Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Gaelen Lowers | Chief Warrant Officer 4 Rachel Smith, brigade food service technician with the 3rd...... read more read more
Subscribe
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq - Contractors received quite a surprise when Santa Claus visited the dining facility where they worked and handed out presents, stockings and other goodies at Joint Base Balad, Iraq.
The presents and stockings included toothpaste, toothbrushes and other various hygiene products, as well as lots of candy.
“They were a little unsure of what to think at first because we surprised them,” said Maj. Darrel Freund, supply section officer-in-charge with the 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command, and a Pierre, Fla., native. “After they figured out what was going on, everyone was smiling and trying to get a photo with Santa.”
Santa, who was played by Spc. Joshua Fillingane, combat medic with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Sust. Bde., and a Fairmont, Minn., native, said that he was excited to do his part and make them smile.
“It was just like little kids at the mall,” said Fillingane. “It was awesome. They were all deserving of it because they work hard all year and get very little appreciation for it. I was happy to do my part and make their day. I really enjoyed seeing them smile and laugh.”
The employees, who work for Tamimi (the company that provides the workers for the dining facilities at JBB), primarily come from Pakistan, India and Nepal, and work 12 to13-hour days, seven days a week, and serve approximately 3,000 patrons per meal, said Master Sgt. Verna Bellamy, chief food operations sergeant with the 3rd Sust. Bde., and a Monroe, La., native.
Bellamy, who deployed with the brigade in April 2010, was there since the workers transitioned in country, and has seen the hard work that each person puts into his job. She was glad to be able to give back to them during the holiday season.
“I love to give during the holiday season,” said Bellamy. “It shows them that there are still people that care. There are still people that think about you during the holidays, and I am always there for them if they ever need anything.”
Freund, Bellamy and their battle buddy, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Rachel Smith, brigade food service technician and a Cleveland native, dressed up as reindeer to assist Santa in handing out the stockings and candy. They were pleased to see the joy and excitement on the workers’ faces as Santa surprised them.
“When Santa said, ‘Ho! Ho! Ho!’ they all started clapping,” said Bellamy.
Smith added that the excitement the workers felt was palpable and their happiness was apparent by their facial expressions. “Just to give them a simple stocking was the biggest thing for them.”
Although the workers were excited to receive the gifts, the four individuals giving them were just as fulfilled.
“My brief tour of duty as one of Santa's helpers was one of the highlights of my tour,” said Freund.
| Date Taken: | 12.24.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 01.02.2011 16:52 |
| Story ID: | 62907 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE BALAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 43 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Troops thank DFAC workers with holiday goodies, by SFC Gaelen Lowers, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
