True Story

I posted this story on the Internet years ago and it is still out there.

Santa Claus in a helicopter

Christmas, December 1969

Not everyone gets to go to the Bob Hope show, like me, so I had to do guard duty on the hill.

As I sat there, I heard a helicopter coming from around the side of this big hill, next to us was where, I believe, the Seabees were stationed. The chopper was bright red, it really startled me! I thought the gooks finally had their own air force.

As the chopper got near, I could see Santa Claus hanging out the side, and as he flew down the line he threw candy out to all of us on duty.

I'll tell you it was quite a sight to see grown men--okay, boys--jumping up and down the line and waving at Santa.

I heard it was an Army unit who did this. I don't know who deserves the credit, but it really made our holiday.

This is probably one of the few times I either did not have a camera with me or I was to dumb struck to take a picture.

More from the Camp Pendleton booklet

....on the way to Vietnam

Da Nang (the name I knew NOT Danang) Harbor

I found your blog this date via the Post Star and found it extremely interesting. I was wondering if you had any photos of any Navy ships providing NGFS during your tour. Best Regards , Steve Raymond ( ex SM2 USN 68-72"

Steve this is the best I can do right now, maybe you can tell us the name of 808.

Thanks for reading

Don

Corrections to the Post Star Article

I noticed two sentences in the Post Star article http://www.poststar.com/articles/2008/12/16/news/local/14134320.txtfrom todays date that I must correct.

The three Marines killed were not part of a "battalion" they were assigned to the 1st Marine Division Band.

Second mistake we were not there to "guard the band" we were there to help them provide security.

And I did not "retire" after two years, they botched that up also. Thanks to Anonymous for pointing that out.

More from the hill

Happy Valley
Ammo bunker on the backside of the hill