Mess Hall 2nd Bn 33rd Armor, Kirch Goens West Germany. 1979
Basic Training at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX...
Horrible cold, sleet...marching in our Class A’s (skirts)...wet stockings in the cold is nothing to be thankful for...
Then I spent Jan and Feb in wonderful Colorado for Tech School...nice winter there...Pikes Peak etc..
Then off to California for my first base...better and better..and warmer and warmer..
:)
1970, flying C-141 missions in SE Asia and the Pacific. First time I saw Christmas tree lights on Palm trees. lol!
I was at Fort Knox in 1974 training to be a tank crewman. It was pretty good grub in the mess hall that day. It was good most days but on Thanksgiving they went all out!
I went to Atlanta for the long weekend to explore the city.
Next year flying warm meals to troops in the field in the LZ English area for thanksgiving
Christmas at mama san's home in Tuy Hoa with three of us, one of her daughters, and two "brothers" of the daughter. Didn't ask questions.
The meal was excellent.
The only thing I can remember about those holidays was that on Christmas day, either '70 or '71, one of the guys on the second floor of my barracks was blasting the Woodstock album on his stereo while the CO and other brass were enjoying Christmas dinner in the mess hall.........LOL!
1985, I had just finished bootcamp the week before and was in Orlando for BE&E and Torpedoman A-school.
First Christmas, 1963 - at home on leave from Basic at Ft. Ord. First Thanksgiving, 1964 - at 5th Army HQ in Chicago.
Basic training Naval Station San Diego. 1979.
1969 AIT 0 Co. School Battalion Ft. Monmouth, New Jersey.
1970: AA4WBR Fortress Monroe, VA.
1971 TUSLOG Det. 169 Sinop, Turkey.
Reese AFB Lubbock Tx flight school 1955.
I finished flight school Feb 1956
On call at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD. My dinner was some Graham crackers and Ensure.
Out in the woods turning over rocks looking for my Turkey while attending survival school at Fairchild getting ready for Nam. Back then special days didn’t mean too much for us G.I.’s but giving a Yuge thanks that God chose me to go protect the South Viets for Freedom.
First Thanksgiving...
Ft Sill
First Christmas....
Home
I don’t remember for sure. Maybe Millington, Tenn. for aviation training in 1965?
.
TG 1971 - Nuke Weapons Training at Lowry AFB, CO.
Christmas - Home in Washington State.
They didn’t send Nuke Weapons guys to Nam....whew!
His dad took me to their candy factory, they specialized in candy canes. Although they sold the company years ago, I retain a fondness for sweets from Bob's Candies.
Next couple of Thanksgivings were spent pulling Staff Duty Officer at my battery at Hahn AB. Bachelors took over those duties, to give the married soldiers time with their families.
Instrument phase at US Army flight school, Ft Rucker, AL, 1983.
Class 83-37-Light Blue
Last one, Balad Airbase, Iraq, 2008.
I remember enjoying the meal in the Dining Facility (Mess Hall) when my Father was stationed in Baumholder Germany. Would have been in the early ‘60s. My first while on active duty was at DLIWC at Monterey Calif in ‘71 with Christmas that year at “Home” - Quarters at Ft Sill, OKLA.