mgjim:
How any one will be able to top your story, I don't know!
As an U. S. Army Reservist with very nearly 30 years service, all within CONUS, I'm afraid that I know not whereof you speak!
My most memorable Christmas, however, would have been that in 1961. My first daughter was barely a week old on Christmas Day, and slept happily through the opening of several bottles of champagne, never uttering a peep!
She still thinks that champagne means Christmas! :-) :-)
SWR
LTC, USAR, Ret