Holton: Christmas Cheer over Here

Chuck Holton

CBN News

December 18, 2007

Here in Iraq, the closer it gets to Christmas, the more intensely the separation from family is felt. And while nothing can replace the joy of being with family over the holidays, the soldier's I'm embedded with south of Baghdad are doing their best to celebrate the season. Christmas trees large and small are springing up in every headquarters and barracks, doors are adorned with wrapping paper and stockings, and Christmas carols are being played in the chow hall.

The things that really bring smiles to these men and women, however, are the cards and packages that are arriving from home. Care packages large and small are piling up in the mail rooms -- and arriving via armored vehicle at remote patrol bases -- on a daily basis. It's really fun seeing what a morale boost these packages bring. many of them sent by caring individuals and church groups, addressed to "American Soldier."

The cards sent by schoolchildren are always a big hit - mostly because they're so darned cute. They get posted everywhere - above soldier's bunks and next to top-secret maps in the command post. The troops love to point out their favorites. One card hanging outside the commander's office on FOB Kalsu proclaimed, "Dear Armed Forces Person, we hope you do good 4 us." Then on the inside of the card, next to a drawing of a butterfly, is one of those wonderfully random thoughts that only kids can make funny. "I love chicken."

On another base, taped to a door in one of Saddam's former mansions - now used to house American troops, is this absolutely hilarious card, which you simply have to read to believe. At Patrol Base Murray, a pile of packages arrived from the First Baptist Church of Naples, Florida. Each was filled with goodies like candy and socks -- and a packet of devotional materials. I was excited to see the soldiers perusing the pamphlets while they munched on the snacks from the care packages. These kinds of things really raise morale, especially for those soldiers who aren't fortunate enough to receive much mail from family.

Anyway, all that to say that by sending your blessings and well-wishes to the troops, you can have a very positive impact on morale. So while praying is still the best thing you can do to lend a hand from home, putting some love in a box http:/soldiersangels.org/ and sending it over can help, too.

From a practical standpoint, the soldiers I'm with say things like baby wipes and candy aren't high on their list of needs anymore. Actually, books and magazines are some of the hottest items - it seems like there's never enough to read here. Let me add a shameless plug here for the Brotherhood of Ranger Authors - books like A More Elite Soldier and Jeff Strueker's The Road to Unafraid, are a big hit over here. the stash of military devotional books that I was able to bring on this trip was gone in no time.

So on behalf of the soldiers here in south Baghdad, thanks, and Merry Christmas.

-- Chuck Holton www.livefire.us

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