“Caroling is something that people look forward to during the holiday season,” said CH (LTC) Joel Severson, TF 34 Chaplain. “It seemed like the caroling and the movie night would be a good mix. It was a mile marker for people to look forward to. Right around the corner is the New Year, because in 2009 we go home. “
The “Combat Caroling” consisted of several Soldiers from Task Force 34. The carolers took a bus to visit various company areas and TF 34 work and living areas around Joint Base Balad, Iraq, on Dec. 22.

“What better way to get together and spread some Christmas cheer, build some memories and, hopefully have some positive effect on another Soldier who may be having just a little bit harder of a time getting through each day,” said PFC Marie Soderstrom, TF 34 HQ Assistant Supply Clerk of St. Paul, MN.

For some, caroling reminded them of home.

“The Christmas songs and hymns remind me of my life long traditions of celebrating this holiday season,” said MAJ Roy Fuhrmann, TF 34 Catfish Air Officer.

This was also a time to gain some holiday spirit that is easily dismissed while in a combat zone.

“This year, it has been hard to get into the Christmas spirit. Caroling definitely helped me get more spirit-ified,” said MAJ David Freberg, TF 34 Logistics Projects Officer of Kannapolis, NC. “Just seeing the Soldiers in the HAS's join in and pretend to want to sing with us made it all worth-while.”

The event was not only to bring Christmas cheer to those who came out to sing, but also to bring cheer to those who were in the areas the carolers visited.

“For those ten minutes or so in each battalion area, there was a moment of skepticism and then our voices rang out. Not to be modest, our voices were pure heaven,” said SFC Gwen Zimmerman, TF 34 HQ Medical Operations Noncommissioned Officer. “We succeeded in breaking up the monotony of another shift as Soldiers crawled out of the woodwork to get a better view, smile, laugh, join in the singing and hug. For that moment we were at peace, and had forgotten about all the troubles and turmoil of life.”

For SSG Melissa Evans, 834th Aviation Support Battalion Human Resources NCO, it was seeing the faces of the Soldiers when they walked up and started to sing made the event worth having.

“Some places they were such grumps,” SSG Evans said. “and then when we showed up, it was like we brightened their day.”

The event was deemed a success as about 40 people caroled, around 200 people came out and sang, and an additional 100 participated in the festivities following the caroling.
Pizza, homemade cookies, a camp fire and Christmas movies were in store for the participants and others at the West Joint Base Balad’s Freedom Chapel.

“It's hard enough dealing with being away from family and home, and with the holidays around the corner, it tends to get you a bit down,” PFC Soderstrom said. “The closest thing [in Iraq] to family are the bonds we build with the people we are spending the next year day in and day out with.”

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