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'Santa' delivers gifts to Marines at combat outposts

by Cpl. Ray Lewis

Marines never thought they'd see Santa Claus in a combat zone. That was until now.

Lt. Col. Todd S. Desgrosseilliers, battalion commander for 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, played 'Santa Claus' when he and his Jump Platoon delivered presents to his Marines at the combat outposts in Habbaniyah, Iraq, Dec 24. Lance Cpl. Brian Lewis helped make it happen. His mother, Patty Lewis coordinated the mailing of the presents to Desgrosseilliers in Iraq. All the Marines are currently serving a seven-month deployment in the Habbaniyah, Iraq, area under Regimental Combat Team 5.

Lt. Col. Todd S. Desgrosseilliers, battalion commander for 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, dressed up as Santa Claus to deliver Christmas gifts to the Marines at combat outposts here Dec. 24.

"We thought we'd add a little flavor to coming out and checking on the Marines by giving them stockings and having the colonel dress up as Santa," said Sgt. Maj. Michael L. Scarbrough, 42, battalion sergeant major from Detroit.

When Desgrosseilliers walked into the posts wearing his big red suit, white beard and black boots, Marines didn't know how to respond.

Marines were even more awestruck when they saw what gifts "Santa" had brought along with him.

"It's pretty cool to get some presents on Christmas," said Cpl. Zach W. Grainger, K Company clerk, 21, a rifleman from Winston-Salem, N.C.

The gifts were stockings filled with gifts courtesy of Patty Lewis and the 3/2 Parents Network, mother of Lance Cpl. Brian Lewis, 21, a rifleman with L Company, from Montgomery, Pa.

"Did you ever think you'd see Santa Claus in combat?" asked Scarbrough as Marines chuckled at the get-ups.

Marines just gawked at Desgrosseilliers' outfit.

"Are those grenades on Santa?" many Marines asked.

Desgrosseilliers just laughed.

Not only was "Santa" there. Santa's reindeer, helpers, elves and "The Grinch," were also present.

"He's a mean one, Mr. Grinch!" sung Scarbrough before the battalion's gunner dressed up as the character strolled nonchalantly into the combat outpost

Marines enjoyed the reenactment of the Dr. Seuss villain.

"The costumes were pretty funny," Grainger said.

Others were also amused.

"It was unique," said Cpl. Bradford W. Price, lead turret gunner with Jump Platoon. "I've never seen that before where a battalion commander put on a full blown Santa Claus suit."

The platoon was happy the Marines were satisfied with "Santa's" visit, said Price, 21, a small-arms repair technician from Sneads, Fla.

"The fact that the guys got a kick out of it is what Christmas is all about," Price said.

Price was in the Christmas spirit also. He decorated his weapon with a red nose and antlers to mimic the likeness of "Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer."

"I came up with it that morning for Christmas spirit," Price said. "I'm the lead truck, plus Rudolph was the original pointman back in the day. A lot of people don't know that."

Although traveling on the roads here is always risky, Marines were willing to face the danger for their fellow Marines.

"It's just for the Christmas joy," said Cpl. Wilbur J. Collier, 21, a driver with Jump Platoon, who is from Cairo, Ill. "I think the spirits were uplifted."

Other Marines agreed.

"Even though we're not home, this reminds us that we were thought of for the holidays," said Cpl. Frank J. Turco III, a squad leader assigned to K Company.

It keeps morale up, said Turco, 22, from Philadelphia.

"So we can call home to our families and tell them that we're alright and we'll be home soon," Turco said.

After all the combat outposts had their gifts, it was time for the Jump Platoon to get back on the muddy roads.

The Marines' night wasn"t silent though.

The Marines encountered an improvised explosive device on the way back to Camp Habbaniyah.

Luckily, the driver for the lead vehicle spotted the insurgent weapon and no one was harmed.

"It was definitely a Christmas blessing," said Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Drew P. Barkman, 23, a religious personnel specialist with Headquarters and Service Company, who is from Clearville, Pa.