SupportOurTroops.org News - CHRISTMAS IN YOUR MILITARY 2017

CHRISTMAS IN YOUR MILITARY 2017

Hello Visitor, Merry Christmas to all SOT Team Members.

We have assembled a variety of hearth warming, season themed articles from around the world of our Armed Forces for you and we hope they bring cheer to you and your family.  

Merry Christmas to all!

 The Night Before Christmas in WCT

By Mary Therese Griffin, Warrior Care and Transition, December 11, 2017 - 

T'was the Night before Christmas in the WCT
Stories of triumph and valor that you must reread.
This year was a busy one what a fabulous thrill
You can find all these stories at wct.army.mil
January gave Soldiers a blueprint for success While February
Showed Yoga moves sure to impress!
We "March"ed our way through the Army Trials grind and
April announced draft picks, the Dallas Cowboy kind.
Taking care of our Soldiers takes quite a team,
Oh it's no fable, it's NOT a dream.
Now STRATCOM, AR and AW2, CER, CLD and the DCS too.
Fulfilling the Army's promise to always care, for Soldiers and families it's our honor to bear.
Telling the stories of where warriors go, their hurdles and victories; everyone wants to know.
So back to the calendar where you can see, this year of progress from the WCT.
"May" we entice you with Inspiration on Ice? Warrior Games in June proved to be more than nice.
A Purple Heart in July for one of our own, in August a Soldier battled a cancer unknown.
September was Invictus Games, unconquered the theme
October Handi-capable following a dream.
Then Warrior Care Month November showed how Soldiers move on
And here's to December reflecting a year that has gone.
The honor's all ours, helping wounded warriors land
Back on their feet from situations unplanned.
You'll hear us all cheering them along the way-
Merry Christmas to all and God bless the USA.
And with that we want to make one last thing clear

Thank you for defending our nation this and every year. 

Ornament Effort

NAVAL AIR STATION PENSACOLA, Fla., December 6, 2017 -

Navy Chief Petty Officer Victoria Newberry helps a fourth-grader hang an ornament on a Christmas tree at the Naval Air Technical Training Center's Nimitz barracks.

Operation Christmas Drop

MICRONESIA, December 8, 2016. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Thompson and Airman 1st Class Alejandra Vargas push boxes of gifts off a C-130 Hercules during Operation Christmas Drop over an island in Micronesia. This year marks 65 years of Operation Christmas Drop, a humanitarian airlift operation that provides airlift training opportunities for peace and wartime efforts.  

Annual Jingle Bell Run

CAMP KINSER, OKINAWA, Japan, December 1, 2017 - Marines and Sailors with Medical Logistics Company, 3rd Supply Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 35, run across base during the 7th Annual Jingle Bell Run hosted by Marine Corps Community Services. The event featured a costumed fun run, Christmas caroling, games and prizes for Marines and Sailors, who attended to celebrate the holiday season.

Orphanage Angel Tree Presents

SASEBO, Japan, December 8, 2017 - Fire Controlman 1st Class Michael Cox, assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), prepares to wrap a Christmas present for the children of a Japanese orphanage as part of an Angel Tree community service project. Bonhomme Richard, forward-deployed to Sasebo, Japan, is serving forward to provide a rapid-response capability in the event of a regional contingency or natural disaster.

First lady Melania Trump at Toys for Tots Event

WASHINGTON, December 13, 2017 - First lady Melania Trump high fives a child during the annual Marine Corps Foundation's Toys for Tots event on Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling. First lady Trump helped children make cards, sorted toys and greeted military families at the event.   

Planning Operation Christmas Drop

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam, December 11, 2017 - Rear Adm. Shoshana Chatfield, commander, Joint Region Marianas, speaks to Manny Hechanova, University of Guam Professional and International Programs, Telecommunication and Distance Education associate director, following the Operation Christmas Drop Ceremony. Hechanova provided information about different Micronesia islands that will benefit from the annual humanitarian mission.  

How Sailors At Sea Will be Celebrating A Christmas Eve This Year

ATLANTIC OCEAN, December 24, 2016 - Sailors aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS San Jacinto (CG 56) participated in a Christmas Eve service. San Jacinto, was deployed as part of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, was conducting naval operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe.  

USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) Gets Decorated for Christmas

INDIAN OCEAN, November 25, 2017 - Aviation Ordnanceman 3rd Class Lorelei Jones hangs an ornament on a Christmas tree aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). The ship is deployed in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts.

Alaska Operation Santa Claus

ST. MICHAEL, ALASKA, December 5, 2017 - By Lt. Col. Candis Olmstead.

Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus, travelling with Operation Santa Claus, de-board an HC-130J Combat King II from the 211th Rescue Squadron, Alaska Air National Guard.

Operation Santa Claus is an Alaska National Guard annual community outreach program that provides Christmas gifts, books, backpacks filled with school supplies, fresh fruit and sundaes to youngsters in rural communities.

The Alaska National Guard has a 61-year tradition of serving communities throughout Alaska during the holiday season, delivering Christmas gifts and a variety of delights to children in remote locations around the state. This year, the island-town of St. Michael -- with a population of 400 -- was selected for a visit, and the citizens expressed gratitude and enthusiasm to their out-of-town guests who showed up to spread holiday cheer.

Joint Multinational Readiness Center's Community Christmas Tree Lighting

HOHENFELS, Germany, December 8, 2017 - By Staff Sgt. David Overson.

Most children anxiously await the arrival of Santa on Christmas Eve. However, for the boys and girls living on or near the U.S. Army's Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, Christmas came early.

Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive with a little help from the Hohenfels Training Area's Fire Department on a snowy afternoon to assist with the Joint Multinational Readiness Center's Community Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony.

Santa also brought the proverbial, and literal, "white Christmas" with him when it started heavily snowing while everyone awaited his arrival. Nevertheless, those in attendance waited with giant smiles and bated breath.

Thanksgiving Fixins' German Style at JMRC

HOHENFELS, Germany, November 22, 2017 - By Staff Sgt. David Overson.

U.S. Army Pvt. Austin Johnson with the 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, enjoys his first Thanksgiving meal away from home as a Soldier at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center's Warrior Sport Cafe Dining Facility.

Soldiers spending Thanksgiving away from their family and loved ones is nothing new in today's world, but as one takes stock into what he's thankful for, at times it just might be a great dining facility like this one.
The Warrior Sports Café Dining Facility manager, James Nichols, had nothing but song and praise for his staff of 55 who worked tirelessly to provide not only a Thanksgiving meal for the Soldiers and their family members assigned to JMRC, but also the warm family feeling associated with this American holiday, in a European country.  

Fort Hood Army Medical Christmas Cheer

FORT HOOD, Texas, December 8, 2017 - Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center employees and hospital visitors can dot their lunch hour with holiday cheer musical notes, thanks to the Fort Hood hospital's pastoral care services. This year, the department's annual holiday music tributes feature local elementary, middle and junior high choirs, as well as 1st Calvary Division band and CRDAMC staff volunteers.