Photo By Sgt. Scott Wolfe | Col. Pat White, commander of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division,...... read more read more
Subscribe
By Staff Sgt. Scott Wolfe
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Soldiers with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Multi-National-Division – Baghdad received a visitor that took many by surprise Dec. 25.
At Combat Outposts Cashe, Cahill and Carver, along with Patrol Base Assassin, Santa and one of his helper elves decided to ride along with Col. Pat White, the commander of the 2nd BCT, 1st Armd. Div., as he made his Christmas rounds.
Forgoing his sleigh for a Blackhawk helicopter, Santa, also known as Capt. James Thomas, a native of Oskaloosa, Kan., and his elf, Warrant Officer Mark Deboe, a native of Harlem, N.Y., doled out good cheer, laughs and candy on a day most Soldiers would normally spend with family.
"We are bringing some holiday spirit and some cheer to Soldiers. I don't want them to think they are forgotten," said White, a native of Apple Valley, Calif.
Santa gathered Soldiers for pictures in the chow hall and the Morale, Welfare and Recreation buildings for group photos, while White helped himself to some deep-fried turkey at one of the patrol bases of Task Force 1st Battalion, 35th Armor Regiment.
Santa was provided a tour of all the headquarters areas and the new gym at COP Cashe South, where Task Force 1st Battalion, 35th Armor Regiment headquarters makes its home. While there, he gave candy and holiday wishes to everyone he saw. Two Soldiers made it a point to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what they wanted for Christmas next year.
Soldiers at Combat Outpost Cahill surrounded Col. White and Santa for a group photo after Kris Kringle walked through the crowds, shaking hands and having the elf dole out candy to "all the good boys and girls."
At the MWR building at COP Carver, Soldiers gathered around Santa for a group photo, and then more cameras started appearing. It seemed everyone wanted to take a picture with "that jolly old elf."
Wherever he went, he left smiles and holiday wishes.
The brigade commander spent most of his time in the background, just watching his troops as they played around with Santa in their midst.
Soldiers who asked for specific gifts had elf Deboe rummaging around in Santa's laundry bag of presents, acting like he was searching for that particular item.
With a cry of delight, elf Deboe would deposit a handful of candy in the Soldier's hands, telling him or her, "Sorry, some assembly required." He assured every Soldier that all the pieces were there. He was awful sorry that he could not find the directions though.
Before returning to Camp Striker, White pulled the crew of the two aircraft that had been carrying his party to the side and told him how much he appreciated their work on this holiday.
"You have helped make this holiday better for a lot of other Soldiers. You have my thanks."
He made it a point of shaking the hand of every member of the flight team.
The holidays are about being with families and friends, and the visit from Santa reminded Soldiers that Christmas wasn't just at home, in Germany or the United States. This holiday was here and now, with their squad, platoon, brigade ... and Santa.
| Date Taken: | 12.28.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 12.28.2008 00:34 |
| Story ID: | 28198 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 302 |
| Downloads: | 284 |
This work, Santa hitches ride to Iron Brigade, by SGT Scott Wolfe, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
