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380AEW Article

Deployed make the most of holiday season

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Denise Johnson
  • 380th AEW Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Nearly 2,000 Airmen, Soldiers and civilians from the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing made the most of their holiday season in the Area of Operations by participating in a variety of festive events here, Dec. 21 through 25.

Events included an array of activities including a holiday door-decorating contest, caroling, a Jingle Bell 5k Fun Run, a parade, scavenger hunt and holiday meals and movies, to name a few.

"Being away from home and family is a hardship; being away from them during the holidays can be even harder," said Chief Master Sgt. Kent Smith, 380th AEW command chief. "But as men and women of the armed forces, we signed up to make those sacrifices. We make them in the name of those same families we've left behind and even those whose names we don't know."

To compensate for being away from home and help keep the morale high, the 380th team came together to bring some of the holiday spirit to their deployed base.

"The Airmen seemed to respond very positively to the efforts," said Master Sgt. Bruce Perkins, first sergeant for the 380th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron and holiday-event coordinator, "We visited every work center, break room or gathering place we could find to at least say, 'happy holidays' and offer them a donut, hot chocolate, fruit and cookies."

The senior enlisted forces on the base donated funds to collect 1,200 donuts and 200 muffins to those who were working the Christmas day and night shifts. The 380th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron provided the hot chocolate, fruit and cookies.

Airman 1st Class Jacob Williams, a knowledge operations Airman from the 380th Expeditionary Maintenance Group, was one of many who reaped the benefits of the donut delivery. He spent his first holiday season away from family on this deployment.

"I've never been away from my family for Christmas before," said Airman Williams, a Sacramento, Cailf., native. His home station is Beale Air Force Base. The California assignment affords him the luxury of staying in close contact with his family. "I'm very close with my family; I've been thinking of my niece and goddaughter a lot."

Along with personally delivered sweets, the holiday season also inspired a parade that highlighted a compilation of hand-made floats from the different units on base.

"The force-support team was a great help," Sergeant Perkins said. "A huge thanks goes out to them."

The days' events culminated in a holiday dinner complete with a carvery, stuffing and all the trimmings followed up with seasonal movies played on the big screen at the pavilion.

"My group commander, (Col. Ray Corcoran), served me dinner, he gave me a lot of roast beef," Airman Williams said. "I've been very good about staying fit and watching my diet here, but that was my cheat day."

All in all, Airman Williams' day represents that of many deployed members here. He started the day by participating in the 5k run and getting a visit from the first sergeants who delivered donuts and hot chocolate. He followed up by enjoying a meal served by his commander and he closed the day watching the movie, "A Christmas Story," at the pavilion.

"With the fog in the morning and 'A Christmas Story' on the television that night, it felt like Christmas," Airman Williams said. "I wasn't alone. I was with my other family this Christmas, my Air Force family."