Operation Christmas
provides gifts for paratroopers

508th PIR Association

With the holidays fast approaching, the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment Family Readiness Group leaders began to put together a plan.

Their objective was to have deployed men and women receive a package during the Christmas season. It was never about what was in the package, but the love, the effort and the thought that went into it, providing our presence to our Soldiers during the holiday season. With that, Operation Christmas began.

The FRG leaders contacted Barbara Whithead at Give2theTroops, the Greenville, N.C. branch and made a trip to volunteer their personal time. Over 30 members of 2nd Bn., 508th PIR FRG made the drive to Greenville, some with children in tow.

While there, they were able to stuff boxes for other servicemembers and collect goodies to send to 508th’s Soldiers. After arriving back at Fort Bragg, they soon realized that the truck full of support items would cost a lot to mail. That is where the Family and Friends of the 508th PIR Association stepped up to help.

On Oct. 5, a formal letter was sent out by Troy Palmer, president of the Family and Friends of the 508th PIR Association agreeing to support Operation Christmas.
Ellen Peters, the group’s secretary and treasurer, became the “point person” for the collection of donations. The goal was to reach $5,000, which was met and exceeded. As of Nov. 30, $6,150 has been raised for Operation Christmas.

A ceremonial check was used to show the total amount of donations as of Nov. 8.

Each deployed Soldier from the 2nd Bn., 508th PIR will receive a package containing flashing Christmas trees, deodorant, cigars, golf clubs, games, books, sports equipment and much more.
The efforts of the friends and Family of the 508th PIR Association and the 2nd Bn., 508th PIR FRG were instrumental in accomplishing this goal.