Christmas delivered by air

Staff Sgt. Raul Mercado finishes building a holiday bundle for delivery to forward-deployed troops in austere locations in theater. Aproximately 50 bundles were air-dropped by C-130 Hercules aircrews assigned to 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron between Dec. 23 and 28. Sergeant Mercado is a rigger NCO assigned to the 10th Joint Logistics Task Force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Vince King Jr.)

Christmas delivered by air

Riggers with the 10th Logistics Task Force work to create holiday bundles for forward troops within the theater Dec. 21. They built more than 50 bundles within a two-day period. The bundles were air-dropped Dec. 23 through 28 to forward-deployed servicemembers by C-130 Hercules deployed to the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron. (U.S. Army photo/Sgt. Michael J. Taylor)

Christmas delivered by air

Published Jan. 2, 2007
By Capt. Vince King Jr.
455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- This year, Santa employed members of Bagram Airfield to help him deliver Christmas to troops deployed to austere locations throughout the theater.

In support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, there are thousands of troops living in forward operating bases who receive their supplies through various means while in theater.

This holiday season, the Air Force in conjunction with its Army comrades, delivered more than 50 container delivery system bundles, weighing more than 63,400 pounds, through the large chimney in the sky.

Santa's tactical sleigh for this mission was the C-130 Hercules deployed from the Alaska, Puerto Rico, and Michigan Air National Guard and assigned to the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, along with a team from the 777th EAS, Balad, Iraq. Loading and building the pallets for the sleigh were men and women from the Joint Logistics Command and the 455th Logistics Readiness Squadron.

On December 21, Airmen and Soldiers with the JLC began palletizing Christmas bundles for the FOBs. Base leadership placed small notes on the bundles thanking the troops for their continuous service, sacrifices and wished them a happy holiday season.

Brig. Gen. Christopher Miller, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing commander, wrote, "The men and women of the U.S. Air Force are proud to deliver these holiday bundles. We deeply appreciate your sacrifice during this special season, whether you are apart from family, friends, or just away (from) the nation you serve. We hope as you celebrate you will enjoy the company of your comrades-in-arms, and that 2007 will bring many blessings for you and your loved ones."

This year, morale items airdropped to the forward deployed troops included long and short sleeve shirts, magazines, gum, cough drops, calendars and a Christmas tree with decorations.

According to Lt. Col. Mark Hedlund, 774th EAS commander, delivering the gifts to the FOBs was a challenge.

"We ran into several (obstacles prior to the airdrops)," said the lieutenant colonel. "But we were able to later come back and deliver the bundles to the troops."

Scheduled to be delivered on December 23rd through 26th, the bundles were unable to make their final destinations due to severe weather conditions in the region; however the squadron did manage to deliver several airdrops to FOBs on December 23.

According to the colonel, the squadrons' goal was to deliver the bundles as soon as the weather permitted safe flying, delivery and recovery for all troops involved. He said the last five bundles were delivered to the forward deployed troops on December 28.

Even though the troops in the field received their gifts after Christmas, they were still grateful that Bagram Airfield leadership were thinking of them this holiday season.

To date, the JLC and 774th EAS have delivered more than four million pounds of cargo in and around Afghanistan since the 10th Mountain Division's arrival in February.