As the first day of winter approaches, we reflect on the unique experiences of sailors who spent their holidays at sea. Life aboard ships like USS Intrepid often meant being away from home for six to nine months, making the holiday season a bittersweet time for Navy personnel.
Celebrating the Holidays at Sea
Despite the distance from loved ones, sailors found ways to commemorate the holidays together. The military, understanding the importance of morale, made efforts to bring joy during this potentially lonely time.
Decorations filled the ship, and special foods were prepared to capture the holiday spirit. Intrepid was renowned for its exceptional cuisine. Bakers made bread and pastries from scratch, creating specialty desserts for the holidays. Cooks planned elaborate meals for Christmas and Thanksgiving, helping to forge bonds among the crew.
Collection of the Intrepid Museum. Gift of the estate of CWO-4 John P. Roby, SCUSN. P2011.30.04
Christmas Day dinner often featured traditional favorites like turkey and ham. The 1961 photograph above shows sailors carving slices of roast beef on board Intrepid. That same year, a beautifully printed menu was created as a souvenir for the sailors, listing foods commonly associated with the holiday season.
Collection of the Intrepid Museum. Gift of Madeline Welker. A2017.51Letters Home
Intrepid, like many naval vessels, sometimes provided holiday greeting cards to sailors, allowing them to maintain connections with loved ones during their extended deployments. These cards served as a thoughtful gesture from the Navy, recognizing the importance of family ties during the holiday season.
Between 1959 and 1961, Intrepid distributed specially designed holiday greeting cards to its crew members. These cards were not only a means of communication but also served as cherished souvenirs for both the sailors and their families back home. One such card, now part of the Intrepid Museum's collection, showcases the ship:
Collection of the Intrepid Museum. Gift of the family of John "Jack" Standish. P2017.22.04a-b
These greeting cards allowed sailors to send a piece of their naval life home, bridging the gap between their duties at sea and their families' holiday celebrations. The cards served as tangible reminders of the sailors' service and the ship's role in their lives during the holiday season.
Found Family at Sea
While the holidays at sea couldn't replicate the comforts of home, they fostered a unique sense of camaraderie among the crew. Sailors formed a "found family" at sea, creating their own traditions and forging lifelong bonds with their shipmates. Whether celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Yule or other winter festivities, the military today attempts to honor various traditions.
As we enter this winter season, we honor the sacrifices of those who served aboard Intrepid and other naval vessels. Their experiences remind us of the resilience and adaptability of servicemen and women, who found ways to celebrate and connect even in challenging circumstances.
To learn more about sailors' experiences at sea, visit the Intrepid Museum. Tickets can be purchased here. Explore our collections at intrepid.emuseum and our digital guide.
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