To all of our visitiors, with special emphasis to the Denizens and the long-time lurkers (may you periodically break cover and drop a comment!)
A look around the Castle's world at Christmas...
Bill checked in via the post below.
Dusty sends:
It's midnight in El Paso and I launch from here back to a regional hub this evening as part of the mad scramble that is Christmas at [a major cargo carrier]. Have NO idea where I'll be Christmas Day...probably relaunch that night. Anyway, being a real-life Santa is kinda fun. Picture of the sleigh cockpit attached.Hope you and Beth's 2008 is the best yet and all the critters have a healthy and happy year, too.
My best to all the denizens--I'll be too busy to post anything for the next week or so.
Happy Holidays to all,
Dusty
Like Dusty, the Coast Guard Delivers...
So does the Navy - taking a little time out for some rescuing on the side.
071224-N-8594S-066 YOKOSUKA, Japan (Dec. 24, 2007) Lt. j.g. Steven T. Benefield helps open a gift to give to the children at the Shunko-gakuen orphanage. 25 sailors assigned to the amphibious command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) volunteered their time to go the local orphanage and share gifts and holiday spirit with the children. Blue Ridge is forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan, and serves as the flagship for Commander U.S. 7th Fleet. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Will L. Sweats
071223-N-2880M-085 PERSIAN GULF (Dec. 23, 2007) The last of seven shipwrecked survivors is escorted across the flight deck of the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) after being rescued at sea by two MH-60S Seahawk helicopters, assigned to the "Sea Knights" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 22 embarked aboard the fast combat support ship USNS Arctic (T-AOE 8). The mariners were recovered after their dhow sank in rough seas. Truman and Arctic are deployed to the Persian Gulf as part of the on-going rotation to support maritime security operations in the region. U. S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Joshua Moore
Some Marines mark the holiday at sea...
ABOARD USS TARAWA (Dec. 24, 2007) — Gunnery Sgt. Christian Bull, squadron gunnery sergeant, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 166 (Reinforced), calls for a Marine to come pick a care package sent by members of the unit’s Key Volunteer Network back home during a Christmas Eve party in the Tarawa’s hangar bay. HMM-166 (REIN) is from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Can Diego, Calif., and is the MEU’s aviation combat element. The 11th MEU (SOC), Camp Pendleton, Calif., is embarked aboard the Tarawa and other ships of the Tarawa Expeditionary Strike Group. They have been at sea since leaving San Diego Nov. 4 on a scheduled six-month deployment through the Western Pacific Ocean and Arabian Gulf regions. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Bryson K. Jones)
In Iraq, the Army doesn't let the holiday go unobserved...
Holiday Spirit Photo by Sgt. Brandon Little
December 21, 2007: 1st Lt. Adam Samiof, Camp Taji, Iraq, helps fellow Soldiers decorate a tree for the holidays.
The USAF goes the extra mile - literally, to bring home some holiday cheer...
Children gather around Santa Claus at the Hogar San Antonio de Padua Orphanage in Comayagua, Honduras. Operation Christmas Wish is an annual trip made by Airmen from the 1st Special Operations Wing who deliver more than 9,000 lbs of Christmas packages to hundreds of Honduran orphans. Santa is Tech. Sgt. Norman Padilla Cruz from the 1st Special Operations Aeromedical Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Stephanie Jacobs)
The more things change...
Holiday Spirit: December 21, 2007 Servicemembers at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, celebrate the holidays. For a larger pic of those soldiers, sailors - and a coalition troop or two - click here.
...some things are still timeless.
Sitting around a miniature Christmas tree and opening a Christmas package are (front row, left to right) S/Sgt. John F. Suchanek; and Pfc. Joseph G. Pierro; and (back row) Sgt. Charles M. Myrich; and Sgt. Leon L. Oben. All are members of F. A. Bn., 3rd Div. Pietramelara, Italy. December 16, 1943.
Merry Christmas everybody from all of us who reside at Castle Argghhh!... and hopefully most of you are reading this late in the day, or after Christmas. Today is a day for flesh and blood, if you can - not electrons! -the Armorer
**********************************
6 Comments