Heartwarming Holidays in the Military

12/19/2008 - U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Heath Bahyi observes boxed cargo being air-dropped from a C-130 Hercules aircraft over the island of Yap Dec. 19, 2008, during Operation Christmas Drop. The drop, which is the Air Force’s longest-running humanitarian mission, is part of a tradition to deliver supplies to the remote islands Yap, Palau, Chuuk, Pohnpei and the Northern Marianas Islands. More than 180 boxes were built for the humanitarian mission, making 2008 one of the largest drops in the operation’s 57-year history. Bahyi is a loadmaster from the 36th Airlift Squadron, Yokota Air Base, Japan. (DoD photo by Master Sgt. Kevin J. Gruenwald, U.S. Air Force/Released) VIRIN: 081219-F-6911G-353

12/20/2008 - U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Jonathan O. Gackle, the commanding officer of Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12, holds a child from the Ninoshimakaku orphanage during Santa’s visit to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 20, 2008. Children from the orphanage go to the base every year to participate in different activities to celebrate the holiday season. (DoD photo by Sgt. Ricardo A. Gomez, U.S. Marine Corps/Released) VIRIN: 081220-M-9609G-028

12/21/2008 - U.S. Army Spc. David Cartwright, assigned to 1st Platoon, 230th Military Police Company, 793rd Military Police Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade, feeds puppies at the Iraqi Police District Headquarters in Mahawil, Iraq, Dec. 21, 2008. (DoD photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Wendy Wyman, U.S. Navy/Released) VIRIN: 081221-N-4245W-075