Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Happy Holidays
Team Greely!
The INTERCEPTOR is an authorized unofficial publication for military and civilian members of Fort Greely. The INTERCEPTOR is published monthly by the Public Affairs Office, Fort Greely Garrison. Contents
of this publication are not necessarily the official views of, nor endorsed by the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense , or the Department of the Army. While contributions are welcome, the PAO reserves
the right to edit all submitted materials, make corrections, changes, or deletions to conform with the policies of this paper . Articles and photos submitted by the 20th of each month will be considered for publica-
tion in the next issue of the INTERCEPTOR. Submit via email to fgapao@greely.army.mil, or mail to: Garrison Commander, ATTN: Newsletter, PO Box 31269, Fort Greely, AK 99731.
”
ness, or its sentimental value?
came and went and now in a
few weeks we will be celebrat- I have received many gifts
God with
us.” (Matthew
honor and privilege.
ing Christmas. from my loved ones which 1:21,23)
Christmas is my favorite spe- were given sacrificially and These are power-
cial holiday because it puts eve- from pure motives. Unfortu- ful verses that remind us that “The wages of sin is death; but
rything into perspective. As the nately, many of these gifts have Jesus was born to die for our the gift of God is eternal life
year winds down, this time of been lost, broken, or soon for- sins (He is our Savior), and that through Jesus Christ our
year allows us to step back and gotten. He also gives us comfort and Lord.”
focus on our family traditions, At this time of year, it is fit- courage because we have Him Christmas is a time for us to
our friends, and the birth of our ting for us to be reminded about as our Emmanuel. remember God‘s plan to give us
Savior. God‘s gift to us: His Son. Without a doubt, the greatest peace and salvation.
As usual, many will be caught Christmas provides a wonder- gift ever given to us by God the He has offered us a special
up with the giving and receiv- ful opportunity for us to reflect Father is His Son, Jesus Christ. and unique Perfect Gift. The
ing of gifts. Please don‘t mis- on the meaning and purpose of As accurately stated in James joy of knowing and receiving
understand me … I enjoy giv- Christ‘s birth. 1:17, “Every good gift and this Perfect Gift is an honor and
ing and receiving gifts, but it is Scripture tells us, “But when every perfect gift is from privilege.
my opinion that Christmas has the fullness of time was come, above, and comes down from Have you received God‘s
become so commercialized that God sent forth His Son, made the Father of lights, with Perfect Gift of Salvation
we often forget the true mean- of a woman, made under the whom there is no variation or through His Son, Jesus Christ?
ing of this special day. law. (Galatians 4:4) shadow of turning.” If not, what joy and satisfaction
It has become common in our The Gospel of Matthew re- Twenty-eight years ago I ac- await you!
society for ―Christmas‖ to be veals the true meaning of cepted ―God‘s Perfect Gift‖ From the Fort Greely Chapel
referred to as ―X-mas‖ and for Christmas: “And she shall without any regret or reserva- family and Chapel staff, we
people to say ―Season Greet- bring forth a Son, and thou tion. This gift of eternal life is wish you and your loved ones a
ings‖ instead of ―Merry Christ- shalt call his name JESUS: for FREE! Merry Christmas and a New
mas.‖ He shall save his people from Romans 6:23 tells us that Year full of God‘s blessings!
H ere are some tips if you and your Complaints about being cold
family go snowmachining over
the holidays.
Uncontrollable shivering
Impaired or slurred speech
Check the weather. If the report warns Blurred vision
of severe wind chill or low temperatures, Clumsy movements
consider waiting until the weather im- Also can include stiff mus-
proves. cles, dark and puffy skin, ir-
If you ride in the mountain areas be- regular heart and breathing
ware of avalanches. rates.
Also be aware of hypothermia, snow So be careful and watch for
blindness and frostbite. Keep warm and some of these things and you will have For more information, call the
dry by dressing in layers. When you‘re Garrison Safety Office at 873-5239 or
a good time without someone getting
not wearing your helmet make sure that hurt. 5031.
4 INTERCEPTOR December 2008
USO Show!
(Above) Comedians Gabriel Iglesias and Edwin San Juan sign autographs
after the Fort Greely USO Show in November at Gabriel Auditorium. (Right)
Ultimate Fighter Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell poses with Spec. David Gulley of
the 49th Missile Defense Battalion. The USO group also included Mayra
Veronica, recording star and model, and Atlanta-based rap duo, the Ying Yang
Twins. Since before the United States entered World War II, the United Ser-
vice Organizations, or USO, has been a bridge between the American people
and the U.S. military. In times of peace and war, the USO has consistently
delivered its special brand of comfort, morale and recreational services to
service members and their families. Historically, few events have left a more
lasting emotional impression on service members and their families than USO
celebrity entertainment tours. Since the USO’s inception in 1941, thousands
of celebrities have boosted the morale of troops in times of peace and war.
Honoring our
native peoples
Kenny Thomas leads a dance
during Fort Greely’s National
American Indian and Alaska Native
Heritage Month Celebration Nov. 21
at the Gabriel Auditorium.
Garrison Commander Lt. Col.
Chris Chronis gave special recog-
nition to Thomas, a Tanacross vet-
eran, during the event. Thomas is
a World War II Veteran and recipi-
ent of the Purple Heart for wounds
received in action on Okinawa
while he served in the Army.
Hundreds gathered to taste Na-
tive food samplings and peruse art
displays to learn more about
American Indian and Alaska Native
heritage. Fort Greely members
were treated to entertainment by
the Tanacross Dancers and special
guest speaker, local artist and
rancher, Ruby Hollembaek.
―I ‘m going to try a ning properly. Check the blades. Top the murky depths of your favorite lake? Try
auger off with properly mixed fuel. Make tying a small, empty, capped plastic bever-
Cheeto.‖ sure everyone is dressed for the weather. age bottle to your ladle and the kids‘ ice
This was the remark made by an espe- Alaska statewide regulations allow you rods. When that well placed kick sends
cially bored 6th-grader on one of our to ice fish using two rods, or one rod and those hole-seeking items across the ice and
Alaska Department of Fish and Game one tip-up, provided only one hook or arti- down into the water, the home-made bob-
sponsored ice fishing outings. The fishing ficial lure is used on each line, and as long bers will keep them afloat at the top of the
had been slow and the kids were all sitting as both set-ups are closely attended. When hole for easy retrieval.
around their ice fishing holes eating lunch. fishing in a party, have each angler fish at Keep the blades on your auger sharp.
Richard Barnes, Fairbanks-based fisheries two different depths. You will be able to When fishing an unfamiliar lake, drill your
technician, replied, ―You can‘t catch a fish find fish faster using this strategy. first hole far off shore to avoid grinding the
on a Cheeto.‖ One of the really fun things about ice auger blades into the silty bottom. With
―Why not? Have you ever tried it?‖ fishing is being able to see your quarry. each successive hole you can work your
―Well, no.‖ Richard responded, ―But...‖ Shovel a wide area down to bare ice around way toward shore. While drilling your ice
Richard never got to finish his sentence. your ice fishing hole. Cover your head with hole, pull the auger up several times during
The Cheeto-baited hook had barely cleared a heavy quilt and look down the hole. Light the drilling to clear the hole of ice shavings.
the bottom of the ice when the young an- penetrates the ice that has been cleared of Just before you break through the lower
gler was hauling it back out with a feisty, snow, and since you are under the blanket edge of the ice, remove the auger from the
albeit small, coho salmon clamped onto the in the dark, you are able to see into the wa- hole and shovel the ice shavings and snow,
hook. ter and watch the fish as they investigate from around the ice hole. Return to the
Richard and I simply looked at each other your bait. auger and punch the hole through the bot-
knowingly and shook our heads. We had Different ice fishing lures give you tom of the ice. By clearing the ice shavings
been here before. We are constantly learn- different action when you jig. Spoons tend and snow from around the hole before it is
ing things like ―Cheetos DO make good to flutter, flashing as the light bounces off soaked with the lake water, you have a flat,
bait.‖ Useful, perplexing, and troublesome their surface. Airplane jigs spiral up and comfortable area from which to fish.
things like … a power auger, which has spiral back down in a circular motion, at- Except in areas of upwelling from
been performing well all winter, will tracting fish with their acrobatics. Jigging springs and areas around inlet streams, the
choose not to start on the trip 75 miles Rapalas mimic the movements of a small temperature throughout a given lake in the
away from home with 17 boy scouts de- feeder fish. It is hard to tell which lures or winter is relatively homogeneous. Fish that
pending on you for a day of ice fishing; an action the fish are going to respond to and may only be found in certain areas or
ice fishing ladle, when kicked by a 6 year when. The trick is to be patient and change depths of a lake, due to a favored water
old, is guaranteed to gee and haw across the lures and attractors when the one you are temperature in the summer, do not have
frozen landscape with a mind of its own using isn‘t producing results. that limitation in the winter. Your lucrative
until it finally splunks down a hole with a Most fish use the senses of sight, summer fishing hole may not be as produc-
resounding slurp and disappears forever; sound, and smell to locate food. Attracting tive in the winter since the fish are not lim-
you are guaranteed to drive your auger into fish to your hook by targeting two or more ited to holding in deep, cool holes.
the silt only on those occasions in which of these senses should increase your catch. When taking kids ice fishing, have al-
you do not have extra blades; no matter For sight, use a colored hook or jig and a ternative ideas for something to do in case
how many times you stress wearing proper smooth jigging motion. For sound, try us- the fish are not biting or Murphy sabotages
clothing, someone in your group will show ing a sound chamber (a small plastic tube your trip in some other creative manner.
up for the day‘s ice fishing in tennies and with a few BBs in it that knock together Take snowshoes and or cross country skis.
spandex; and Murphy‘s Law is always in when the line is jigged. When initially Have them race each other. Look for and
effect … if anything can go wrong, it will. dropping your lure/bait in the water, do so identify tracks in the snow. Slide on the ice.
Given these and other dilemmas that with a resounding plop. For smell, use oily Go on a little hike. Play Simon Says …
plague the ice fishers of Interior Alaska, the bait that gives off good scent such as squid, anything to keep them moving.
following are some tips and tricks to make raw shrimp, salmon eggs, or Power Bait. If you use a portable heat source to
your ice fishing outings more enjoyable Use all resources at your disposal when keep your ice house warm, be sure to main-
and hopefully more successful. thinking about fishing a lake you are unfa- tain proper ventilation. Carbon monoxide
Do all of your prep work before leaving miliar with. ADF&G has bottom contour can overcome conscious and sleeping indi-
the warmth of your home or cabin. Simple maps of many area lakes available. Talk viduals. Step outside the house occasion-
things like tying on a lure are considerably with local tackle shop owners and find out ally, crack the door, and/or cut a vent in the
more difficult out on the ice at 20 below. where and what is hot. roof and along the floor line.