Posted on 12/25/2004 3:07:02 AM PST by naturalman1975
PETER CAVE: For the Australian troops stationed in and around Iraq, Christmas Day tomorrow will be a normal working day, with the threat of an insurgent attack increased rather than diminished by the Christian holiday.
But nevertheless there will be some Christmas cheer.
I spoke to the commander of Australia's troops, Air Commodore Greg Evans, via satellite phone and began by asking him how our troops will be celebrating Christmas in Iraq.
GREG EVANS: I think it'll be quite strange for most of us. It's a normal working day, of course. We're working very long hours and seven days a week over here, and all of that will have to continue. But we are making every attempt to have a bit of a Christmas where we can.
People have got some decorations up around the place, and they're planning on a Christmas lunch where they can, or a Christmas dinner, and we're planning on celebrating Christmas among ourselves. Of course, all of us miss home terribly.
PETER CAVE: How many of you will be able to get together and how many will be off in far-flung parts of the country?
GREG EVANS: Well, we've got groups of 20, 30, 40. Of course, we've got HMAS Adelaide in the Gulf, and the ships will certainly be celebrating Christmas, although they are at sea on task.
We've got the C-130 detachment and the P3 Orion detachment will be able to celebrate as a detachment, although they're still working, of course.
And then groups from two up to about 50 skittled across, all across Iraq will be able to have lunch together.
PETER CAVE: From what I remember, some of you are catered for by the Americans, but certainly the SecDet (security detail) boys were looking after themselves. Is there anything in the way of a special Christmas feast?
GREG EVANS: Well, SecDet's got the best food in Baghdad. You can get a hamburger at SecDet that's got beetroot in it, so they'll be able to… they've got an in-force cook, actually, I think that might be the reason.
They'll be having a special dinner, and the rest of us will be dining with our American friends, in a lot of cases, and we've had a great deal of success with Australia Post getting little Christmas puddings across from all the mums out there. It's been really a wonderful effort, and there's a lot of Christmas pudding around, so we'll be eating all of that.
We've also got a lot of RSL, the Returned Services League has sent across a bunch of little cardboard packages with all sorts of munchies and things to remember Australia by, and it's really greatly appreciated. They were a big surprise, we didn't know they were coming.
PETER CAVE: Well, Air Commodore, the very best of Christmas from all of us here at AM.
GREG EVANS: Peter, good to talk to you, bye.
PETER CAVE: Air Commodore Greg Evans in Baghdad.
A little slice of home! < grin >
Merry Christmas, y'all!
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