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Returning With 'Love From Above'

An airman gives two thumbs up from the cargo bay of an aircraft,
Christmas Drop Miracle
Christmas Drop Miracle
Credit: DOD screenshot
VIRIN: 221222-D-D0439-104M
"When I was in fourth grade, all I can recall is remembering the sound of the plane, the people being excited to receive the packages, anticipating the surprises that were inside the packages."
~Army National Guard Sgt. Johnsey Hagel
An airman in civilian clothing and a Santa hat writes on the side of a box.
Christmas Drop Miracle
Christmas Drop Miracle
Credit: DOD screenshot
VIRIN: 221222-D-D0439-106M
A service member peels back a label on a box that reads "Merry Christmas from J.V. and your Guam ..."
Christmas Drop Miracle
Christmas Drop Miracle
Credit: DOD screenshot
VIRIN: 221222-D-D0439-107M
An airman observes another standing behind a pallet pushed out over an island from the back of an aircraft.
Christmas Drop Miracle
Christmas Drop Miracle
Credit: DOD screenshot
VIRIN: 221222-D-D0439-108M
A service member waves toward an island from the back of an aircraft.
Christmas Drop Miracle
Christmas Drop Miracle
Credit: DOD screenshot
VIRIN: 221222-D-D0439-102M
After six years away from home, Army National Guard Sgt. Johnsey Hagel, Task Force Talon team leader, had the honor of returning for a mission with the U.S. Air Force, to drop packages to his island of Mog Mog during Operation Christmas Drop — the very event that inspired him to join the military.

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71 Years of 'Love From Above'

Airmen, one dressed as Santa, push decorated cardboard boxes out of an open aircraft.
71 Years of 'Love From Above'
71 Years of 'Love From Above'
Credit: Yasuo Osakabe, Air Force
VIRIN: 221209-F-PM645-0008Y
Bundles descend from a U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules for Operation Christmas Drop.
Christmas Drop Bundles
Bundles descend from a U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 36th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron at Ulithi, Federated States of Micronesia, Dec. 4, 2022. Operation Christmas Drop is the longest-running Department of Defense humanitarian and disaster relief mission. Each year, the USAF partners with countries in the Pacific Air Forces area of responsibility to deliver supplies to remote islands in the South-Eastern Pacific.
Credit: Yasuo Osakabe
VIRIN: 221204-F-PM645-0014Y
Operation Christmas Drop is an annual Air Force tradition of packaging and delivering donated supplies such as food, fishing equipment, schoolbooks and clothing to more than 20,000 islanders across more than 50 remote islands throughout Micronesia and Palau.

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