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Holidays Away From Home

The following are holiday-themed selections from stories that have been submitted to the Story Wall over the past several months. Some are cheerful, and, as one might expect, some are sad.

Did you spend Hanukkah, Christmas, or New Years abroad? Or were you a civilian spending the holidays at home without a loved one? What do the holidays mean to you?

Share Your Story

A choir director, organist, and choir practicing, all in uniform.

Except for our work at the chapel, I didn't really know Gary. But, he seemed to have a remarkably sweet angelic radiance about him.

Read Edy's Story

Close up of a mustachioed man swimming with a monkey clinging to his neck.

Our Infantry Cycle was cut short by 2 weeks to give us a short leave at Christmas to be at home with our families.

Read John's Story

An overexposed photo of a large man in military scrubs standing in front of a poster that says "LOVE" and has a breaking heart on it.

Then things went silent… maybe it was my imagination, but I thought I heard people singing Christmas carols in the distance.

Read Tim's Story

A soldier in a boonie hat looking right into the camera.

Lucky, I got assigned to easy duty, even got to see Bob Hope on Christmas Day. But then Tet happened.

Read Mark's Story

A very tall US soldier posing alongside a very small Asian man.

The Red Cross tried to help us celebrate the Christmas holiday. Of course it wasn't the same as being at home with your family.

Read Ed's Story

Three cheerful looking women eating dinner in a hootch.

The most challenging holiday for me was Christmas. However, my best friend, McClure, did her best to bring Christmas to Vietnam.

Read Marcia's Story

Biographical Details

Story Subject: Military Service

Story Themes: Bob Hope, Christmas, Ed Scheunke, Edy Johnson, Holiday, Homesickness, John Sorich, Marcia Stevens, Mark Odegard, Medical Personnel, Read, Relationships, Stories on a Theme, Tet Offensive, Tim Connelly

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