 |  |
| Monthly Archives | [-] |
Prev|List|Random|Next |
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and various sources around the world.
Today we are highlighting the latest posts of milblogs in theater or heading that way. Many of our military and coalition troops will not be home for the Holidays. If you have a spare moment, consider leaving a comment at their site. Together, let's tell our men and women in uniform serving overseas, and their families waiting behind, that they're in our hearts this holiday season.
Updated 12/25/2009
Merry Christmas from Kabul... -- [3rd Time, New Country in Afghanistan]
I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas from Kabul. Here I am, on another Christmas away from family and friends. Christmas 2005 was in Al Taqqaddam, Iraq and Christmas 2009 is in Kabul, Afghanistan. As I write this, it is Christmas morning here. Santa is making his way from East to West across the United States.
I only have a few days left here in Kabul, so I will recap the past few days and reflect on my time here.
Christmas in Kabul -- [Quatto Zone - in Afghanistan]
Every morning while I'm shaving, there's a ritual sideways glance and a muttered "Good morning" to the other NATO officers shuffling up to the sinks in our latrine. This morning, the guy beside me turned to look me in the eye and boomed, in heavily accented English, "No 'good morning.' Merry Christmas!"
Well, yes and no. The military certainly does its best to make holidays away from home special.
It was not a silent night... -- [HERMANEUTICS: AFGHANISTAN - in Afghanistan]
Today after my 1600 meeting someone reminded us it was Christmas Eve so we should take a 'few hours' off. Tomorrow, Christmas morning, I will be on the flight line at 0530 for at least 5 hours for a special mission--more to follow later. But tonight, at least for a couple hours at the candlelight service it truly felt like Christmas. I've never heard Christmas songs sung so strong and loud, ...
Chistmas Day -- [Doc H's International Adventure - in Afghanistan]
Christmas was a wonderful but busy day. We had three services within 24 hours, with lots of good singing. I had the opportunity to watch a flock of goats for several hours on guard duty. Finally we had a good ole time at the First Annual 5k Jingle Bell run around Camp Spann.
Kabul Afghanistan Military District Christmas Devotional -- [Sgt Danger - in Afghanistan]
The following message is the Christmas edition of the weekly devotional that LDS soldiers in Afghanistan receive in our email from our Dsitrict Presidency. I've received permission from President Eugene Wikle to publish these messages on sgtdanger.com. Some formatting and all hyperlinks are additions from me and not the author.
This message particularly touched me and I want to share it with you. ...
11 Merry Christmas Kids!-- [Sgt Danger - in Afghanistan]
..."It's tough being away from home. Of course I miss my family and home, but I've got good people around me and I'm proud of my job. My favorite color is blue; I have blue shirts, socks, shoes, and jeans at home... but I can't wear any of that here. Just my Army uniform."
"So you're learning how to shoot a gun, too? If you're very safe and are always with a grown up, it can be fun. I enjoy shooting on our ranges; we have a lot of rules to keep us safe, too. I think you're right that it's ok to be afraid; it's a natural part of being a soldier. We just work through the fear."
Your Navy docs Rock! -- [One Marines View - in Afghanistan]
The other night as we concluded the day, two patrols were under attack and fought off a small group of enemy. Relentlessly pursuing the enemy when we find them they continue to realize we are a force to contend with. With the kinetic operations being conducted on one hand, a surgeon gets notified that a local national is suffering from a separate unrelated injury and is losing a lot of blood.
COIN and Stability Operations -- [Afghan Quest - in Afghanistan]
COIN and Stability Operations I run around training, mostly the militaries of the various nations present, in counterinsurgency. There is a fair amount of traveling as well. So far it is rare to find a unit actually implementing the most basic of population-centric tools to get to know the people whom they operate amongst. We teach a framework called
"Christmas in Kandahar: A soldier's thoughts" -- [The Torch]
Pity this sort of piece doesn't get wider play: " Cpl. James Dalton, 21, of the Canadian Scottish Regiment [Princess Mary's] in Victoria, was deployed to Afghanistan on Thanksgiving weekend. He's been writing monthly dispatches from the Canadian Forces base at Kandahar. This is his fourth column. - Last week, I went on a foot patrol through a built-up urban area of Kandahar with some Americans and Afghan police forces. This being my first patrol on foot, I was slightly edgy and careful of every step I took. Every bush I walked by I thought could potentially be a spot where someone could put a bomb. After walking for about 10 minutes, I started to relax a little. Kids come up to you constantly to say hello in hopes that maybe you have something to give them. Two boys asked me if I had money, chocolate or candy. I shook my head and held out my hand to show them I didn't have any, but they still grabbed it and went through each one of my fingers to make sure."
Afghanistan: One unit is fattening a goat for Christmas -- [Helmand Blog]
The riflemen manning mountainside observation posts around the Kajaki hydroelectric dam in Helmand have grown so proud of their own home-made pizzas this winter that there is little doubt what dish will top their bill of fare on Christmas Day. Yet, when 9 Platoon, C Company, 3 Rifles, deployed in October to Kajaki, the British Army's most isolated Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Afghanistan, not one of them had had any catering experience or training. In less than three months they have not only come to terms with their remote location and the difficulties of food supply, but have perfected from scratch the art of pizza-making as enthusiastic participants in their commanding officer Lieutenant Will Melia's "Kajaki Come Dine With Me" campaign. Some 30km from their nearest friendly neighbours, their base is inaccessible except by helicopters, which drop off all the platoon's food (largely boil-in-the-bag rations supplemented by fresh ingredients as available), along with their ammunition, fuel and mail.
Pundit Pablum 2 -- [Knights of Afghanistan - in Afghanistan]
While it's true that Kabul is not entirely safe (after all, I do travel with a PSD or a weapon, or both), to describe the entire city as an armed camp is simply not accurate, at least as far as ISAF is concerned. There are plenty of ANP and ANA on the streets, and lots of checkpoints, and a large number of private security guards, but the ISAF military presence is limited to an extremely small area and most Afghans go about their daily lives as best they can. If you're going to provide a travelogue on Kabul, you should at least get out to see the city.
Sabbatical -- [A Major's Perspective - heading to Afghanistan]
With all the time being devoted to getting ready to deploy I'm just quite simply running out of time in general. With that being said, I am going to take a sabbatical for about a month. That will cover the time needed to finish my preperations for deployment, the actual movement to Afghanistan, and getting settled in and setting the blog up there in theater
Getting there -- Embedded in Afghanistan... in Afghanistan
Thankfully the worst part of all of my deployments has been the getting there. The anxiety of the unknown combined with saying goodbye to friends and family, as well as the actual travel involved in getting to yourself and your gear to these places on the other side of the earth combine to wear on you mentally and emotionally.
Long Overdue Update -- [Highland Sailor - in Afghanistan]
I have been extremely busy for the past 30 days. The command I am attached to has been transformed under NATO command, under the NATO Flag. It has been a learning experience for everyone. I've said farewell to some of my troops as they head back to the states, and welcomed and trained their reliefs. I was able to get some face-time on the Today show and I got to watch Navy Beat Army at 3:30am...overall it has been a great month.
Contracting Expectations -- [Quatto Zone - in Afghanistan]
It is perhaps no coincidence that contracting scandals in Afghanistan have emerged during the holiday season. At least since 1843 (the year Charles Dicken published A Christmas Carol), the holidays are the time when we can most clearly compare and contrast the material and moral forces of Western civilization, one Band-Aid music video at a time. Likewise, military contracting is a subject that tends to accentuate the sometimes productive and sometimes destructive tension between commerce and camaraderie in war. We want Scrooge and military contractors to do the Lord's work with the Devil's lucre, but up until the end it remains a close-run thing.
SITREP -- [HERMANEUTICS: AFGHANISTAN - in Afghanistan]
This week, with the Holidays here, I want to give a quick SITuation REPort via a few articles I read recently: Count this as my first victory. The barracks featured at the top of this article were finally finished last week, 6 months behind schedule, and our Soldiers are moving in to their temporary home. Yes, it is still crowded with six Soldiers per room but they have the luxury of indoor bathrooms (as opposed to the outhouses almost everyone else has to use.) ...Next time I'll write more about what Christmas is like so far from home. Hope all is well with you and yours.
Afganinstan Now Obama's War -- [Inside The Wire - in Afghanistan]
In the wake of President Obama's announced increase of 30,000 US troops in Afghanistan I want to share an article forwarded to me by a friend. Out of everything I've read and watched over the past two days this was the most insightful analysis of Obama's decision. I was a bit apprehensive at first due to the writer's glowing approval of Obama but his praise was tempered within a pragmatic and historical assessment of South Asian, or South Central Asian, security and politics. The only questions this leaves me is understanding whether Pakistan is fighting or supporting the Taliban and if a schism exists between the Pakistani government and the ISI?
The Milblog Embargo -- [Riding Shotgun with Team Zombiekiller - in Afghanistan]
...I for one will continue to blog about what we are doing over here because I feel it is my duty to not only tell the truth about what we are doing over here, but to also do my part to help win the "information war." I am not worried about a crackdown on bloggers however, since one other thing I learned at Ft Leavenworth is that not all of the senior leaders in the Army hate blogs and blogging. If you don't believe me you should just ask Lieutenant General Caldwell--heck he might even blog about it himself.
Shab e Yalda شب یلدا -- [Doc H's International Adventure - in Afghanistan]
In the western world we think of the 21st of December as the Winter solstice. The night of the 21st is the longest of the year for the northern hemisphere.
In Iranian and to some degree Afghan culture the night of the 21st of December is Shab-e Yalda شب یلدا .
Yes, I'm in Afghanistan -- [Dude Where's the Beach - in Afghanistan]
And yes, it's been a long time since I've last posted, but what can I say... I've been busy. I'm currently deployed in Kabul, working for the US Army, and life couldn't be more crazy/intersting since my arrival last week. I'll be here for a while, so stay tuned for more posts.
Single digit midgets... -- [3rd Time, New Country - in Afghanistan]
All of the new team is here and we have begun turnover. I have just over a week left in Kabul, then I begin the long journey back to the states, and eventually home. It has been a busy week.
Winter's blue-eyed souls -- [Captain's Cat's Diaries - in Afghanistan]
...Today I sat again, as I have done so many times here in the Southeast, on toshaks in a room filled with spin giri (white beards) and once again felt as though I had stepped back in time some two thousand years. A small wood stove hissed and crackled away in the centre of a long narrow room as snow fell quietly outside, covering this tribal land in a blanket of white.
A Holiday Is Not a Date On the Calendar -- [SpouseBuzz - Sarah husband in Afghanistan]
By the time Christmas rolls around, I will be too pregnant to travel. My family is trying to decide how to make sure I'm not alone. Both my father and brother will have to work on Christmas. My father suggested to my mother that she could come see me by herself so I'd have someone to spend Christmas with.
My mother was telling me this suggestion on the phone when she wistfully said, "But that would mean I would spend the first Christmas apart from your father in 34 years..."
And then she trailed off, because she obviously realized what she had just said to her pregnant daughter whose husband is deployed for the second year in a row.
Oh Starry Night IV -- [SpouseBuzz - MaintToad1]
It's windy. Loads of dust in the air. The air isn't crisp, it's down right cold. There are aircraft flying and at times the noise is so all-encompassing, that you can't think straight. And "we're supposed to sleep under these conditions?"
It's Christmas Day. And the newbies, the FNGs in the theater, want everyone to have the day off. Besides, it's Christmas. We can't work on Christmas! Really? REALLY? So, incoming shouldn't be met with return actions -- simply because it's Christmas? Grow up or go away ... besides, I really do have something else on my mind.
Yes, it is Christmas
Blue Christmas -- [SpouseBuzz - SemperFi Wife - husband in Afghanistan]
The Dark Prince is deployed now. We're about 5 weeks into his deployment and things are kind of calming down here. Kind of.
Even though I'm over the craptacular specialness of the first month of deployment, there's another hurdle I must deal with: Christmas.
Me, Me, Me, Me -- [SpouseBuzz - She of the Sea]
That's it. I can't go out until my husband gets home. Or I need to learn better social skills. Because lately, everywhere I go, all we ever talk about is me. How long has he been gone? When is he coming back? How do you do it? When are you moving? What do the kids think? I appreciate everyone's interest, and I understand that it sounds odd and different to y'all civilian folks, but aren't you sick of talking about me? It is sort of like this, but different.
Is she lying in a ditch somewhere? -- [Household6 - husband in Afghanistan]
No, I'm NOT! We are still here in CO , healthy and pretty happy. It's just been a whirlwind couple of weeks. ...Anyway,I'm here and we are all doing great! Looking forward to Christmas! I'll be posting some cool stuff about SGT Daddy later today , so stay tuned for that! : )
Upcoming deployment -- [CaliValleyGirl]
It will be a very different deployment. We will face different challenges: this time he will be saying goodbye to two young children, and his beloved dog, Susie. When he leaves our daughter will just be learning how to sit up, and might have a tooth or two. When he comes back she will be walking and talking. And our son, who is just 17 months old now, will be almost 3 when he gets back. So my husband will be missing out on a lot of developmental stages.
Military Wife Prepares to Send Three Sons, Husband to Afghanistan -- [ABC]
Three of her four sons and her husband will soon deploy to war-torn Afghanistan while her fourth and oldest son recuperates at home from injuries he suffered during his last tour of duty.
peace -- [Learning to Live - Gold Star Wife]
Where to begin . . . I always wonder what I should write on this day. I just went back and read the post from the previous years and one thing really stood out in my mind. I have changed; I would say mainly for the better . . . I have grown . . . oh how I have grown and changed the last year. I don't know what to say but something has been weighing heavy in my heart the last few months. I always think about the soldiers in Alpha Company around this day. I worry about them and the long term effects Fallujah might have had or are having on their lives. I really hope that they are all able to live as happy a life as they can with NO guilt. I know that is exactly what Sean would want and it is exactly what I want. Colin and I are good . . . we are living life and always thinking about them and remembering those who did not make it home from that mission. I miss Sean being here to see our son grow, but I also know that he would be very proud of me . .
Raw Video: Troops in Iraq Celebrate Christmas
A USO Christmas Tradition -- [Ramblings from a painter - in Iraq]
Last night the USO brought a Christmas show to Victory Base. I went with a small group to have some fun. The turnout was good: several thousand soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, civilians, and contractors gathered by the stage near the Oasis DFAC. I was sitting in the bleachers with a bunch of junior soldiers and sailors - a rowdy bunch, to say the least, but enthusiastic and totally into the experience.
The lone rogue post -- [In the Narmy Now - in Iraq]
Yes, this has what the blog has evolved into. Lone rogue posts. Whether it be lack of motivation or excitement, I just haven't had much to write about I guess. Things here are good. We are now considering ourselves on the "home stretch" as we near the last 70-80 days left here. The consensus around here, for the most part, has been "can't wait to get out of here".
Thankful in Iraq -- [The Life - in Iraq]
This Thanksgiving, there is so much to be thankful for. I would like to begin by thanking each of you that read this for your interest in our cause.
NORAD ready to track Santa's flight on Christmas Eve -- [Veterans Journal]
A new feature begins at 3 a.m. on Dec. 24: visitors to the NORAD Tracks Santa Web site can watch Santa prepare his sleigh, check his list, and prepare for his journey.
As soon as Santa departs from the North Pole, children will be able to track him with up-to-the-minute Google Maps and Google Earth reports on the Web site. Santa trackers will begin answering phones and replying to e-mail at 7 a.m., on Christmas Eve.
Mrs. Clause Must be a Military Spouse -- [Loving A Soldier]
Ten reasons we know.
(Yes, we know there's not an "E" on the end of Santa Claus, but given the military's penchant for "clauses" we enjoyed the humor! We hope you do, too.)
Faced with the prospect of spending another holiday alone, military wives might recognize a kindred spirit this Christmas season: Mrs. Clause. She must be a military wife! How do we know?
1. Mrs. Clause supports her spouse. Because she works tirelessly as part of "Team Clause the general public defines her by his job. We military wives realize, though, that she is so much more!...
Terrorist attack today; Not a merry Christmas for passengers on Northwest flight 253 (Video) -- [The Examiner]
Based on a report from MSNBC, A Nigerian man by the name of Abdul Mudallad, 23, was traveling one way, without a return ticket to Detroit when he tried to light a powder aboard a commercial jetliner before it landed today--Christmas day.
Nigerian Terrorist Tried to Blow Up Plane Over Detroit on Christmas Day -- [Cleveland Leader]
The reason behind heightened security at airports across the United States over the holidays has been revealed to be a result of a foiled terrorist attack. Officials say that an Al-Qaeda linked terrorist attempted to blow up a commercial jet over Detroit on Friday, but was tackled by passengers as he attempted to explode a bomb.
An Obama Christmas -- [ABC News (blog)]
Though President Obama's Hawaiian Christmas Day holiday was interrupted when he was called to deal with "an attempted act of terrorism," the president spent
Army Halts Delivery of Christmas Gifts to Front Lines -- [Huffington Post]
"Mr. Edwards, We're not going to be able to get you to Jalalabad. Enemy activity has increased in the last few days, the troops are at it 24/7; and we don't have any televisions or audio/visual equipment at the Forward Operating Bases for you to show your film on and besides, Brigade doesn't have time to do the prep to get you down there."
...An onrush of thoughts suddenly freed up my mind; six months of work had been crammed into two frantic months, the soldiers' families had scrambled to help me assemble this "Surprise Christmas Present" for their troops, and all of us had been driven by the knowledge that the fun we had putting it together
Gold Star Christmas -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
To our Gold Star families, with love.
Merry Christmas from Heaven
I still hear the songs, I still see the lights
I still feel your love, on cold wintery nights
I still share your hopes, and all of your cares
I'll even remind you, to please say your prayers...
National Guard Troops Need $4,000 For Bus Trip -- [WSMV]
$9,000 Previously Secured Fell Through
Three buses are set to leave Monday Dec. 21 heading to Mississippi to pick up 130 members of the Tennessee Army National Guard. However, after the money fell through this week, those buses won't be making the trip unless $4,000 can be raised.
Last Sunday in Ashland City, tears were rolling down many faces when the 278th Calvary of the Tennessee Army National Guard departed.
Troops Make it Home in Time for Christmas -- [WLNS]
Dozens of Michigan soldiers have reunited with their families. Tuesday about 90 national guard soldiers returned home from training in Mississippi. The group will spend the holiday with their loved ones before they head out for a year long duty in Iraq.
But if it wasn't for the community, many of the soldiers would have been forced to celebrate Christmas away from home. It's a gift these soldiers are honored to receive.
Holiday cheer for veterans in hospital -- [Post Gazette] -
Richard Coccimiglio had many memorable moments on the American Legion Holiday Hospital Tour across the state, but one of the most poignant occurred in Pittsburgh.
The state contingent was accompanied for the day by five representatives of the 1,650-member American Legion Post 701 in White Oak.
"If it weren't for these people, we would be speaking a different language. It's an honor to do whatever we can do for them," said Bob Barker, 50, an unemployed mechanical engineer from Mc-Keesport, at the day's third stop -- the Oakland VA.
Christmas messages from the troops in Helmand -- [British Army Website]
Cpl Lee Martin, 31, from Swansea
"To Andrea and Elize, missing you loads. Can't wait to see you. Love you both. Also mum and Keith, can't wait to get home. Have a good Christmas, love from Lee. Xxx"
Fus Brae-Scott Williams, 26, from Swansea
"Sorry it's my fifth Christmas away I've been away. Don't know what else to say but hope you all get drunk and have one for me.
"Skyi, hope you OK. I've arrived safely and can't wait to get back there and spend every minute of my life with you. I'm one happy guy now I've met you and that promise I made you I ain't forgotten it. We are sure going xxx P.S. Missing you loads xxxx"
Sgt Darren Fryer, 35, from Colwyn Bay
"To my darling wife Alex and beautiful daughters Ellie, Alyssa and Bella, missing you all. Have a lovely Christmas. Thinking of you all. See you all soon. Love you loads. Xxxx"
Selly Oak's injured troops 'inundated' with presents -- [BBC]
Injured troops have been inundated with presents from the public
Military chiefs have asked well-wishers to stop sending Christmas presents to injured soldiers at Selly Oak Hospital because they already have too many.
The Birmingham hospital has received "hundreds and hundreds" of gifts, from bottles of whisky to DVD players.
Major Ian Cheesman said the support was "touching" and advised people to donate money to charity instead.
Secretary General's End Of Year Message To Deployed NATO-led Forces -- [ISAF]
As we approach the holiday season and the end of 2009, I should like to express my sincere gratitude to all of you who are deployed on NATO-led missions and operations, and my immense admiration for your professionalism, courage and dedication.
...It is understandable that in this festive season, you would wish to be at home with your families and loved ones. To those of you whose duties on behalf of the Alliance make this impossible, I should like you to know that whether you are deployed in Afghanistan, in the Balkans, in Iraq, on the Mediterranean Sea, or on the Indian Ocean off the Horn of Africa, my thoughts are very much with you.
I thank you all and send you my very best wishes for this holiday and for the New Year.
All Good Things Must End -- [Fire and Ice]
What can I say...it's been a great run since I first enlisted on June 11, 1975. I signed up that day alone in the haze of a hangover and under the shadow of dropping out of a third college. Last night I departed active duty in the presence of family and a wonderful circle of friends and comrades. I was completely sober and basking in the glow of a career full of many accomplishments. Thank you Marine Corps. Thank you God. Time to move on.
In a Christmas miracle, wounded Marine returns home for the holidays -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
...Stanz's homecoming is something of a miracle. Just four short months ago, it wasn't certain whether he'd survive the ambush attack that left him suffering from severe enclosed head trauma, multiple facial fractures, a fractured right hand, a fractured left foot, a dislocated right knee and damage to both of his lungs.
National Guard Troops Need $4,000 For Bus Trip -- [WSMV]
$9,000 Previously Secured Fell Through
Three buses are set to leave Monday Dec. 21 heading to Mississippi to pick up 130 members of the Tennessee Army National Guard. However, after the money fell through this week, those buses won't be making the trip unless $4,000 can be raised.
Last Sunday in Ashland City, tears were rolling down many faces when the 278th Calvary of the Tennessee Army National Guard departed.
Troops Make it Home in Time for Christmas -- [WLNS]
Dozens of Michigan soldiers have reunited with their families. Tuesday about 90 national guard soldiers returned home from training in Mississippi. The group will spend the holiday with their loved ones before they head out for a year long duty in Iraq.
But if it wasn't for the community, many of the soldiers would have been forced to celebrate Christmas away from home. It's a gift these soldiers are honored to receive.
Home Sweet Home, really this time! -- [There will never be sand in my... again! - home from Afghanistan]
...We are really happy to be home, although we were really happy to have the opportunity to see all, and I mean all, of our family and friends! It was exhausting for Shayna. On the way back across America I asked her what was the first thing she was going to do when we got home and she said she wanted to lock herself in the room to get away from me for about an hour, and then laughed. I guess I can be annoying sometimes, well probably a majority of times! haha. We are doing great, and no she didn't lock herself in the room.
Christmas in milblogs -- [Greyhawk] -
Beginning a series looking back at Christmases past, as brought to you by milbloggers.
Fûz (aka the Fusilier Pundit) was one of the first milbloggers. He's been blogging at WeckUpToThees since June, 2002. (Bonus points to those who know the blog title reference.)
(Need more? Dawn Patrols Archives are here.)
