This weekend as we gather with friends and family in our homes, celebrating the Christmas Season, it might be a time to stop and mouth a prayer to the thousands of young men and women in the service of our country, stationed in places away from home.
I’ve been there. The first Christmas I ever spent away from Mom & Dad’s, I spent in Camp Rose, Korea, a few miles south of the DMZ.
Oddly enough, some of the youngsters who followed me into the ranks of the 1st Battalion, 72nd Armor (2d Infantry Division) in Korea have a picture of a ‘pet tank’ suitable decked out for the season. We did what we could with what we had. these guys obviously have a little more.
To all my brothers and sisters, thank you for your service. I only hope we can keep the country we fought for.
I have also been there and I pray for our troops each day. My time was Viet Nam and I pray that no others who serve will ever be treated like we were.
If we continue on the same path as now, we will not keep the country we fought for. It is not the same now and that is a shame.
My first Christmas away was in Basic Training. Second was at Camp Howze, Korea. I had cheese ramyen and yaki mandu for my Christmas breakfast after coming off the night shift.
Been a while since I thought of that.
A heartfelt prayer and deepest gratitude to those in uniform, both those who currently wear it proudly and those of us who did.
My first away was RAF Woodbridge, UK. I spent that one the same way I’m spending this one…babysitting jets on alert…
My first away was Boot Camp at MCRD San Diego..then Okinawa one year, Subic Bay one year and the Persian Gulf one year…..to all our Brothers and Sisters that have served and are currently serving, “Merry Christmas!!!”