Photo By Sgt. Maj. Alexander Burnett | Maj. Patrick and Stephanie Almond, the executive officer for Joint Logistics Task...... read more read more
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - When people make their Christmas wish lists, it can include video games, books, and miscellaneous gifts. Deployed soldiers’ Christmas lists read slightly different and include things that cannot be bought such as seeing a loved one, not being attacked by insurgents, and having all their buddies make it home. This year, one dual military couple received the greatest Christmas gift that they could imagine while deployed, each other.
Two soldiers assigned to 7th Sustainment Brigade but deployed to different countries in the Middle East, were able to spend Christmas together.
Maj. Patrick Almond, an executive officer assigned to Joint Logistics Task Force Six, based out of Camp Arifijan, Kuwait, and Maj. Stephanie Almond, a brigade medical officer assigned to Task Force Resolute on Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, spent Christmas together on KAF.
“The mission that I work on is the reason why I was able to come to Afghanistan,” said Patrick. “Both of our commands also helped so that I would be here over Christmas.”
Patrick is a part of the mission to reposition forces and equipment previously deployed to Iraq in Afghanistan. This deployment marks Stephanie’s first and Patrick’s fifth deployment. Stephanie has been with the 7th Sustainment Brigade for three years and Patrick has been with the brigade for two.
“I am so grateful that we were able to spend the holiday together,” said Stephanie. “This is definitely a memorable experience.”
The Almond’s Christmas together was slightly different than most they have had back home. Instead of eggnog and cocoa, it was protein shakes; and rather than the focus being on presents, dinners, and decorations, it was on each other. The Almond’s spent Christmas with their children ‘virtually’ while they celebrated the season in Georgia with their grandparents. Also, the day was not spent around a tree, instead part of it was spent in bunker together following a rocket attack.
“It was odd being in a bunker with my wife on Christmas, but either way, spending the day with her was the greatest gift I could receive while deployed,” said Patrick.
To their friends and family back home, the Almond’s send the following message, “We miss you and appreciate all the efforts that you have made. Much love and we love you.”
| Date Taken: | 12.26.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 12.28.2011 00:20 |
| Story ID: | 81800 |
| Location: | KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 223 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Deployed couple gets to spend Christmas together in Afghanistan, by SPC Krista Payne, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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