George Ronald Christmas (born March 11, 1940)[1] is a retired United States Marine Corps lieutenant general.

[4] Christmas was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps Reserve in 1962 through the NROTC program.

Following graduation in July 1969, he was assigned as an instructor at the U.S. Army's John F. Kennedy Institute for Military Assistance, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

He transferred back to the United States in August 1976 and was assigned as the commanding officer, Marine Barracks, Annapolis, Maryland.

On July 15, 1994, Christmas assumed his final active duty Marine Corps post as deputy chief of staff for manpower and reserve affairs.

On the afternoon of 5 February 1968 during Operation Hue City, Company H was attacking a complex of buildings known to be an enemy strong point consisting of mutually supporting bunkers, fighting holes, and trench lines.

Realizing the seriousness of the situation and the urgent need to sustain the momentum of the attack, Captain Christmas, undaunted by the heavy volume of enemy fire, completely disregarded his own safety as he moved across thirty-five meters of open area to join the lead element and assess the situation.

Returning across the fire-swept area, he rejoined the remaining platoon, issued an attack order, and then ran seventy meters across open terrain, ignoring automatic weapons fire, and satchel charges striking around him to reach a tank he had requested.

Immediately realizing the tactical advantage, he jumped from the tank, and directed his company in an aggressive assault on the hostile positions, personally leading his men in room-to-room fighting until the building complex was secured.

By his dynamic leadership, unfaltering determination and selfless devotion to duty in the face of extreme personal danger, Captain Christmas upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.