Christmas Dinner in Combat
A retired Special Forces NCO I served with back in the early sixties in the 101st Airborne, as infantry grunts, sent this poignant reminder of Christmas and New Year’s dinners of the past. Even if you weren’t deployed, a holiday dinner in the mess hall, served on a scarred metal tray, was nothing to write home about. When I opened his email, I just sat here for several minutes looking at those familiar images from my long-ago service, particularly my 1965 Christmas in Vietnam, and thinking how fortunate I was that such a holiday meal wasn’t my last as it was for so many of my fellow troopers and all the others who have made the supreme sacrifice for this country. And those of us who made it back can assure you that there is no lonelier time on a deployment than Christmas day.
I’m thinking this should be made into a Christmas card and sent to all our friends and family members who’ve never had the opportunity to have such a holiday repast, particularly the military-loathing liberals among them, to remind them of the grim reality of what it is we ask of our young warriors.
Crossposted at American Thinker
Category: Holidays
Having no family, I always got stuck on Guard Duty when I was up in the Yukon…
I don’t care if it was Christmas, 40 below still sucks for having to watch a motor pool operation on Christmas !!!
Yep. Memories of Christmas in the sand box are among the best/worst ever.
My transport unit was far enough back that we ended up a literal dumping ground for “To any Soldier” boxes. As Christmas approached, we had a mountain of them. They were broken down, someone came up with a bunch of small bags, and items were repackaged into goody bags for the forward troops.
How they were distributed exactly remains mostly a mystery, but there were some unauthorized low level air drops made that Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We heard from the Marines and Army that our gesture was much appreciated. Unofficially, of course, since it didn’t really happen at all.
Had more than a few holidays underway, including my first Christmas on my first boat.
While we didn’t eat C-Rats or MRE’s, death milk and dehydrated stuff and (maybe) turkey loaf made one long for home.
I remember those well. Made us long for an UNREP just so we might get some real milk.
What made it tolerable over the holidays was the gift my parents sent – 5 gallons of Territorial House salsa and a gigantic box of chips. I shared with my shop and we would put it on everything!!
Yeah, sadly, not much chance to UNREP on a boat.
My first underway on that first boat, we pulled in on New Year’s Eve. Stores load as soon as we had a brow across. One of the guys grabbed a head of lettuce out of the box and gnawed on it like an oversized apple as he helped pass boxes down.
I remember we went ~ 91 days at sea one time (I know we had two beer days) during DS/DS and we had run out of fresh milk after a few weeks. We finally pulled into port and whoever was in charge of the mess had buckets of ice loaded up with plastic pint bottles of whole milk put up on the mess decks. I’ve never had much use for alcohol but that milk was my beer day. Steel Beach picnics? Guamino Pizza? (For that one the CO and Xo would deliver pizza in exchange for donations to the MWR fund.) Nothing was ever better than that cold, fresh milk. For that and the morning omelettes I can never say anything bad about my shipmates who worked the chow lines.
Being single, I used to volunteer for duty on the holidays so the married guys could get leave/liberty and spend some time with their wives & kids.
The worst part was one Christmas when the guys on the hangar deck started to sing “Silent Night”. It moved me to tears. Even as I type this, those memories all come flooding back.
Stateside, one Christmas, we got a call from the main gate that there was a delivery for us. There were maybe a dozen of us on duty throughout the hangar that evening. The duty driver was sent down to pick it up, and came back with more than a dozen packages for us.
Some family had put together these small “hobo bags” with razors, shampoo, basic hygiene stuff, as well as some wool gloves, candies, cookies and other goodies. They had a homemade card in each one that basically said “thank you” and it was just stunning to get these. I still have that card in a box with other Navy memories.
God Bless those who stand the watch, in harm’s way or back ashore. They let us gather in peace and celebrate these holidays.
Christmas meal sitting atop Marble Mountain, Christmas 1966. The pound cake was always a treat.
Xmas 1971 Phu Bai, no more bush, no more flying, I was getting short. Jan. 16th 1972 was my DEROS date. Bob Hope was entertaining the troops. I didn’t go see him. I don’t remember the Xmas meal at all!
Christmas 1971 Phu Bai, was still flying.(Last operational flight was 20 Jan 72). I rode over to Camp Eagle on a M37B1 3/4 Ton Truck to see the Bob Hope show. Can’t remember the Christmas meal either. Merry Christmas to all !!!!
I wonder if you and I crossed paths?
I went to that same Bob Hope Show.
Did you eat in the 501st Signal Battalion mess hall?
JRM, we may have waved at each other not knowing who the other was. As far as eating in the 501st Signal Mess Hall, I don’t think so. That must have been up on Camp Eagle, not down at Phu Bai. As I remember,our mess hall was under the control of the 159th (Chinook)Avn Bn, and our company cooks worked out of there. I think all of the 159th,C and D companies of my Battalion (101 Avn), C Troop 2/17 CAV, and maybe? B Co 5th Trans Bn all ate out of the same mess hall. Of course I could be wrong on all the outfits, there may have been another mess hall further up the flight line that I didn’t know about that fed other outfits. Also in the flight line there were parts of the 4/77 ARA, A 377th AFA, and the 163rd Avn Co mixed in there. This was a long time ago and my memory may be foggy, but I think I got them right.
First far off Christmas was on a hilltop Radar Site, dressed in Class A’s, in Germany. They had us dress in A’s on Christmas in case the Battalion Commander showed up. Hell it was so cold and snowy that we couldn’t get down so we knew he wasn’t going to drive 50 miles to visit us.
The picture above brings back a flood of memories. But, C-Rations without C-4 for cooking or heating (especially everyone’s favorite- lima beans and ham) were about as useless as teats on a bull.
I was with I Troop, 3/11 ACR and our CO (his name escapes me) did all he could to get one hot meal a day out to us no matter where we were. He’d have our Air Cav fly a couple of cooks with those green insulated field food carriers to feed us what was usually a pretty good meal.
Christmas ’67 is a blur, but I’m pretty sure we had a hot meal sent out – as I recall there was a truce for Christmas day, which was not adhered to by at least one VC who fired an RPG at one of our HQ’s track striking just below a guy sitting on top of the track killing him instantly.
Tet was just around the corner.
Wrote and deleted this before sending at least five times…..not a good day.
LIRight……..Welcome home! Reading your post I can feel your Pain!
Enjoy the holidays if you can.
Yours, Steve
Welcome Home! Being out in the Gulf during the similar time frame (The only VN mud I got on me was on the way to a bar in Da Nang), we had a hot meal – minus the C4.
Even if I can’t feel YOUR pain… I can sorta share it.
Steve and Zero – you’re both very gracious – thanks very much.
LIRight,I too feel the pain. Mermite is the word I think you were looking for in reference to the insulated food carriers. Have a Merry Christmas.
Thanks for sharing that with us, LI. Wasn’t there, but have been other places and done other things. Welcome home, my brother.
To say I am humbled by your kind words would be an understatement.
I got lucky and shipped out to Song Be, arm pit of the world on 26 Dec 67 so I had Christmas at home and just in time for Tet and a trip to the garden spot of Phu Bai. Then, they shipped a bunch of us home o/a 22 Dec so I never had a Christmas in Nam. I was VERY lucky.
But then all of my lifer career was lucky because I served with the finest troopers one could ever hope for. I’ve said it before but it is worth repeating here in case there is a 2LT reading this: listen to the NCO’s! 99% of them are on your side and want you to succeed if you accept their position and experience. Merry Christmas to all.
Second tour in Korea at a company sized camp and mess, all were required to sign the meal roster, whether they ate or not. Squad leaders were accountable…and the end result was more $$ for food, good chow most days and exceptional meals on the holidays.
Nowadays some Joe would probably file an IG complaint or post some bs on social media if they were ‘forced’ to sign every roster.
Christmas and Thansgiving in the barracks of Ord and Drum because I was too broke to get home. We had a great mess sergeant that would come knock on all our doors and take us to his house for dinner and football. Il never forget his generosity. Very memorable Christmas.
Our officers would bring their families to the mess hall in their blues and eat with us too. The cooks always outdid themselves with excellent and abundant chow.
If I didn’t know better, I would swear that is a photo of the catered meal for the FirsTech Solutions corporate Christmas party. Between Paul, Karen, Elaine Ricci, and the six other Directors on the board, who would they ever split six chicken McNuggets nine ways?
Hmm, The rest of you who have been to Iraq help me out here please, I forget the name of the “FOB” , we were only thee once escorting a HET convoy.
downtown Baghdad , small FOB, a bunch of 7 story buildings in a complex, I think it was the old Iraqi Secret Police/ CIA compound,
if you went out on the roof of the buildings and looked left, you could see the Blue Tits.
anyway, CHristmas Eve/Christmas day,06 that’s where we were, lots of mortars and stuff.
My dad used to let me eat some of his C rats when I was a kid. I always got the big thick hunk of chocolate and the crackers that kept the base dental clinic in business!
Boohoo.
Dwelling on holidays because its not exactly how others maybe celebrating is so 1st world problems. I’m sure there are plenty of people right now this Christmas that would prefer that than what they currently have.
NOLLAIG CHRIDHEIL AGUS BLIADHNNA MHATH UR ! ! ! Pronounced, “NOLL-YEEK KREE-YELL AH-GUS BLEE-AH-NAH VAH OOR”, that’s Scottish Gaelic for, “Christmas Hearty and New Year Well You”. The first time I ever ate “C” rations was BEFORE I became a soldier in the United States Army, when I was still classified “Unfit” (Either “IV-F” or “I-Y”) by the Selective Service System, and was working on the Sundance Mountain-Trapper’s Peak forest fire near Bonner’s Ferry, Idaho. Yes, we got “C” Rations (which I enjoyed), but in base camp (I worked in the supply tent), we also had steaks and ice cream for EVERY meal! Working on that forest fire was also my first ride in an aircraft, hauling water in an Air Force UH-1 “Iroquois” from base camp up to the spike camp. I also saw the Northern Lights for the first time in my life, and was fascinated by all the American Indians at night, who held pow wows with campfires, drums, and chanting. When I was serving with the 101st Airborne in Viet Nam, “L” Company, 75th Infantry Regiment (Airborne Ranger), who were the Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (i.e., “LRRP”, pronounced, “LURP”) unit for the 101st Airborne, had their compound and perimeter bunkers located right next to my unit, the 501st Signal Battalion. So, about this time, we became aware of a new invention, “LRRP Rations”, which were freeze dried meals especially designed for the Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols, mainly because they were lighter weight (no cans) and were SUPPOSED to only serve as an emergency supplement, since Rangers are trained to live off the land. I enjoyed sampling some of the freeze dried LRRP Rations, and they were good. But, I also enjoyed “C” Rations, too, even though our unit actually had a mess hall. Did you ever see a “C” Ration Supplementary Pack? I liked those because of the candy and gum. In retrospect, I’m guessing someone misappropriated them, for they weren’t intended for guys in base camp. When I first got to the old Republic of Viet Nam, my unit in Saigon had a party and… Read more »
This was recorded on her I-Phone by Samantha Wheeler, James’ wife, on Christmas Eve 2014 in Jensen, Utah, at Stan and Sheila Wheeler’s house.
Ah, yes, it’s ME (!), performing, “STILLE NACHT”, for the adults!
I had just finished singing, “RUDOLPH, THE RED NOSED REINDEER”, for the children.
A few minutes earlier, I had distributed the gifts, TOOTSIE ROLL candy banks, to squealing members of the carpet patrol.
I finished my entertainment by performing the Welsh lullaby, “SUO GAN”.
In the wee hours of Christmas morning, it SNOWED!
I just love a traditional “WHITE CHRISTMAS”, don’t you?
I sleep comfortably in the bed of my 2004 Ford F-150 XLT pickup truck (which has a matching camper shell), but I am taking WAY too many pills WAY too often, because I can barely stand or walk, and constantly suffer excruciating pain.
As soon as the Holidays are over, I’ll see if the VA in Salt Lake City can help me.
I’ll be okay, I think, if I can only just manage my monthly pension wisely and frugally, so I can keep gasoline in my tank and junk food in my belly.
Yeah, if I’d just kept my mouth shut, I could still be living in comfort at the Armed Forces Retirement Home.
But, that ain’t me, now is it?
I make no apologies or regrets for anything I said or wrote which some especially protected minority group, or their white enablers, might deem offensive or hurtful.
I’m right, they’re wrong, and I’m standing my ground.
JRM,
If and when you find your way to SLC, contact me. I live in West Jordan, not too far down the road. I’d be glad to have you over for at least a meal.
You should be able to get my email address from one of the TAH Admin.
ATTENTION to Sergeant Lilyea, Hondo, and TSO, Et Alii:
At their own discretion, the administrators of the “THIS AIN’T HELL” web site have my permission to share my personal contact information with any legitimate participant(s) who request it.
I would be honored to meet with each, any, and/or all of them.
Thank you.
John Robert Mallernee
In an e-mail received from a retired Army nurse, I was told that although she wanted to see the I-Phone video recording of ME (!) posted at the YOU TUBE web site on, “CHRISTMAS EVE 2014”, the management at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport, Mississippi, has blocked residents there from viewing YOU TUBE video recordings of me. I went to the Salt Lake City, Utah VAMC Emergency Room, and the doctor gave me a five (05) day supply of Prednisone tablets. They WORKED ! ! ! For the first time, I was without any pain! I was doing pretty well sleeping in the cargo bed of my 2004 Ford F-150 XLT pickup truck. But, suddenly, Salt Lake City got hit by a SUPER drop in temperature, with snow, and seventy (70) mile an hour winds. Even in my Army sleeping bag, I still felt cold lying in the cargo bed of my pickup truck, and emptying my bladder became especially awkward and messy. So, I went back to the VAMC, just to comfortably relieve myself, right? Surprise! Suddenly, I was having increasing trouble standing and walking, and some pain had returned, although not as severe as previously. So, the doctor gave me a month’s supply of Codeine pills, but no more Prednisone, as the long term side effects from Prednisone tablets are not good. My next VAMC appointment, when I’ll be assigned a Primary Care Provider, is three (03) months from now. Due to the dramatic drop in temperatures, I’m back in Jensen, Utah, staying with some friends, and will use my Medicare to see a local doctor for follow-up on Friday 02 January 2015. All in all, I think I’m doing pretty well, especially as I’m not screaming in agony like I was before. I remember how a few days ago, I was sitting in my pickup truck, in the parking lot of a city park, thinking about all this. Even if I am temporarily homeless, oh, how FORTUNATE I am to have that pickup truck, my TA-50 (i.e., Army field gear), my loaded firearms, my cell… Read more »
SP Paks……….a large box of all kinds of stuff. I remember finding cigarettes (I quit in 1978) dated from the Korean War era….1951, as I recall.
My best Christmas. I was getting short with a deros of jan 5, got woke up early morning dec 13… Told to get my shit together cause I was heading home early… Left Udorn 432 SPS at noon that day… Made it home for Christmas in Wisconsin.