How many VETS have spent Christmas away from home.

[birdman]

I just got finished eating a Christmas meal at the chow hall here at Kunsan AFB and my mind wondered off to my wife's grandfather spending Christmas of 1944 in a foxhole in Belgium and my father spending Christmas day 1953 in Korea. Makes being deployed not seem to bad when you are warm and dry and other vets have spent Christmas days cold and wet and even hungry. I wanted to say thanks to all the Vets on this Christmas day of 2009. Thanks for your service and Merry Christmas.

[wreckdiver1715]

I had my Christmas dinner at the Supreme chow hall in Kabul Afghanistan (Camp Alvarado 2 years running). They are starting to get good at cooking American style, at least once or twice a year.

[fmrUSMC_0844]

Spent a Christmas in Brindisi Italy in 2000. That wasnt too bad. Beer on the pier made it OK.

[Siegfried Schlagrule]

Vietnam once Germany three times four times in the states. siegfried schlagrule

[slarter]

Okinawa twice. I was pretty lucky that I got to spend over half my Christmas' on leave with the family during my career.

I did have a bad run from '91 to '93 when I had duty on Christmas all three years as I was the only single SNCO in the unit.

[johnnycat]

Vietnam in '67. Got to eat a Christma dinner in a mess hall but, it just wasn't the same.

[Ammo Dog]

Kuwait 2004 and 2008.

[Cool Hand Fluke]

Missed three in a row. Christmas 1975, 1976, and 1977. All in Erlangen Germany.

[sonny0065]

Okinawa 1963 and 1967. Once in Viet Nam 1971. A couple of times in the states.

[Arizona Bob]

Germany three times. USA four times. (And a few other holidays as well.)

[USMCLion]

I just got finished eating a Christmas meal at the chow hall here at Kunsan AFB and my mind wondered off to my wife's grandfather spending Christmas of 1944 in a foxhole in Belgium and my father spending Christmas day 1953 in Korea. Makes being deployed not seem to bad when you are warm and dry and other vets have spent Christmas days cold and wet and even hungry. I wanted to say thanks to all the Vets on this Christmas day of 2009. Thanks for your service and Merry Christmas.

Never really thought about it until I read this. I've missed 5 out of the last 10 years. Between Iraq, Afgan, Horn of africa and Bahrain I was gone for 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008. I was supposed to be gone in 2004 but my Dad died on Christmas Eve and they got me out of there about 2 hours after we got the Red Cross message. It was nice to see the family for Christmas but I would have rather stayed where I was ad had my Dad with me a little longer.

[Shortstack]

Vietnam, Christmas 1968.

Came close in Iceland and Saudi Arabia a few times, but managed to get back in time for Santa Claus. Made it out of Iceland because even the Russians stood down for Christmas, but those Iranians..............well, you know about THEM.

[Real de Tayopa Tropical Tramp]

HI: Guadalcanal 1942, Espiritu Santos 1943, Guam 1944, Mactan, Cebu, Philippines 1945, Peking, China 1946, sigh

Don Jose de La Mancha

[TerryC]

Dec '67 and Dec '68... Viet Nam. Although certain events are inscribed in my mind like they occurred yesterday, These two days are lost in my memory

[Montana Jim]

Osan AB, ROK - '91.

[grunt]

spend all xmas in the usmc away from home 60----64.

[Libralabsoldier]

Camp Hovey, ROK in 97, Al Asad, Iraq in 2008.

[Huntin' 59er]

Spent Christmas of 1966 in Vietnam. Wasn't much fun.

[Stagecoach]

Got one I did spend at home that is etched in my memory. While doing our workups for Desert Shield at MCAS New River the 4th MAW CG flew in a C-130 on Christmas Eve and flew us home for 3 Days.

[birdman]

For me boot camp Christmas 1993, Qatar 2004 ,Iraq 2008 and Korea in Christmas last year. This year is going to be the best Christmas ever. Home with the wife and three little girls.