Christmas in Iraq
Christmas away from home is never easy for anyone. It is hard on Soldiers and families. For many young Soldiers, this is their first holiday season spent away from home. But, this year things were a little different for one unit.
The Soldiers of A Co., 834th Aviation Support Battalion, based out of St. Paul, Minn, had a surprise waiting for them. They received gifts donated from a company called Lubrication Technologies in Golden Valley, MN.
Each Soldier received a gift bag with numerous items to include a stocking in it on Christmas Eve.
“This is the first deployment I have ever been on that anything like this has happened for us,” said 1LT Christopher Staples, A Co. 834th ASB Commander.
SSG Anna Kern, Heavy Vehicle Driver, and SPC Joelen Huckabone, Administrative Specialist, worked on wrapping presents and making gift bags for all of the A Co. Soldiers during their off time.
“Being so far from home, the holidays just aren’t the same, but with the efforts of SSG Kern, SPC Huckabone and others who participated,” said SPC Kenneth Trull, Transportation Specialist. “It raised the moral of the troops making Christmas away from home still feel special.”
A Co. Soldiers gathered together on Christmas Eve for a company holiday party to open gifts and participated in numerous non-typical holiday activities, such as card games, and playing Rock Band on the Playstation 3.
The Soldiers also took platoon photos posing with Santa hats and other gifts they received.
“It was very thoughtful for the command staff to put in the extra time and effort to make the holidays feel a little more like home,” said SPC Sarah Ormiston, Transportation Specialist.
Written by SPC Richard Brown, A Co., 834th ASB Public Affairs Representative
24 Nov., 2008
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