Following are snapshots of what Soldiers are doing this month, in the days leading up to the holidays:
NORTH CAROLINA
Parachutes filled the skies over Sicily Drop Zone at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, signaling the start of the 17th annual Randy Oler Memorial Operation Toy Drop, Dec. 5 and 6.
Hosted by the U.S. Army Civil Affairs & Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), or USACAPOC, an operational command under the U.S. Army Reserve Command, Operation Toy Drop is a nearly two-week gathering of Soldiers, volunteers, and allied jumpmasters, who spread the holiday spirit throughout the area.
Billed as the largest combined airborne operation in the world, Operation Toy Drop has a much deeper meaning -- giving back to those in need in the communities surrounding Fort Bragg.
"Toy Drop really is a continuum of service," said Lt. Col. Aaron Clapsaddle, chief of the USACAPOC Air Operations Division and Operation Toy Drop airborne commander. "All of our Service members provide a service to the country and in many cases, the community also provides services back to those in uniform.
"So with Toy Drop, we are giving back to the community. For our Soldiers it is another way of serving," he said.
This year's first Soldier in line to donate a new, unwrapped toy was Pfc. Ezekiel Polite of El Paso, Texas. "It's all about the kids," Polite said, before donating a child's scooter. "I try to stay humble and remind myself that this is for the kids. I do what I can."
Spc. Hector Rios, a power generator equipment repair specialist, donated a remote control car and said, "It's nice to know the toy I bring will make some child happy. I know that when I went to buy the toy, I bought it as if someone was giving the toy to me -- a younger me and something that I would want."
In addition to bringing joy to a child this Christmas, Toy Drop offers the paratroopers a little something extra -- foreign jump wings.
No Toy Drop would be complete without the assistance of allied jumpmasters. This year, jumpmasters from Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Latvia, Netherlands and Poland participated in Toy Drop.
Paratroopers are teamed up with one of the allies and their own airborne staff. Once a jump is completed, the paratroopers line up in front of their families and friends at Sicily Drop Zone to receive their foreign-nation wings.
For Sgt. 1st Class Shane Weigel of Minot, N.D., this was his third set of German jump wings. A member of 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, he knew what was coming.
Lt. Col. Andreas Wichert, the German Army liaison at the 18th Airborne Corps, looked at Weigel's name and said, "A German name. Are you ready?" Weigel smiled and replied, "Yes" and Wichert pinned the wings into Weigel's chest.
PENNSYLVANIA
Thousands gathered at Washington Crossing Park, Pennsylvania, Dec. 7, to witness the full dress rehearsal for the 62nd annual re-enactment of Gen. George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River during the American Revolution -- a salute to the Army's role in the independence of the United States.
Washington's nighttime river crossing on Christmas Eve in 1776, led to success at the Battle of Trenton on Christmas Day, and is often credited with sustaining the war effort after several routs in New York and a colonial retreat across New Jersey.
Serving as narrator for the event was Maj. Gen. Margaret W. Boor, commanding general of the Army Reserve's 99th Regional Support Command, headquartered at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey.
"At that time, the Army was made up of Continental Soldiers and militia, just as today's total force is comprised of active-duty and reserve-component Soldiers serving side-by-side," Boor said.
The event was hosted by the Washington Crossing Foundation and featured hundreds of volunteers from the Washington Crossing Re-enactors Society portraying Gen. Washington and his troops, as well as everyday 18th-century citizens participating in colonial-era activities and demonstrations throughout the park's historic village.
"The Continental Army and militia's legacy of proud and honorable service lives on within the brave men and women who wear the uniform today," Boor said. "Today's Service members are carrying the torch that was first lit nearly two and a half centuries ago when our newly formed nation fought for freedom from rule without representation.
"Let us honor and remember those who, generation after generation, have given their lives in defense of our nation," she continued, "so that we may enjoy the blessings of liberty."
Elsewhere in Pennsylvania, in late November and early December, Soldiers of the 733rd Transportation Company, a Reserve unit based in Reading, along with local volunteers, collected personal hygiene items, snacks, socks and other items to stuff about 6,000 stockings to be sent to troops serving overseas. Also, more than 35,000 holiday cards were gathered to assure Service members they were not forgotten this holiday season.
"Stockings for Soldiers is basically the community coming together to support the Soldiers who are serving overseas," explained Capt. Joshua Koncar, commander, 733rd Transportation Company. It's great to see the local community, businesses and government all come together for one cause. It's really overwhelming.
"We've been doing it for the last three years, providing labor and transportation support to move the actual items which are to be shipped downrange," he continued. "Any opportunity we get, we try to help out the community because they help us out so much with organizations like theirs helping the Soldiers. If we were deployed downrange, we would want the same kind of support that is given here."
"Over the last five years, it's growing and every year they get more and more donations," said Sgt. Jennifer Ranaudo, unit administrator for the 733rd Transportation Company. "It's amazing how a community can come together. It's awesome. It really is awesome."
TEXAS
Troopers from the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, along with the villagers of Salado, Texas, ushered in a little holiday cheer at the Salado Christmas Stroll Parade in downtown Salado, Dec. 4.
A color guard from the regiment led the procession while Lt. Col. Larry Croucher, the ready detachment commander, waved to the crowd from a Stryker combat vehicle.
"It is critical that we continue to maintain an enduring relationship with our local communities -- our Soldiers and their families live in these communities and they become an extension to our Army family," said Croucher. "Participating in events like this are a privilege for us; the support we receive from the community cannot be repaid."
More than 30 other organizations were also in the line-up to include students from each of the schools in the Salado Independent School District, local church and youth organizations, members of the Salado Chamber of Commerce, as well as the 1st Cavalry Division horse detachment and band.
Participation in the event is part of the regiment's ongoing community relations program with the village. The regiment is the city's adopted partner unit, and they hold numerous community events throughout the year together.
"This parade is a great way for us to kick off the holiday season in partnership with our Soldiers in Fort Hood [Texas]," said Kerry Fillip, event coordinator for Salado. "The city has a special relationship with 3rd Cavalry Regiment -- our residents, especially the children, love seeing Soldiers in military vehicles and on horseback at the parade."
Elsewhere in Texas, members of the 1st Cavalry Division band played holiday classics as members of the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), provided refreshments and distributed donated toys to needy military families at Fort Hood, Dec. 1 to 12.
NEW YORK
About 20 Soldiers and Airmen of the New York National Guard volunteered in support of Trees for Troops at Ellms Christmas Tree Farm in Ballston Spa, New York, Dec. 3. The Guardsmen loaded trees donated from area tree farms as part of a nationwide effort to deliver Christmas trees to troops and military families around the world.
"This year, from here, there's probably going to be over 160 trees from 16 farms and nurseries that are local here," said owner and coordinator Chip Ellms. "We've now delivered more than 135,000 trees to families and Service members all around the country."
This marks the tenth year of New York National Guard members volunteering their time to assist in the loading of trees. This year's collection from Ballston Spa is destined for Fort Bragg military families, Ellms said.
"You know, after 10 years, I would have thought that the support for this program would have tapered off, but we've seen this continue to grow year after year," he said. "The support we've had from area growers and the community just gets bigger each year."
The National Guard Soldier volunteers came from Latham's 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade Headquarters and Army Aviation Support Facility. Their turnout follows the unit's deployment to Kuwait during the Christmas season of 2013.
"I've seen Soldiers come home and they're elated," said Sgt. 1st Class Greg Martin, who returned from deployment with the 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade this fall. "They're happy that somebody cared for their family at Christmas time just by giving them a simple tree."
For the past several years, the effort has helped to deliver, on average, 17,000 Christmas trees each year to 60-plus military installations throughout the U.S. and overseas.
"It's a nice reminder," said Sgt. 1st Class David Vetter from the 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade Headquarters Company. "One, that people care to spend the time to even do that. And two, to have that bit of home; to kind of bring it all back together, especially with your friends that are over there at least you can kind of cling together and celebrate together. If you can't be home for the holidays, you're in our hearts."
WASHINGTON STATE
Soldiers from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, are receiving free Christmas trees during this year's "Trees for Troops" event Dec. 3.
"Trees for Troops" became a national program in 2005, when the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation, a charitable organization of the National Christmas Tree Association, unified the individual programs of tree growers and state Christmas tree associations. The Christmas SPIRIT Foundation partnered with the FedEx Corporation to ship the Christmas trees from the growers to military bases.
"This program is awesome," said Haley Rodriguez, an Army spouse, who arrived with her daughter to pick up their tree. "They made it convenient for the spouse to come and pick up the tree when the Soldier couldn't. It also helped take some stress off of trying to buy a tree."
Last year, Joint Base Lewis-McChord received about 800 trees from the program, which were all gone in two and a half days. This year the installation will have more than 1,000 trees to hand out to Service members.
KOSOVO
More than 50 Soldiers from Multinational Battle Group-East gathered Dec. 9, to listen to Father Ilarion Lupulovich, an abbot of Draganac Monastery in Kosovo, speak about his country's Christmas traditions at the monthly prayer breakfast on Camp Bondsteel.
"I think that we are supposed to share the gifts given to us and show our faith," said Lupulovich of the meaning of Christmas. "I think it is important to show we care and that we love. These experiences are only enriching us."
KENTUCKY
Soldiers of the Kentucky National Guard will soon have their own memorial at Boone National Guard Center in Frankfort, Kentucky. It will be dedicated to those who served and gave the ultimate sacrifice.
"I thought of this memorial in 2004," said John Trowbridge, former command historian for the Kentucky Guard. "It was right after our first casualty that year and I wanted to come up with a way to help our state remember those killed or captured."
"Work will continue to the holiday," said Trowbridge, chairman for the memorial. "We expect to break for Christmas and, weather permitting, we plan to finish it this spring."
A bronze statue of Daniel Boone, sculpted by Wyatt Gragg of Prospect, Kentucky, now acts as a centerpiece, in front of the Kentucky-shaped, granite memorial, recently shipped in from South Africa.
The concrete stairs leading up to the memorial are the most recent ongoing addition, while the granite tile flooring surrounding the two centerpieces is on the agenda for this spring.
ITALY
Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, visited the 173rd Airborne Brigade "Sky Soldiers," and other Vicenza-based units in Italy, Dec. 7, at a concert presented by the USO to bring some of America's talent to the paratroopers stationed here.
"This year we decided [to hold the concert here] because of all the things we asked the "Sky Soldiers" to do, as well as U.S. Army Africa," says Dempsey. "This would be an appropriate place to come and share their talents with the young men and women and their families who are doing all the heavy lifting."
Dempsey explained the important of their presence in Europe to "introduce a commitment by the United States to reassure allies and deter potential adversaries."
During the year, the brigade deployed approximately 600 paratroopers for seven months on short notice to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland to establish Operation Atlantic Resolve. This increase of exercises demonstrated commitment to NATO collective defense and sustained interoperability with allies.
The 173rd Airborne is one of five airborne brigades, and the only one stationed forward from the U.S. It is the Army Contingency Force in Europe, capable of deploying forces to conduct the full range of military operations across the U.S. European, Central and Africa Commands areas of responsibility, in 18 hours or less.
The USO held the event for paratroopers and their families to enjoy. The concert featured songs by country singer Kellie Pickler and star of television's "Glee" Dianna Agron, giveaways from Washington Capitals pitcher Doug Fister, "Suits" star Meghan Markle and former Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher, and jokes from the show's master of ceremonies, comedian and former Marine Corps Lt. Col. Rob Riggle.
"The show was amazing." said Spc. William Molthop, a paratrooper assigned to the 173rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, at the show with his family. "Kellie Pickler was our favorite performer."
At the end of the show, Dempsey sang "White Christmas."
JAPAN
U.S. Soldiers joined their Japanese counterparts Dec. 5, for a series of community events during the run-up to Yama Sakura, the annual bi-lateral command post exercise between the two countries.
"There's sometimes a sense of separation between Service members and the community surrounding a base," said Sgt. Maj. Gotada Mamoru, with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Eastern Army. "We do outreach activities like this one to bring the Japanese people closer to their military. Including our U.S. allies in these events helps build a sense of trust and partnership with the Japanese people."
One group of Service members visited "Smile Studio," a facility that provides job training and employment opportunities for the mentally handicapped. There they tried their hand at Mochitsuki -- the Japanese traditional method of pounding steamed rice into paste with a large hammer to make rice cakes.
Another group had the slightly more dangerous task of facing off against a nursery full of excited Japanese children in sumo wrestling matches.
"I really didn't know what to expect or how the kids were going to receive us, but they were all smiling and really excited when we got there," said Sgt. 1st Class Chris Lee, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, I Corps. "I have an 18-month-old back home, who I miss, so I was looking forward to coming out and spending time with the children here."
The Service members visiting the nursery also sang Christmas carols and exchanged gifts with the children. The children received tiny stuffed animals. The Service members received necklaces made by the children.
Many of the Americans in in attendance found the impact of the visits surprising.
"I think it's great when they get to see that we come not just with the ability to bring a fight to an enemy but also to care for people," said Sgt. 1st Class Luis Jaramillo, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, I Corps. "They can see us out of our uniform and not conducting a military exercise. They can see us as people with feelings, emotions and families of our own."
Lee said the service project was one of many cultural events he hoped to attend during his time in Japan.
"I think getting out and experiencing their culture and sharing yours is one of the most important things when participating in an exercise like this," said Lee. "Experiencing that friendship when building a bond is very important; it's team building on another level."
LIBERIA
When the Ebola virus spread to the remote village of Tappita, Liberia, it took more than a day for it to be properly diagnosed. Soon, it will take a matter of minutes.
A new Ebola Treatment Unit will open in Tappita within the month, and Tappita Mayor Sarah Z. Mendoabor said the town is elated.
"It's a great thing for us," said Mendoabor. "Now we will know if someone has Ebola in about 20 minutes."
Without the Ebola Treatment Unit, or ETU, it takes more than a day for a potential Ebola patient to travel to the capitol of Monrovia for treatment, she said.
"That's if the roads are good. It's more like a day and a half," said Mendoabor.
The construction of the ETU has been managed by the 36th Engineer Brigade, from Fort Hood, Texas.
Despite only having one reported case of Ebola in the village, Maj. Tony Costello, design engineer for the 36th Engineer Brigade, said this 50-bed ETU was strategically placed.
There have been more than 250 cases of Ebola in the surrounding county of Nimba, according to the World Health Organization, and the roads to Tappita are easily accessible to the rest of the county, said the Fairburn, Georgia, native.
Mendoabor said she is very thankful for aid from the United States.
"We have always been like a little brother to America," she said. "We have always loved America, and for them to come in and help out at a time like this, reinforces that."
When the Ebola virus was strongest, the more than 7,000 residents of Tappita were fearful and recluse, said Mendoabor.
"Everyone would stay inside and avoid contact. People were out of work, but now things are getting better," she said. "They are out in the community and getting ready for school to start."
Schools in Liberia have been closed since June due to the Ebola outbreak and are scheduled to reopen soon.
When the ETU is opened, it will be handed over to Heart to Heart International, headquartered in Kansas City.
"Once the ETU is completed, we will bring in a number of doctors and nurses from the states," said James Mitchum, CEO of Heart to Heart International. "We will open the ETU and take care of any Ebola patient in the area."
He expects more than 150 employees working out of the ETU in three shifts.
Heart to Heart International originally talked to other organizations about playing more of a support role, but that changed when they saw how Ebola effected the region, said Mitchum.
"We just saw that the need was so great," he said.
http://www.army.mil/article/139747/Soldiers_worldwide_showing_holiday_spirit/
By David Vergun, compiling reports Armywide
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