Author Archives: CJ

This is a great photo from a frequent contributor to Photo of the Day, SGT Marc Loi. I just love to see smiles on kids’ faces.

A child from the Spin Boldak District in the southern Kandahar province, Afghanistan, plays with two stray puppies at the district center while his parents attended an shura. Arabic for “consultation,” shuras are designed as meetings-of-the-minds where local Afghans can voice their concerns about security and other challenges as the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan forges ahead.

The type, variety, and number of aircraft that fly in and out of Kandahar Airfield is astounding. There never seems to be a moment when something isn’t either landing or taking off. The noise can be deafening at times.

Kandahar hosted an Open House to ring in the New Year, showing every aircraft based on KAF from all services, including drones, cargo, and attack aircraft.

Members of the 62nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron speak to local Afghans and children about an MQ-9 Reaper during the 2012 Kandahar Air Wing Open House at Kandahar Air Wing, Afghanistan, Jan. 1, 2012. The Reaper is a remotely piloted aircraft that is primarily for close air support, air interdiction, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

Americans across the country celebrated the arrival of 2012 with fireworks, camaraderie, and explosive joyousness. Meanwhile, our troops celebrated in a similar fashion, though perhaps exercised a little differently.

In a combat zone, the new year is just another day. The mission goes on because the enemy doesn’t believe in holidays – except their own. On Thanksgiving, they shelled us. On Christmas, they shelled us. On New Year’s Day, they shelled us, but we fought back.

A CH-53D Sea Stallion heavy-lift helicopter with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363 flies past the window of an observation post at Forward Operating Base Edinburgh in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 1. Coalition forces in Afghanistan brought in the New Year by continuing counterinsurgency operations. Photo by Cpl. Brian Adam Jones

Established by the Second Continental Congress in 1775, the Army Chaplaincy predates the Declaration of Independence and is both the largest and oldest military chaplaincy in the world. More than 25,000 chaplains have served since then in 36 wars and 242 major combat engagements. Six were awarded the nation’s highest military award for valor (The Medal of Honor). Many former Army Chaplains have served in prominent positions of government, education and religion. Today, as in the past, chaplains serve in a great variety of positions and places throughout the world. While their methods of ministry may change with the transformation of the battlefield, their ministry and message are timeless and immeasurable.

Second LT Mark Phillippe, platoon commander from 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, reads from the missal as Cmdr. Christopher Fronk, 2nd Marine Division (Forward) chaplain, listens, ready to provide an in-depth understanding and guidance. The Monaca, Pa., native takes the time to introduce Marines to the reading within the Mass to create interaction and a better understanding of their religion.

Just wanted to share a few photos of our Christmas dinner and the decorations they had at the Independence Dining Facility on Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan.

In a combat zone, the holidays sort of come and go without much fanfare. Sure, we have special dinners and some people put up decorations in their office, but it’s nothing like being home.

Back home, everywhere you go there are reminders that Christmas is upon us. Out here, everything is brown and dull. Getting into the Christmas spirit is something that quite literally has to come from within.

When I saw this little display here on Kandahar on Christmas Eve, it instantly took me home to a family tradition I miss. Each Christmas Eve we would drive around and look at all the Christmas lights. I have to say, though, that the best displays I EVER saw were up in Montana in 2009. Whole streets would compete with other neighborhoods as the most decorated and the yards would be amazing!

I’m all for improving Christmas morale for deployed troops, but even I have standards. As a part of those standards, I live by a strict code. The number one rule of that code: NO TIGHTS! Oh, I’m sure there’s a clause in there about no pink bunny costumes as well. Not sure; I’ll have to check my contract.

Soldiers from the 525th Military Police Battalion and the 170th Military Police Battalion assist in Operation Stocking Stuffer on Christmas morning. Operation Stocking Stuffer is a community effort to fill and distribute Christmas stockings to service members who are on duty Christmas day. The 170th Military Police Battalion added a little more Christmas cheer by dressing up as famous holiday characters. (JTF Guantanamo photo by Army Sgt. Saul Rosa)

Just because it’s Christmas time, the enemy doesn’t sleep. On Christmas day, we had a 107mm mortar launched onto our FOB. It landed just as we had walked into the dining facility for our Christmas meal. The rest of the day was peaceful, making this attack nothing more than harassment.

However, across Afghanistan the mission didn’t cease. Christmas proved to be a dangerous day for many of us and our choppers were in high gear. Our unarmed, perfectly escorted MEDEVAC choppers provided the usual expert level of care, speed, and professionalism as they always do.

159th Combat Aviation Brigade Commander Col. Todd Royar and Executive Officer Maj. Travis Habhab land their AH-64 Apache as the sun sets over Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Christmas Day. The two leaders spent the holiday visiting with the brigade’s soldiers who are spread across southern Afghanistan providing rotary-wing aviation support and forward arming and refueling capabilities. The 159th CAB is deployed from Fort Campbell, Ky., and is scheduled to redeploy shortly after the New Year.

Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Stephanie Carl.

When I was deployed to Kuwait for Christmas in 2002, we had none of the cool technology we had today. At least, it wasn’t very widespread. We were allowed 10 minute phone calls on a tactical phone in which we had to press a button to talk. This meant ensuring that we said “over” when we were done so didn’t step on each other. Christmas dinner consisted of smoked meats and cheeses with crackers that were sent to us. We also had canned eggnog.

This year, I was privileged to have the ability to watch my kids open presents. On Christmas eve, I opened my presents so the kids could see. The next day, I Skyped in to the kids and watched them open presents. I got to watch for about 15 minutes before the video froze and booted me. But still, 15 minutes of enjoying my kids on Christmas was enjoyable. I almost felt like I was with them.

This is a photo I took prior to the connection dropping as I watched the kids open presents.