Photo By 1st Sgt. Brent Williams | Pfc. Shelly Anne Finnegan, a food service specialist from Pawling, N.Y., assigned to...... read more read more
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By Sgt. 1st Class Brent Williams
1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Public Affairs Office
FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq – Col. Ted Martin, commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Bobb, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, traveled to combat outposts and joint security stations on Christmas Day in the Rashid district of southern Baghdad to show their appreciation for the Soldiers who continue to serve during the holiday season.
"I'd like to wish all the 'Raider' Brigade Soldiers out there and their families back home a merry Christmas and a happy New Year," said Martin, a native of Jacksonville Beach, Fla. "God bless you all."
Checking on morale and wishing their troops, a "merry Christmas," the 1st BCT's command group toured the familiar COPs and JSSs where "Raider" Brigade Soldiers and Rashid district's Iraqi security forces worked together for more than nine months.
Observing the holidays is important to the Soldiers, even in a combat zone, because being together with family is an American tradition, said 1st Sgt. Kenneth Hignight, Company D, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div.
Leaders try to maintain the unit's morale during Christmas by providing the Soldiers time to call home, enjoy a special meal and the camaraderie of being together in a combat zone, explained Hignight, a native of Rock Island, Ill.
Another important tradition during the holiday season is a visit from leaders and commanders to show that they care about their Soldiers, he explained.
"It means that they care enough to take the time out of their schedules to just come out and say hello. [It's] not talk about operations, not talk about tactics; but to just come out, see how the Soldiers are doing and say, 'Merry Christmas.'"
Another part of the holiday tradition, units normally put on the holiday decorations, adorning plastic trees with garlands and lights, and prepare a special meal for the Soldiers to provide everyone a change of scenery from their everyday missions, said 1st Lt. John Klein, executive officer, Co. A, 1st Bn., 22nd Inf. Regt.
"We have a special lunch or dinner prepared for the guys, something a little different, a little nicer than usual," said Klein, a native of Edmonds, Wash.
The unit stays busy with its mission, so modifying patrol schedules to allow Soldiers more time during the holidays is not always an option, he added.
"The platoons have gift exchanges, and do things on their own; I think it's important just because it's something different," explained Klein.
Food Service Specialists responsible for operating mobile kitchen trailers at COPs and JSSs prepare roasted turkey, prime rib, savory fresh stuffing, mashed potatoes, buttered green beans, dinner rolls, turkey gravy, assorted holiday deserts, salads, eggnog and a cider bar for the Soldiers Christmas meal, said Pfc. Danielle Sedano, a food service specialist, assigned to Forward Support Company D, 4th Support Bn., attached to Troop B, 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regt., 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B.
"The Christmas meal is important to the Soldiers, who are far away from home and family," said Sedano, who hails from Grand Haven, Mich. "We try to keep everyone happy and keep the morale up; and the decorations are also a nice way to celebrate."
Sedano and co-worker Pfc. Constance Pearson said they work through the night and into the next day with preparations for the Christmas meal, and during the time in-between decorate the COP's chow hall, hanging streamers and balloons and Christmas decorations to help keep the Soldiers spirits high.
"I think it helps keep the Soldiers motivated, helps to keep them going on, and like helps them think about one step closer to finally going home," said Pearson, a food service specialist assigned to FSC D, 4th Supt. Bn., attached to 7th Sqdn., 10th Cav. Regt.
"Observing special occasions together means we can finally celebrate with our comrades here and celebrate all the hard work we're doing out here; and it gives us some time to relax and think about being home," said Pearson, who calls Long Beach, Calif. home.
Everyday is the busiest day of the year for the cooks forward deployed to support the combat units, agreed Pearson and Sedano; Christmas is just a little busier, they explained.
"We work a little bit harder always trying to ... make sure everything's right, but the [dining facility] section back at Forward Operating Base Falcon, they help us out too," Pearson said. "They are the ones who are catering in our lunch for us today, so we can prepare for dinner."
Whether serving on COPs, JSSs or FOBs, Raider Soldiers made the time despite their ongoing missions to join together on Christmas Day, enjoy a meal and remember the reasons why they serve, said Bobb, who hails from the Isles of Trinidad, West Indies.
"This is not a typical Christmas," Bobb said. "This is what we do. I think we ought to remember the holidays as they come and go, but there are those special times when I think we ought to thank God that we are all still alive, and pray for the families, the sons and daughters, the husbands and wives here and back home, whose lives are forever changed and will never be the same, and pray for the wounded Soldiers still recovering."
| Date Taken: | 12.25.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 12.25.2008 19:50 |
| Story ID: | 28141 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 187 |
| Downloads: | 153 |
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