A home away from home: Soldiers find holiday companionship with German families through USAG Rheinland-Pfalz’s Operation Good Cheer initiative

BAUMHOLDER, Germany - For the second year in a row, the 'Operation Good Cheer' initiative is set to place single American Soldiers with German host families over the Christmas holiday, providing them with a unique and enriching experience. After a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the program made a successful comeback in 2023 and is on track to continue thriving in 2024.

Last year, eight families from the counties of Birkenfeld, St. Wendel, Bad Breisig, and Zweibrücken volunteered to open their doors and welcome U.S. Soldiers, ensuring they would not be alone during the holiday season.

'A home away from home' is how Lamar Porter, a former participant of the initiative and currently serving with the 515th Transportation Company, describes the family that sponsored his Christmas.

"This program gives an opportunity to learn new culture, meet new friends, and discover new places to visit," he said.

Since the initial greeting with my family, Porter has visited the host family every month.

"We attended festivals, dined at restaurants, and we went sightseeing together," he said. "I even invited them to the United States to enjoy the wonders of Louisiana culture."

Staff Sgt. Matthew Fox, 532d Signal Company, 47th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, had a memorable Christmas experience and is eager to repeat it.

"I had a wonderful time, it was truly the best Christmas I have had in years," he said. "I enjoyed meeting new people and learning about German traditions. It was a great experience that I would highly recommend to others, and I look forward to my next one."

According to Bernd Mai, the host nation relations advisor for USAG Rheinland-Pfalz and manager of Operation Good Cheer since 1983, the program's primary goal is to promote a sense of community and belonging among the Soldiers.

"We want them to feel like they are not alone," said Mai, highlighting the fact that the program has been in existence since the 1970s and has placed around 1,100 American soldiers with German families. "The number of participating families remains roughly the same, with some families welcoming multiple soldiers. Some families have even hosted two or three soldiers in the past."

Mai said he is grateful for the program's success and for the participating families who have helped to achieve its goal of providing a sense of community and belonging to the soldiers.

"We are grateful for the opportunity to bring a little bit of home to our Soldiers during the holiday season," he said.

Command Sgt. Maj. Raymond Wrensch, USAG Rheinland-Pfalz, encourages Soldiers to explore the unique nature of the German-American friendship within our garrison's footprint, by signing up for this wonderful initiative.

"Operation Good Cheer has always been a great success," he said. "I urge each unit to encourage their Soldiers, if they don't have any plans for Christmas, to consider spending it with a German family."

Porter highly recommends the program to Soldiers looking for a unique and enriching experience.

"Operation Good Cheer offers the chance to establish lifelong relationships, gain cultural knowledge, and witness the breathtaking beauty of Germany.

To ensure smooth planning, units should submit a list of Soldiers interested in participating to the Public Affairs Office by Nov. 18. For more information, please visit https://home.army.mil/rheinland-pfalz/1117/3141/7965/Operation_Good_Cheer_2024.pdf.

An ice-breaker event is scheduled for Wednesday, December 4th at 6:30 PM at the Knights Lair Dining Facility on Smith Barracks in Baumholder. This event is mandatory for all participating Soldiers and is intended to facilitate the introduction of soldiers and families, as well as to make arrangements for the holiday season. Soldiers are required to dress in civilian business casual. Unit project officers are encouraged to attend.

For more information on Operation Good Cheer, please reach out to Bernd Mai at DSN 531-2730.

U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz serves, supports, and secures the total force community enabling power projection for the European Theater.

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