Afghan girls enjoy new winter jackets they received from U.S. soldiers and Afghan police in the Khoni Kwar area of Afghanistan’s Khowst province, Dec. 14, 2012. The U.S. soldiers are assigned to Company A, 3rd Special Troops Battalion.
I have a general idea of what most of us did this Christmas.
Thought you would like to see what “they” — our troops far away from home — did.
Coalition force members and civilians line up during a Christmas Eve cookout on Forward Operating Base Farah, Afghanistan, Dec. 24, 2012. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Petty Officer Josh Ives
Santa Claus gives a Christmas stocking to wounded warrior U.S. Army Spc. Joseph Beldon at the Craig Joint Theater Hospital on Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Dec. 19, 2012. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. David J. Overson
U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Jennifer Kleve, left, serves food to local Afghans during a Christmas Eve cookout on Forward Operating Base Farah, Afghanistan, Dec. 24, 2012. Kleve, a hospital corpsman, is assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team Farah. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Petty Officer Josh Ives
U.S. and Slovenian coalition force members participate in a Christmas midnight mass candlelight procession using chem lights on Forward Operating Base Farah, Afghanistan, Dec. 24, 2012. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Petty Officer Josh Ives
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Joshua Byrd, left, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Brad Leja, center, and U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Gary Yurgans, right, perform during a show for the 451st Expeditionary Communications Squadron on Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Dec. 20, 2012. Byrd, Leja, and Yurgans, musicians, are assigned to the U.S. Air Forces Central Band “Total Force.” U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Betzy Bonilla fills a Christmas stocking on Camp Eggers in Kabul, Afghanistan, Dec. 23, 2012. Bonilla is assigned to NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan.
A Korean orphan smiles for a photo at a Korean orphanage Dec. 22, 2012. Osan Air Base volunteers gave back during the holidays by ensuring children in local orphanages received a little bit of cheer and a gift. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Alexis Siekert)
Many, however, had “other things” to do.
U.S. Army Spc. Jacob Bobbe maintains security during a key leader engagement in the Lash-e Juwayn district in Afghanistan’s Farah province, Dec. 11, 2012. Bobbe is assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team Farah.
All photos and captions: U.S. DoD
The author is a retired U.S. Air Force officer and a writer.