Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to the GAF

[US Scout]

On this special day, and special holiday season, I would like to wish everyone in the GAF a Merry Christmas and/or Happy Holidays.  As you enjoy this day with your family please keep those who are unable to do the same in mind, especially our military and those who support them, whether on deployment overseas or just having the duty watch for the day. 

US Scout
GAF, Commanding

[Trailrider]

Amen, sir! Godspeed to them all!

[Pony Racer]

God bless all those whole toil for peace on and under the sea, on the ground and in the air!

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and God bless us everyone!

PR

[litl rooster]

Well said PR...and thank you for your continuos service

[S. Quentin Quale, Esq.]

And to you and yours!!!

SQQ

[RattlesnakeJack]

Compliments of the Season to the Commanding General, Staff and personnel of the Grand Army of the Frontier!

[Pitspitr]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!

I received several  "GAF" gifts including a set of "saloon" doors that J. Dawg gave me to use in a prop.

[PJ Hardtack]

In the Canadian Army, the Officers traditionally serve Christmas Dinner to the men.

The senior Officer present does the carving and the serving is done in descending order of rank thereafter. I loved this tradition and I hope that it is ongoing.

Is there a similar tradition in the US military?

[cpt dan blodgett]

I was never in a Unit where Christmas dinner was served by the officers, generally much like Thanksgiving, Officers would wear dress Blues and eat with the men, families were also invited.  In a couple of units once in a while the officers would cook and serve breakfast but not associated with any particular holiday.  Guess breakfast was hard to screw up by those who could not really cook.

[PJ Hardtack]

Rest assured that the Officers did NOT do the cooking! Only the serving.

Each man was also issued two beer and once dinner was underway, the toasts were made, the CO made a brief Christmas speech and was awarded by a standing ovation. Then the Officers repaired to the Mess for their own meal.

Christmas was one time some units allowed alcohol in the common room of the barracks. I hated that as the drinking went on to all hours. Many fights resulted and any resemblance of Christmas Spirit evaporated.

[pony express]

I remember that the mess hall where I was stationed (Nellingen Barracks, Germany) put on a pretty good feast for Christmas and Thanksgiving, But I don't remember officers serving.

[PJ Hardtack]

One year in Soest, Germany, our Jr. Ranks Club voted to host a Christmas party for the local orphanage. There was just a quorum present when the vote was taken. The guys went ballistic when they found out and wanted to lynch the Mess President.

But - they rallied behind the idea in the end and it was a great success. We got an "Atta - boy" letter from the Brigadier for the good PR it generated for the Brigade. After that, it became an annual event.

I don't know if they carried with it after the Brigade moved south to Lahr.