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As Christmas draws nearer, you might see Gunny Claus, working his magic with Marine Corp units and veteran communities as he helps bring some Christmas cheer to those serving in the Armed Forces.

Claus has been described as “Gunnery Sgt. Santa Claus, staff noncommissioned officer in charge of 1st Reindeer Battalion, Marine Corps Base North Pole,” who has a special place in his heart for Marines, all service personnel and their families.

Claus bears a remarkable resemblance to Greensboro Marine Vietnam veteran Steve Winsett, who gives 100 percent support to Marine Corps Santa Gunny Claus in helping kids of deployed Marines and veterans at Christmas.

Winsett is an active member of Greensboro’s Marine Corps League Detachment 260 and works with many community programs, such as the Triad Homeless Veterans Stand-down. He assists with local and state agencies at the Employment Security Commission, helping more than 200 homeless veterans in the Triad, and many community-support functions of the Greensboro Marine Corps League.

Claus reports that his resemblance to Winsett is little more than workshop gossip. Hard evidence has yet to prove Claus has not arrived directly from the North Pole.

Marine Cpl. M.L. McCoy describes Claus: “This Claus has forgone a red fur robe in favor of Marine Corps dress blues; except his blouse is red and chevrons are white. On his robust chest, he proudly dons the ribbons of every conflict in which Marines were fighting on foreign soil during Christmas. Instead of a traditional elf hat, Gunny’s ensemble includes a red and white campaign cover.”

“Marines don’t want an old, fat guy in a $20 suit,” he quipped. “If they want to deal with anyone, they want to deal with a Marine!”
This year Claus will make tours to bring Christmas cheer to more than 400 Marine kids, the VA hospital in Salisbury and many Toys for Tots locations in the Triad.

All during the year, but especially at Christmas, many prayers go out to our service men and women.

My mission is “No kid Left Behind,” Claus said. “Many patriots give their continued support to those serving today. Little notice is given to the families and kids of these brave men and women.”

He wants people to remember in their hearts the many families of these men and women as they have to play the role of both parents while their loved one is serving at a far away place or out of country duty station.

“Families share the same sacrifices as our Marine and service personnel.”

Claus said the best way to relate to a service person’s family is to imagine your own family with a loved one serving abroad for six months to a year or more.

Imagine a separation that would prevent your loved one from coming home or helping in a household emergency, or stopping by to pick up dinner, or sitting at home talking about the day while eating a family dinner, or helping to raise the kids or helping during times of sickness or with the many challenges that arise in raising a family.

By volunteering to help the Toys for Tots Campaign each year, Claus and the Marine Corps Reserve unit in Greensboro help local kids that might not have a Christmas otherwise.

In the years after the Sept. 11 attacks, Claus extended his tour to not only work with kids of Marines deployed, but also to those residing in the VA hospital.

The first year at the Christmas distribution at the VA in Salisbury, Claus brought six other Marines with him.

Last year, that number grew to 86 Marines volunteering to wish these great men and women a happy holiday season and to thank them for their service to our great country.

As a member of the Marine Corp League and various other veteran groups, Claus joins to assist not only veterans facing problems after returning to society, but also those serving our country on active duty or in the reserves.

“We go to wish all branches of military service a Merry Christmas, not just the Marines,” Claus said.

Claus does not solicit or directly accept donations for his appearances or the gifts he brings to kids and families. He is solely sponsored by those wanting to give back to the families of these great men and women serving in harm’s way.

If you want to support the Marine Kids through Gunny Claus, you can make a tax deductible donation through the War Memorial Foundation. Proceeds go solely to bring Christmas Magic to these kids and their families.

Write to Gunny Claus at gunnyclaus@mcl260.org or go to www.gunnyclaus.org for more information on how to help Gunny Claus spread the Christmas spirit. Donations may be mailed to: Gunny Claus, c/o War Memorial Foundation, PO Box 9744, Greensboro, NC 27429.

To suggest a person or organization that has or is making a difference, contact Peggy Longmire at rlongmire@triad.rr.com or 288-9040.