Our “Big Wars” are finally winding down, yet our men and women in uniform continue to serve in harm’s way in various “conflicts,” operations and in other dangerous and risky assignments.
While many are coming home this Christmas from Afghanistan, others are spending Christmas helping in the Ebola fight in West Africa, fighting ISIL in Iraq and Syria, engaging those who would do us harm elsewhere.
Last Christmas, Jim Garamone at the American Forces Press Service reminded us of how many service members are deployed overseas during the holiday period — at that time about 250,000 — in addition to those men and women in combat zones.
This Christmas, they will spend yet another Christmas away from home, whether in combat, whether aboard ships or submarines, whether at some remote post or deployed unaccompanied overseas.
But, as Garamone said last year,
…it is not just those service members deployed overseas who work on the holiday. Thousands of airmen will man the consoles in the missile fields of the American West. Others will watch the skies for threats, while still others will be ready to respond to these threats.
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Thousands of service members will care for brothers and sisters who are wounded or sick this holiday season. Others will provide services for the families of those deployed.
Once again, we thank our men and women in uniform for their sacrifices and we wish them and their loved ones a very Merry Christmas.
Below are some images to remind us of another “military Christmas,” starting with a Christmas message to our troops by Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and Lilibet Hagel.
Navy Lt. Cmdr. Wes Smith signals to launch an F/A-18F Super Hornet on the flight deck aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson in the Arabian Gulf, Dec. 11, 2014. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Scott Fenaroli
While Christmas and a war ship may seem incongrous, the Christmas-like lighting effect of a ship’s mast against a starry sky presented by the guided-missile destroyer USS Mitscher (above) may have a meaning…
Finally, lest we forget those who are still in combat this Christmas
U.S. Special Forces soldiers provides security while an Afghan special forces soldier directs other Afghan soldiers during a firefight with insurgents in the Gelan district of Afghanistan’s Ghazni province (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. David Devich)
Lead photo: Volunteers from the 28th Operations Group – with assistance from Santa and Mrs. Claus – helped deliver more than 160 gifts to children enrolled in Youth & Family Services Child Development Center programs in Rapid City, S.D., Dec. 16, 2014. This event marks the eighth year members of the 28th OG have helped spread holiday cheer to children and families in the local community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Hailey R. Staker)
All images DOD
The author is a retired U.S. Air Force officer and a writer.