Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Elizabeth Houx | Indiana Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Jason Wootten, Task Force 38 plans...... read more read more
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq — Dressed in Army combat uniforms, red and white hats, elf ears, red elf shoes adorned with bells and sunglasses, two Task Force 38 Soldiers accompanied the cotton ball-bearded, sunglass-wearing "Santa Wootten" as they walked from office to office distributing holiday cheer here, Dec. 4.
Indiana National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Jason Wootten, Task Force 38 plans non-commissioned officer in charge, received gifts for each Task Force 38 Soldier from his family and friends in Indiana. He then recruited two fellow Indiana National Guard Soldiers, Spc. Joshua Brooksher, task force plans specialist, and Spc. Scott Wells, task force intelligence analyst, to act as his holiday elves and help him pass out the gifts.
"I love doing stuff like that," said Wootten. "It made things more joyous. Even though we are all adults and understand the real meaning behind the holidays, it was like a little part of home out here with Santa and the elves passing out presents."
Wootten's wife, Danielle, her friend, mother and grandmother sent miniature Christmas trees and patriotically decorated miniature stockings filled with candy for every Soldier in the unit.
"They heard me talk about past deployments where Soldiers didn't receive any gifts or packages for the holidays," said Wootten of his family. "They wanted to make sure every headquarters Soldier got a tree and stocking."
Female Soldiers also received a gift set of body wash, lotion and lip gloss along with their trees and stockings.
"There's not a lot of health and beauty aids here," said Wootten. "They wanted to make sure every female [Soldier] had something to make them feel lady like."
To ensure the cheer spreaders were festive while they passed out the presents, Indiana National Guard Spc. Shannon Statzer, a Task Force 38 headquarters and command staff assistant, made Wootten's beard and the elves' ears, nametags and jingling shoes.
"I thought it would be hilarious to see Spc. Wells and Spc. Brooksher dressed up as elves," said Statzer, Cicero, Ind. "It helped the guys get into the holiday spirit and into what they were doing, and it also helped me get more into the holiday spirit."
Statzer said while the attire was fun and uplifting, the three costumed Soldiers reinforced more serious ideas of camaraderie, support and family togetherness.
"The closer the holidays get the more I have noticed my fellow soldiers becoming sad that they won't be with their families. I think this brought smiles and laughs to the unit," said Statzer. "Soldiers might not be with their loved ones back home, but now they can see that they have a family here that cares about them too."
Wells, Shelbyville, Ind., said dressing up as "Holly," the elf, to pass out presents to Soldiers was a fun and rewarding experience.
"It was exciting and a change of pace," said Wells. "It was good to see a smile on everyone's faces. People weren't expecting it, and I think we reminded them that people still care."
Wells also said helping raise peoples' spirits during the holidays while away from their families was gratifying.
"It gave me the best feeling I've had since I've been here," he said.
Soldiers who received the gifts were also grateful of the camaraderie efforts and holiday spirit.
"I was presently surprised," said Indiana Army National Guard Maj. Dwight Mood, South Bend, Ind., Task Force 38 information officer. "It's the little things that add to esprit de corps, and that was one of them. Also, having a Christmas tree on your desk makes it feel more like the holidays."
Celebrating holidays during their deployment was a common morale booster for task force Soldiers. The Task Force 38 medical section hosted a Halloween costume party at the troop medical clinic. The dining facility celebrated Thanksgiving with elaborate decorations, festive costumes and a Thanksgiving Day feast.
Brooksher, Muncie, Ind., said celebrating the holidays was a morale booster, and every holiday was a time to joke around and have fun.
"We are doing the best we can to spread cheer of holidays to Task Force 38 Soldiers," said Brooksher, who was dressed up as "Noel," the elf while handing out presents.
"I hope we continue to pull shenanigans and have fun with every holiday in the rest of our deployment to keep morale up here," he said.
| Date Taken: | 12.11.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 12.11.2009 09:43 |
| Story ID: | 42603 |
| Location: | BALAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 287 |
| Downloads: | 233 |
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