Merry Christmas to the Troops around the world - Its Christmas Morning in Iraq!

12/24/04 (12/25/04 in Iraq) | enlightiator

[Enlightiator]

Merry Christmas morning to you soliders in Iraq and other places where it is already Christmas morning, from those of us here at Freerepublic!

I wish all of you and your families to have safety and comfort and good food today. And for those of you who do not, you are in our prayers.

A I know that we have some of you soldiers who come by and post to us, so if you see this thread, let us know how you are doing on Christmas Day!

By the way freepers, a few of our fellow freeper soldiers have been in the news recently:

Soldier/freeper "martywake" was in the mess tent Dec. 21 in Mosul, Iraq, when the explosion occurred which killed a lot of good men. See his first hand account An Open Letter to Freepers. He himself received some minor wounds. His 1st Batallion 25th ID Stryker Combat Brigade suffered a lot of killed and wounded in that incident.

And soldier/freeper "sconnelly89" was the "UNIDENTIFIED MALE" soldier who asked Rusfeld the question about the media propaganda war during his suprise visit to Iraq. "sconnelly89"s first hand account is post#5 in this thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1307671/posts?page=5#5

The CNN Transcript of the exchange is here:

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0412/24/lad.02.html

Note: "sconnelly89" joined today to post here, so he is a new freeper. His account agrees with the CNN transcript and his IP address(as verified by Jim Robinson) both indicate that his post is very likely a bonified post.

[TomGuy]

Some pix from the war zones.


A U.S. military personnel attends Christmas Eve service in the U.S.Marines camp near the Iraqi town of Falluja, 50-km (30 miles) west of Baghdad, December 24, 2004. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov


U.S. soldiers hold candles as they offer prayers in a church at their base on the eve of Christmas in Kabul, Afghanistan (news - web sites), Friday, Dec. 24, 2004. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)


A U.S. military personnel and military contractor, dressed as Santa Claus, drive on a truck in the U.S. Marines camp near the Iraqi town of Falluja, 50-km (30 miles) west of Baghdad, on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2004. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov


U.S. military personnel sing carols in the U.S. Marine camp near the Iraqi town of Falluja, 50-km (30 miles) west of Baghdad, on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2004. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov


U.S. Army's 1st. Cavalry Division Sergeant Victor Cordero, from the Dominican Republic, chats with a comrade (obscured) near a Christmas tree at the Cuervo Forward Operating Base in eastern Baghdad, December 24, 2004. U.S. 1st Cavalry Division soldiers celebrated Christmas Eve at their heavily guarded base in the Iraqi capital and all shared a common wish of going back home soon. REUTERS/Faleh Kheiber


U.S. Army's 1st. Cavalry Division Sergeant Victor Cordero (R), from the Dominican Republic and Captain Andy Blanton from North California, tell jokes near a Christmas tree at the Cuervo Forward Operating Base in eastern Baghdad, December 24, 2004. U.S. 1st Cavalry Division soldiers celebrated Christmas Eve at their heavily guarded base in the Iraqi capital and all shared a common wish of going back home soon. REUTERS/Faleh Kheiber


U.S. Army's 1st. Cavalry Division Captain Andy Blanton, from North California, places stockings under a Christmas tree at the Cuervo Forward Operating Base in eastern Baghdad, December 24, 2004. U.S. 1st Cavalry Division soldiers celebrated Christmas Eve at their heavily guarded base in the Iraqi capital and all shared a common wish of going back home soon. REUTERS/Faleh Kheiber


A U.S. Army officer, assigned to the 1st. Cavalry Division, walks out of his office on Christmas Eve at the Cuervo Forward Operating Base in eastern Baghdad, December 24, 2004. U.S. 1st Cavalry Division soldiers celebrated Christmas Eve at their heavily guarded base in the Iraqi capital and all shared a common wish of going back home soon. REUTERS/Faleh Kheiber


U.S. soldiers unload Christmas gifts and supplies from a helicopter during a cultural exchange with Afghan locals in Jagdalek, 240 kilometers (150 miles) southeast of Kabul, Afghanistan (news - web sites), Friday, Dec.24, 2004. Task Force Pirate, part of Task Force wing, organized the cultural exchange with the Afghans on the eve of Christmas and distributed gifts among them. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)


U.S. Army Bradley Armored vehicles are seen parked near the figure of Santa Claus on Christmas Eve at the Cuervo Forward Operating Base in eastern Baghdad, December 24, 2004. U.S. 1st Cavalry Division soldiers celebrated Christmas Eve at their heavily guarded base in the Iraqi capital and all shared a common wish of going back home soon. REUTERS/Faleh Kheiber


U.S. Chief Warrant Officer Gary Wallin (R), clad in a Santa Claus outfit, talks to an Afghan girl in Jegdelic village, about 90 km southwest of Kabul, December 24, 2004. About 200 U.S. soldiers delivered meals, toys and shoes to villagers of Jegdelic during a day visit to spread goodwill on Christmas eve. REUTERS/Ahmad Masood

from Yahoo News slideshow

[America's Resolve]

God Bless them EVERY ONE and the BEST to their families!!

[JAFA]

Merry Christmas from Kirkuk!

[America's Resolve]

How was Christmas? Hope it was a merry one!

[Enlightiator]

Merry Christmas JAFA! Its just after midnight Christmas Eve here, and so I'm going to bed, but will check back on the thread in the morning. Hope to see more posts from you guys. Have a great day this Christmas day!

[MEG33]

God bless you and every one who is serving our country in harm's way..I am grateful for your service to our country!

[Tempest]

Merry Christmas guys and God bless you.

[MEG33]

Thank you for the pictures!

[JAFA]

Thanks! Quiet for now. Hopefully it'll remain that way...

[anonymoussierra]

Good morning America strong Persons Happy Christmas! Thank you

[Soul Seeker]

Merry Christmas!

To all our troops around the world, at home and abroad, THANK YOU!! We are indebted to you and words could never convey our appreciation. May the Lord watch over you and your families, and provide what you need as it is needed.

sconnelly89- I think you accomplished what you sought. During the holidays when families are at home, together, to converse freely back and forth, you have provided them an eye opener that the MSM may not be the objective source they had assumed. You also gave Rummy the opportunity to speak over the MSM, directly to the American people to relay the good that has been done by you all. This is how the MSM is combated one step at a time, by ignoring them and speaking to Americans personally. You made that possible, well done!

Please never think you are alone, either. The MSM chooses to ignore us, but millions are combating their propaganda in our own streets and neighborhoods. Millions are hearing the truth, and mediums like the internet help to make that possible as you know well.

martywake- It is that tragedy you speak of we cannot understand fully, only extend our sympathy and love. I am so sorry for the loss of these brave men and women, and the pain of those left behind. I thank you for giving us a glimpse into their bravery (and yours) and the beginnings of a great people working in companion to help freedom become indelibly rooted in this society.

I pray God keeps a close watch over you and heals all your wounds. I pray the same for those injured. I pray those that did this will receive swift justice, and that their goal to prevent Liberty in the Middle East is met with failure. I pray those that would attempt to dishonor your mission are exposed to the core and rejected.

From my heart, thank you.

And thank you to all, our troops, our allies serving, Iraqi's serving Their country, and those that would volunteer to help rebuild this nation that have sacrificed their lives without fanfare. None of you are forgotton or unappreciated by the vast majority of people in this country.

[MEG33]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1308221/posts
FReeper Canteen ~ Merry Christmas Music Jukebox ~ 25 DEC 2004
Canteen Deejays

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Thank you and God bless you.. could you please pass around a few hugs to the guys and gals over there.. from my family. We are so proud of you and grateful to you and your families.Merry Christmas!

[4integrity]

Merry Christmas to you, JAFA! Thank you, and all of our wonderful service men and women, for your service to our country. I, like millions of other Americans, pray each day for your safe and speedy return.

[fatima]

JAFA,Hi nice person my granddaughter was there until April-Merry Christmas Beautiful.

[VOA]

U.S. Chief Warrant Officer Gary Wallin (R), clad in a Santa Claus outfit, talks to
an Afghan girl in Jegdelic village,

It must be a trip when the biggest, toughest dudes in the neighborhood (Taliban sadists)
are replaced by a bunch of "Shane"s and John Waynes in less than a year.

[JAFA]

Thanks for the link! Gotta go job it for a while. Please enjoy your Christmas.

[MEG33]

Sending ((((((((HUGS)))))))))) Pass them around!

[gwbiny2k]

Yes sir! The brave US soldiers are doing the noble work
of spreading freedom, a novel idea in the muslim middle-east.
If their efforts succeed, it will go down as a cataclysmic
event in the dictator laden middle-east neighborhood.

My prayers are for the almighty to protect all our people
in Iraq.