Posted on 12/12/2007 5:08:12 PM PST by SandRat
FORT HUACHUCA — Children’s eager voices escaped from the giant hangar into the dark night.
Inside the huge aircraft building Tuesday night, the 305th Military Intelligence Battalion was throwing a family holiday party.
The Libby Army Airfield hangar was an appropriate place for the celebration because Santa Claus was expected to arrive on an RC-12 Guardrail Common Sensor aircraft.
“He sent me an e-mail and said he wanted to join our holiday party,” said the battalion’s commander, Lt. Col. Ihor Petrenko, who checked with the chain of command and received an affirmative. “So we sent out an airplane and picked him up.”
Command Sgt. Maj. Cecil Williams, the battalion’s senior NCO, said there were probably 400 attendees.
Prior to Santa’s arrival, a feast was served to many people from the battalion and its support elements. A 72-foot-long table was piled with pizzas, subs, fruit and cheese trays, desserts and much more.
Formations of chairs were arranged and labeled according to purpose: Santa’s Photo Corner, Family Photo Center, etc.
Staff Sgt. Rico Rico, 25, like many other GIs attending the event, is a “permanent party” on the fort, residing there with his family. His wife, Jessica, is due to deliver Rico Rico Jr. in eight days.
“In Spanish it means ‘rich,’ so it works out,” the proud papa said.
Rico Sr., a Southern California native, held the couple’s 2-year-old daughter, Miranda, as they waited for Santa to arrive.
“She’s going to be scared of Santa, I’m pretty sure,” Rico said. “Big burly guy.” Miranda likes her little ponies.
Standing off to one side of the hangar, enjoying the occasion, was the commander of Fort Huachuca and Army Intelligence Center, Maj. Gen. John Custer.
Perhaps none of the little children recognized the man with two stars on his camo rain jacket.
But they knew the white-bearded fellow in the red suit, even before the hangar doors opened and the buzzing multi-engine aircraft taxied into view.
As the disc jockey played a hip-hop version of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” the jolly man strolled to the beat, weaving his way through the joyful throng.
A column of little children escorted Santa to his throne. One little boy briefly held onto the hem of his sleeve. Happy smiles were on all the faces.
Santa received each child for a little one-on-one time. With the help of military logistics that allowed the parents to be involved in the selection process, he handed each one a special gift.
CITY EDITOR Ted Morris can be reached at 515-4614 or by e-mail at cityeditor@svherald.com.
I thought the CG was MG Barbara Fast. Has she been reassigned? Anybody know?
LOL
In Alaska, Santa rides on a AANG C-130.
Yep. Change of command was around Independance day. Barbsie got a lateral transfer but no promotion. Says a lot.
Well she got a pass in Iraq, so I guess she would have had to walk on water after that.
LOL
Has bew HD ad played there?
Have you been naughty enough for HD? - too funny.
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