Santa delivers early Christmas wish

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Stacy Fowler
  • 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  Yes, there is a Santa Claus... and with some extra planning and an early sleigh ride, he was able to pull off a small Christmas miracle for two boys at the Bass Pro Shop in Destin, Fla., Dec. 20.

With a little ingenuity and some Christmas spirit, Master Sgt. Jason Slaymaker, 39th Information Operations Squadron operations superintendent, surprised his sons, Jakeb, 4, and Jarret, 2, with an early Christmas present: himself.

"The idea actually originated from my son's mouth," Slaymaker said. "[Jakeb] started telling everyone about four months ago he was certain Santa would bring his Daddy home because he's been a good boy, and I took it from there."

Slaymaker said he knew his family took pictures with Santa every year at the Bass Pro Shop. His wife, Becky, began coordinating with her husband and the store as soon as they knew there was a chance he'd be home for Christmas.

"That's where we take our boys every year to have their pictures taken with Santa and do some last minute shopping," he said. "That, and let's face it, as Texans, this is our kind of place."

Slaymaker spent the last year in Afghanistan.

"Jake has been talking about asking Santa for Daddy to be home for Christmas non-stop," Becky said. "It was so wonderful when he walked out of Santa's Workshop door and surprised them."

As for the early trip, Santa was more than willing to make it happen.

"How could I say no to this request?" said Santa. "Sergeant Slaymaker has done so much for the United States and people around the world, and Jakeb was wishing for his daddy to come home for so long. So, I negotiated the early trip route with my reindeer, promised my elves some extra time off in January, and we were ready to go. Seeing their faces when Daddy came through my workshop door made my Christmas even more special."

With his first Christmas wish granted, Jakeb asked Santa for a second present.

"I want some handcuffs," said Jakeb. "I'm going to catch bad guys."

But this time, he'll have to wait for Santa's regular delivery date.