Kandahar Airfield Dec 25 2008. Well it is all smiles here today as we relax just a bit to enjoy the spirit of the season. Christmas decorations adorn the Command Center reminding us just a little of home. For me well, I was pleasantly awoken a little before 5 am by the sounds of the Skype computer 'phone' ringing. That happy sound was quickly followed by joyful wrapping paper tearing and little girls giggling. Modern technology is great, for while I was not able to be there with them in Okinawa physically I was there, perhaps a bit foggy in mind-no coffee yet- and a little pixilated, but I was there. Talking to them and watching the events of X-mas morning via the somputer screen, live feed from Afghanistan. It was great. I really enjoyed watching the girls open the gifts I sent, afghan jingle dresses. Though they are apparently a little itchy they sure are cute. I expect Erica will post pictures soon. Each girl actually posed with 'me' standing next to the monitor. I wonder how those pics will turn out? I think those pictures will be family classics.
It is a bit odd though, as I sit and write this blog, I am listening to AFN news and X-mas music. Last night some of us wathced that holiday favorite Trading Places, ok not your normal Holiday movie but it is set in Philly during Christmas which makes it a hit for me. We had already watched Nat'l Lampoons Christmas Vacation and A Christmas Story over the course of the week. So we do all the things that we would do if we were home except when we step outside we are here not there. That is when it feels odd.
It is made to feel odder still as of course it is still a work day as we were reminded in a stark way. For our festivities were broken sadly this morning by the lowering of the British Flag to half mast. The war is very real on these days. Thankfully we have lost no Marines.
There are very brave young men and women out beyond this place, at the forward edge, in contact with the people of Afghanistan who are living rough and well loving it. They may be cold and dirty but they are motivated. The are doing something which at times just may scare the hell out of them. Yet those are the moments they remember most fondly. The female second lieutenant who lead a multi-vehicle convoy to an isolated combat outpost deep in no-mans land will remember that in the same light as if it was the big game back home. Even if we are the only ones to ever know that it happened. We will be the only ones to know that she and her Marines covered 70 miles in 36 grueling hours, often moving only as fast as the Marine with the mine detector in front could walk. We will remember them getting through despite mines and rocket propelled grenades, never faltering or giving in to despair. We will remember it, we will pass it along in our training and we will expect it. It is what our folks out here do.
As for me I get to sit at the forward operating base, Mom and Erica are not upset in the least by this, writing, revising and rewriting plans. All of which are brilliantly (of course) diabolical ways of stearing the social-political dynamic of a troubled country towards a path of peaceful cohabitation with the world community. Said more simply kick-starting democracy, Afghan style of course.
Anyway enough shop talk, I hope you are all doing well, I wish I could have been home for the tree-trimming party. Maybe next year. Until then Merry Christmas.
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Dear Karl, I love "your way with words" you always get your point across, you brought tears to my eyes. And, yes,you are brilliant. Of course, I am your mother, and I could be a bit prejudiced. We also got to celebrate Xmas with Erica, and the girls. We skyped right after you and they were still opening packages, excited beyond belief each bringing an opened gift to the computer screen so they could share it with us. There were 22 of us here at the home of the NJ Rohr's all thinking of you and them. We posted the picture of you in front of the flags in Afghanistan for everyone to see and Dad gave a great toast to you and all of your fellow marines to stay safe and get the job done. Keep making and remaking those plans, for I know one of them will be the perfect plan to get the job done. We love you. Merry Christmas! Mom
ReplyDeleteHello Karl, it is Christmas Day morning and I am on clean up duty after your mother`s gigantic Christmas Eve Italian Fish Frye. We had a wonderful time with the usual suspects. The only difference is that the suspects are getting a little grayer every year.
ReplyDeleteI have read your Christmas message and to put it mildly I was very impressed by your account ot the young Marines in Afghanistan. Sitting here in New Jersey and following the events in far off Afghanistan on CNN does not enable one to see and feel what you and your comrades feel and see. For us it is almost abstract because nothing has changed for us. We have a new president, a depression with rising unemplument and the Eagles are out of the play offs, so nothing really new.
Ski season started with wind and rain in phila. but a good bit of snow in the Poconos. Hope our spell of warm rain weather has not melted a lot of the snow. So you see us civilians have a lot to endure.
Well I wish you and al of the men and women stsioned with you all the very best,good luck and stay safe.
Love Dad
Dear Karl,
ReplyDeleteI finally got onto the blog site, not sure what I was doing wrong, but this time it worked. Read your wonderful blog for Christmas, and Uncle Andrew and i were quite impressed. Read the returns from your Mom and Dad. We too had the Feast of the Seven Fishes here in Aiken, the temp was 70 a bit warm for christmas Eve, but we certainly enjoyed it alot. Jac and Tanya made it home Christmas Eve morning around 11.00 we were glad they got home, it would not have been the same without them. Although we do not have all the family around, we share our tradition with friends here in Aiken. I enjoy cooking, and they all enjoy sharing the tradition of Italy.
Tanya and Jac are back in Miami, and back to the reality of working folks.
We are spending New Years Eve with our friends Polly and Ray, and their children who are visiting from Baltimore.
Wishing you all the best NEW YEAR, AND A SAFE TIME IN AFGANASTAN. yOU ARE IN OUR PRAYERS DAILY, AND WE ARE PROUD OF ALL OF YOU.
lOVE
Aunt Helen and Uncle Andrew