How many VETS have spent Christmas away from home.

I was fortunate that I spent only 6 of the 24 Christmases away from home. Four of those were before I was married. Three of them in 'Nam, two (TDY's) in Korea during USS Pueblo incident and one in a place not to be mentioned.
 

I missed our first son's first Christmas in 1970 while away from home stationed on Adak!
 

In 22 years in the Navy I was fortunate to only deploy for 6 of those.
Thank you to all current and former members of our Military

Chili501
 

I was in 1982 Comm Sq in Kunsan 1983, Birdman. I probably spent Christmas in A-Town, lol.
 

Old dude, I know many a lonely Christmas was spent in A town.lol I am home this year on leave from Daegu so life is good.
 

Old dude, I know many a lonely Christmas was spent in A town.lol I am home this year on leave from Daegu so life is good.

Merry Christmas to you, Birdman. Welcome home!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 

I have miss 3, between pounding sand in Kandahar and supporting Combined Joint Task Force-180 to Op. Iron Fist/Steel Curtain in Karabilah in Iraq. It weighs on you, you just can't let it get you down.

Semper Fi 3/6 !
3rdBN6thMAR.webp
 

First one was Taejon Korea 1977, last one was Haiti in 1994.

US Army
 

First one was Taejon Korea 1977, last one was Haiti in 1994.

US Army
 

Basrah COB - Dec 2008 :thumbsup:
 

I've been pretty lucky in that regard. In the 25 years spent in uniform I was only away from home for Christmas twice. The first time was in 1984 when I spent Christmas at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan but no big deal since I was single at the time. Since marrying my wife in 1989 I only spent Christmas away from home once in 2007 when I was at Camp Victory in Baghdad. We worked a half-day that day and spent the afternoon driving around and exploring the (HUGE!) base. We think we found the only intact Saddam Hussein mural on the whole base complex...here's a pic! (I'm the middle guy kneeling)
G4 Crew at Saddam Mural.webp
 

I've been pretty lucky in that regard. In the 25 years spent in uniform I was only away from home for Christmas twice. The first time was in 1984 when I spent Christmas at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan but no big deal since I was single at the time. Since marrying my wife in 1989 I only spent Christmas away from home once in 2007 when I was at Camp Victory in Baghdad. We worked a half-day that day and spent the afternoon driving around and exploring the (HUGE!) base. We think we found the only intact Saddam Hussein mural on the whole base complex...here's a pic! (I'm the middle guy kneeling)
View attachment 964722

Hey, I was at Sather in 2008. I have a piece of that Sadom mural that I brought back. When I was there from the waste down was remove by souvenir hunters including myself. I dug a bunch of stuff out of the bombed out building next door. Lots of stuff buried in the ruble.
 

2003 K2 Uzbekistan. The best mess in the OEF theater.


DSCN0396.webp
 

I was in the Army 1969-1972. I missed all 3 Christmases while in. One in Vietnam, 2 in Germany.
 

Attachments

  • Merry Christmas M113.webp
    Merry Christmas M113.webp
    62.3 KB · Views: 175
being former Navy.. Yes missed many holidays. most of them were by choice. I was single most of my career so I took the duty so that my brothers and sisters could have holidays with they're kids....
 

It was 1982 insurlik AFB in turkey, spent christmass---got a nice things to bring back;;; 1983 was at the airport in chairo ---hot as hell
 

I missed Christmas 3 years in a row. 1975, 1976, & 1977. All in Erlangen Germany. It was not bad, Christmas in Germany is pretty cool. That hot wine you coud get near the Nuremberg Castle was great at Christmas time.

Charley Company, 1st Battalion, 35th Armor, 3rd Platoon. I'll never forget it...
 

I missed two being stationed state side. When I was stationed in Ft. Bragg we only got block leave about every 10 months and it was either after or before Christmas. I heard some Soldiers complaining that while they were deployed they were away from home 6 months at a time. I think it is more frustrating being a day's drive from home, but not allowed to leave. I wouldn't come home because it was easier not to, but my family wouldn't allow me to do that. Coming home was easy, leaving again was hard. It takes me about 2-3 months of getting in a rhythm being away and in a new environment and then it gets disrupted when I have to leave and unwind.
 

Last edited:

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Latest Discussions

Back
Top Bottom