Santa Claus came to town

All - I trust you had a great Christmas! Mine was pretty good - we have a full day, and enjoyed a great Christmas Lunch.
Here are a couple photos:
Santa came to visit us - he brought a helper that dressed in a deer suit - it was pretty funny.

CPT Dan La Rose, LNO from 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division out of Fort Lewis, Washington, and I desplayed our Finished Gingerbread Houses - Mine was titled the LNO Lodge (I'm the LNO for 3d ACR here) and won if you can call it that. they were so fun to make and display- I also have pretty good pictures of the deconstruction that happened shortly following the judging. they were pretty great to eat as well.
This is the LNO day shift crew - or part of us. Unfortunately we always have to leave a couple at the HQ to answer phones and update reports and stuff.

From left to right: CPT Julie - LNO for the 184th EOD, CPT Adrian Bauer - LNO for the 1st Infantry Division Avaition, Me - I hope you know who I am, CPT Dan La Rose, and Mike Roe - from the 1st Brigade, 1oth Mountain Division from Fort Drumm New York More pictures to follow.

I also did something yesterday thanks to Geoff and Mel's family that I was going to document with photo, but didn't because it was very emotional and I felt best not to disrupt with taking photos. For all, Geoff and Mel got with Mel's family and they filled a bunch of little stocking with candy and notes for SOldiers. I decided since I didn't have a unit to give to this year that I would take a group caroling to the Combat Sustainment Hospital (CSH - pronouned cash) - We went there and received permission to visit with the 27 SOldiers that were their for various reason. It was very special, most of them had been wounded in action and of course did not expect to be away from their units for Christmas; so they didn't have any present to open. They were extremely touched by the little gifts that we brought and many cried as they thanked us for stopping by and spending some of our Christmas Day with them. I can't imagine the feelings that SOldiers must feel after being wounded while they are recoverying either to return to their unit (what all that we meet wanted to do) or stabilizing enought to be further transported to other medical facilities. We also handed out the stockings to the great Doctors, Nurses, and Staff of the hospital What wonderful people they are; many of them also brought in gifts that they had received and they took up a collection and purchased some gifts to wrap and provide our wounded Soldiers.

It has been a rough day today - we lost two Soldiers this morning - I can't say anything else due to the fact their families haven't been notified.

I love and miss you all and wish I could be with all of you today.

Love,

Jonathan