. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class John Queen)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – Service members deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as U.S. State Department employees serving there, will be able to savor the familiar taste of home on Thanksgiving Day thanks to the efforts of Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support workers here.
More than 270 dining facilities have received their food deliveries and are postured to serve the special Thanksgiving holiday fare.
Deliveries included 168,000 pounds of turkey, 37,800 pounds of stuffing, 93,876 pounds of beef, 43,560 pounds of sweet potatoes, 24,000 pounds of shrimp, 34,560 pies and 25,800 pounds of cranberry sauce, along with other holiday treats.
“America’s military is a special group of heroic men and women who continually make sacrifices for our freedom,” said Navy Rear Adm. David Baucom, DLA Troop Support commander. “It is our duty and covenant to show our gratitude by providing them the very best our country has to offer for the holidays.”
As the U.S. military mission winds down in Iraq, the State Department has been increasing its personnel there and using DOD’s food supply chain infrastructure. As a part of the arrangement, State Department employees and service members eat together in the same dining facilities.
DLA Troop Support has a team of employees dedicated to ensuring that deployed service members can experience a memorable holiday meal each Thanksgiving.
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