>can't tell if he's saying thank you and your family for your sacrifice this holiday season or …you're about to engage in heavy combat…good luck, we're all counting on you … or is there another (hidden) meaning? [too soon to tell]
^^^^^^^^^^^^
Agree , too soon to tell
However I don;t believe things are as they appear
I read Mattis' letter more as the later regarding pending combat
The letter doesn't really read like happy Holidays and thank you for your service