Posted on 12/25/2004 12:10:54 PM PST by West Coast Conservative
US soldiers in Iraq celebrated the birth of Jesus while eating Christmas dinner in full body armour, with many explaining how the nativity story continues to motivate their mission in the war-torn country.
Here, soldiers enjoying their traditional Christmas meal put on full head and body armour to eat, a requirement since this week's devastating bombing of another US base in Iraq.
The suicide bombing at a US mess hall in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul on Tuesday killed 22, including 14 US military personnel. That triggered a re-assessment of base security throughout the country and added further tension to the festive season.
Elsewhere on the base, a few dozen soldiers filed into the austere chapel on Camp Cuervo, a base on the northeastern side of Baghdad, where three long rows of bleached pews face a big wooden cross.
On the chapel's stage, five chaplains and soldiers begin playing guitars, an organ and singing in a gospel choir gathered for the start of a special Christmas Day service.
"The shepherds out there were much like we are, doing their job to make sure their flock is safe ... spreading the good news of Jesus," says Chaplain Tim Maracle.
According to Christian belief, an angel appeared to shepherds in fields near Bethlehem to tell them about the birth of Jesus. The shepherds were at first terrified by the glow of the angel, but then went to see the baby for themselves and began spreading the word of Christ's birth.
"Lord, protect every one of us here from the enemies of this dark world throughout the next year, help us to successfully accomplish the mission that our nation has sent us here to do," says Chaplain Steve Prost.
"Ultimately, we do this in service to you as we attempt to shine your light in a dark world until you come again."
Prost tells soldiers they are much like the shepherds "responding to the light and spreading the light in a powerful way."
A seven-member gospel choir of soldiers dressed in green and red festive T-shirts and clapping their hands in the air launch into a passionate rendition of "Go Tell it on the Mountain."
Soldiers get up and sing along as the words are projected on a wall.
"Our overall mission is to bring peace and safety to Iraq and the world," says Sergeant Paul Jarett, 26, from Rochester, Minnesota.
Another soldier says he normally does not go to church but that "something told me to come today."
"We have helped them (Iraqis) go from where they had sewerage on the street to cleaning their own messes and helping them to get back on their feet," says Specialist Ronald Lindsey, 21, from Georgia.
Away from religious services, many soldiers take advantage of the rest time on Christmas to catch up on sleep, write e-mails, watch movies or open gifts from home.
Soldiers at Camp Cuervo's mail room are busy loading up packages sent by families into a truck for distribution.
About 5,000 boxes arrived on Saturday alone, according to Sergeant James McMahon, who has been putting in 16-hour days recently in order to cope with the deluge of mail.
Most of the merriment and parties on Camp Cuervo took place before Christmas Day because of the "threat level", says Lieutenant Casey Swakon.
There were raffles for gifts, as well as talent shows and sport games.
Some soldiers spoke about missing their loved ones or special Christmas meals.
"When I get movies of my child it makes you kind of sad," says Jack Maroney, a reservist from Buffalo, New York, who left for Iraq 10 months ago the same day his daughter was born.
May God Bless all those who go into Harm's Way.
BTTT
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American Soldiers fighting for...
The FREEDOM of Others,
Those that train them...
For their FREEDOM Mission and...
Those Loved Ones who wait for...
Them to come home...
or not...
are...
.............HOLY..!!!!
Why even...
MEL's -PASSION- was sparked by -WE WERE SOLDIERS-
http://www.TheAlamoFILM.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=39081
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