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German soldiers, U.S. soldiers from the 4-319th Field Artillery Regiment and Santa Claus pose at the Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, on Dec. 12, 2019. Soldiers marched to deliver toys from a drop zone to Tower Barracks for children through Haus St. Elisabeth in Windischeschenbach, Germany.

German soldiers, U.S. soldiers from the 4-319th Field Artillery Regiment and Santa Claus pose at the Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, on Dec. 12, 2019. Soldiers marched to deliver toys from a drop zone to Tower Barracks for children through Haus St. Elisabeth in Windischeschenbach, Germany. (Immanuel Johnson/Stars and Stripes)

German soldiers, U.S. soldiers from the 4-319th Field Artillery Regiment and Santa Claus pose at the Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, on Dec. 12, 2019. Soldiers marched to deliver toys from a drop zone to Tower Barracks for children through Haus St. Elisabeth in Windischeschenbach, Germany.

German soldiers, U.S. soldiers from the 4-319th Field Artillery Regiment and Santa Claus pose at the Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, on Dec. 12, 2019. Soldiers marched to deliver toys from a drop zone to Tower Barracks for children through Haus St. Elisabeth in Windischeschenbach, Germany. (Immanuel Johnson/Stars and Stripes)

Maj. Jason Byers, left, the chaplain with the 41st Field Artillery Brigade, carries his son, Lincoln Byers, to the end of a march at Grafenwoehr, Germany, on Dec. 12, 2019. Soldiers marched to deliver toys from a drop zone to Tower Barracks to a German home for children.

Maj. Jason Byers, left, the chaplain with the 41st Field Artillery Brigade, carries his son, Lincoln Byers, to the end of a march at Grafenwoehr, Germany, on Dec. 12, 2019. Soldiers marched to deliver toys from a drop zone to Tower Barracks to a German home for children. (Immanuel Johnson/Stars and Stripes)

Soldiers march in a toy delivery event at Grafenwoehr, Germany, on Dec. 12, 2019. The soldiers will provide toys to children living at Haus St. Elisabeth in Windischeschenbach, Germany.

Soldiers march in a toy delivery event at Grafenwoehr, Germany, on Dec. 12, 2019. The soldiers will provide toys to children living at Haus St. Elisabeth in Windischeschenbach, Germany. (Immanuel Johnson/Stars and Stripes)

German and American soldiers marched 3 miles at Grafenwoehr Training Area with service members and their children as part of a toy drop, which will deliver hundreds of toys and school supplies to the Haus St. Elisabeth children's home in Windischeschenbach, Germany.

German and American soldiers marched 3 miles at Grafenwoehr Training Area with service members and their children as part of a toy drop, which will deliver hundreds of toys and school supplies to the Haus St. Elisabeth children's home in Windischeschenbach, Germany. (Immanuel Johnson/Stars and Stripes)

Sgt. Maj. Joshua Kazaka, with 1st Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Battalion, 41st Field Artillery Brigade, helps collect donated toys at Grafenwoehr, Germany, on Dec. 12, 2019. Some 600 toys and school supplies were collected and will be distributed to German and American children in need.

Sgt. Maj. Joshua Kazaka, with 1st Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Battalion, 41st Field Artillery Brigade, helps collect donated toys at Grafenwoehr, Germany, on Dec. 12, 2019. Some 600 toys and school supplies were collected and will be distributed to German and American children in need. (Immanuel Johnson/Stars and Stripes)

First Sgt. Brian Lomibao, center, holds his son Eliot, who's clutching the goodie bag the family got for taking part in a 3-mile march on Grafenwoehr Training Area in Germany, as part of a holiday toy collection for needy children.

First Sgt. Brian Lomibao, center, holds his son Eliot, who's clutching the goodie bag the family got for taking part in a 3-mile march on Grafenwoehr Training Area in Germany, as part of a holiday toy collection for needy children. (Immanuel Johnson/Stars and Stripes)

Soldiers pose for a photo at Grafenwoehr, Germany, on Dec. 12, 2019, where a toy drop was organized to collect and distribute some 600 toys and school supplies to children in need.

Soldiers pose for a photo at Grafenwoehr, Germany, on Dec. 12, 2019, where a toy drop was organized to collect and distribute some 600 toys and school supplies to children in need. (Immanuel Johnson/Stars and Stripes)

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany — American soldiers marched 3 miles from the drop zone at Grafenwoehr Training Area to Tower Barracks on Thursday carrying assault packs filled with toys to be delivered to local children in need.

“This is about giving back to the kids and community, and building those bonds with the surrounding areas,” said Staff Sgt. Payton Baker, a target acquisition platoon sergeant with the 4th Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment, who was dressed up as Santa Claus.

American children who also took part in the march received goodie bags containing candy and small toys. Some 600 additional toys, backpacks and school supplies that were collected were wrapped up and will be distributed to children at the Haus St. Elisabeth children’s home in Windischeschenbach and to American military families who are financially strapped over the holidays.

This is the first year the regiment has distributed toys to local children.

“It’s is a small way to … be good neighbors,” said Capt. Mike Kayle, chaplain for the regiment.

German paratroopers who attended the event were supposed to parachute from CH-47 Chinook helicopters to deliver the gifts, but inclement weather caused the jump to be canceled.

johnson.immanuel@stripes.com Twitter: @Manny_Stripes

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Manny covers the U.S. military in Bavaria and Central Europe for Stars and Stripes. A Seattle, Washington native, he’s an alumnus of the Defense Information School, American Public University and Liberty University.

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