Operation Santa Claus

Each year, the Alaska National Guard brings Christmas to children and families in remote Alaskans villages -- some whom might otherwise not get to see Santa Claus or receive a holiday gift. This year, photojournalist Dan Carpenter & I were able to travel with the Guard and volunteers to St. Paul Island. It is one of the Pribilof Islands, a group of four Alaskan volcanic islands located in the Bering Sea between the U.S. & Russia.



The Airmen used a C-17 to carry Santa, Mrs. Claus, and other community and business volunteers who join them to bring toys, clothing, books, school supplies and holiday spirit.



Dan Carpenter in front of the "sleigh"


The Guard has done this since 1956 -- that year, spring floods devastated the fishing season, and a drought wiped out much of the wildlife hunters and trappers would normally have gathered. Nuns at a mission in St. Mary's (Alaska) worried that as they used all the money they had to ship in food for their orphanage, nothing would be left to buy gifts for the children. A letter from one of the nuns found its way to the Alaska Air National Guard's 144th Airlift Squadron in Anchorage and gave birth to Operation Santa Claus. Since then, the effort has branched out to reach different remote villages every year.

Some of the kids were waiting patiently to see Santa!






Before the evening feast / photos with Santa, Dan & I had some time to wander around the small community. We were told that the weather is usually rainy & windy -- luckily we only had to deal with the wind.






We stood on the edge of the island, soaking in the breeze and listening to the waves crash below our feet. It didn't feel like we were in Alaska... but instead a European village. Even though we were only there for a few hours, I really enjoyed St. Paul.