Air Force Tech. Sgt. Kimberly Waters hangs ornaments on a Christmas tree at the Chaldean Catholic Church in Basra, Iraq, on Dec. 5. Waters was to redeploy to the U.S. a few days later, but most of her colleagues will spend the holidays at their muddy base near the city’s airport.
The Most Rev. Imad Aziz al-Banna, second from left, leads a prayer during a visit by U.S. troops to his church in downtown Basra.