Photos: Soldiers enjoy food, entertainment and naps at annual Holiday Block Leave
The USO of Missouri hosted a celebration and party for the troops that featured free food, entertainment, and giveaways from local businesses. Holiday Block Leave is the day when the military releases soldiers for the holidays. Photo by Troy Stolt, Tstolt@post-dispatch.com
Private Ian Costa of Elmore, Alabama and specialist Joesph Sklenar-Heitzenrater of Wilmington, Ohio do push ups to pass time before their flights in Lambert St. Louis International Airport on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019. Around 4,000 Ft. Leonard Wood soldiers started arriving at Lambert around midnight to head home for the annual Holiday Block Leave. Photo by Troy Stolt, tstolt@post-dispatch.com
Soldiers sleep inside of the The USO of Missouri in terminal 1 at Lambert St. Louis International Airport on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019. Around 4,000 soldiers stationed at Fort Leonard Wood arrived at the airport around midnight to depart on holiday leave. Photo by Troy Stolt, tstolt@post-dispatch.com
Privates Ayanna Lawrence and Deyunah Cheeks pass time on their phones while waiting on their flights at Lambert St. Louis international Airport on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019. Cheeks said she was headed to Mississippi and Lawrence is headed to Florida. Photo by Troy Stolt, tstolt@post-dispatch.com
Private Destiny Cole passes time on her phone with family members while waiting on her flight at Lambert St. Louis International Airport on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019. The USO of Missouri provided free food and entertainment for thousands of Fort Leonard Wood soldiers on their way home for the holidays. Photo by Troy Stolt, Tstolt@post-dispatch.com
Private Tizrah Heath of Tulsa, Oklahoma looks at her phone while she rests inside of the Starbucks in terminal one of the Lambert St. Louis International Airport on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019. The USO of Missouri provided free food and entertainment for thousands of Fort Leonard Wood soldiers on their way home for the holidays. Photo by Troy Stolt, tstolt@post-dispatch.com
A soldier sleeps on the ground in terminal one of the Lambert St. Louis International Airport on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019. The USO of Missouri provided free food and entertainment for thousands of Fort Leonard Wood soldiers on their way home for the holidays.
Privates Camryn Brock of Savannah, Georgia, Isaiah Wynn of Clinton, North Carolina, private first class Taylor Ward of Savannah, Georgia, specialist Alice Nguyen and private Aira Meldrum of Seattle, Washington walk through terminal one of the Lambert St. Louis International Airport on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019. The USO of Missouri provided free food and entertainment for thousands of Fort Leonard Wood soldiers on their way home for the holidays. Photo by Troy Stolt, tstolt@post-dispatch.com
Private Fabris Mbah of Dallas, Texas leans over and converses with private James Romelus of Long Island, New York while waiting to catch flights home in terminal one of the Lambert St. Louis International Airport on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019. The USO of Missouri provided free food and entertainment for thousands of Fort Leonard Wood soldiers on their way home for the holidays. Photo by Troy Stolt, tstolt@post-dispatch.com
Private first class Taylor Ward of Savannah, Georgia, pictured center, sleeps sitting upright as private Aira Meldrum, left, and specialist Alice Nguyen, right, of Seattle, Washington look at their phones in Lambert St. Louis International Airport on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019. The USO of Missouri provided free food and entertainment for thousands of Fort Leonard Wood soldiers on their way home for the holidays. Photo by Troy Stolt, tstolt@post-dispatch.com
Privates Aaron Boudreaux, of Texas and Alex Reefer of Georgia listen to music on air pods in terminal one of the Lambert St. Louis International Airport on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019. The USO of Missouri provided free food and entertainment for thousands of Fort Leonard Wood soldiers on their way home for the holidays. Photo by Troy Stolt, tstolt@post-dispatch.com
Privates Martina Smalls and Antonio Basden of Virginia look at something on Smalls' phone while waiting on flights to heade home for the holidays at the USO of Missouri located in terminal one at Lambert St. Louis International Airport on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019. The USO of Missouri provided free food and entertainment for thousands of Fort Leonard Wood soldiers on their way home for the holidays. Photo by Troy Stolt, tstolt@post-dispatch.com
Annual holiday influx from Fort Leonard Wood is spread out, subdued.