When I first saw the title of your post , I thot it referred to
an embarrassing incident (which I believe could have happened to
others as well).
This is my definition of "Christmas Tree"...
At the TUAS reclaimed area, we used to practise TAG procedures with
the chopper guys. As you may know, some parts of the TUAS area is
covered with evergreen pine trees. Most TAG missions are conducted
at nite, and my TAG section had to mark the tall trees with cyalume
sticks (preferably red ones).
Well, my section had some blur troopers. One of them was told to
mark a tall pine tree, and was issued 2 red cyalumes and some comms
cord (supply was running short - big TAG mission that nite - many
trees to mark).
About 30 minutes later, the trooper reported back to me. We went to
check the tree. The red cyalumes were only hanging in the low
branches. Time was running out, and the choppers were reported to
be in a holding pattern awaiting final approach ! There was some
panic and the rest of the section started to fling cyalume sticks
to the top of the tree. Red cyalumes were zero stock already and
other colours were used !
RESULT :- one BIG pine tree with multi-coloured cyalume sticks
hanging from it - aka Christmas had come early to Jurong !
On the radio with the chopper pilots, we head a few sarcastic
remarks as they were coming in to land.
