Publication:Chattanooga Times Free Press
Date:Saturday, December 25, 2004
Section:Front Page; Page:1

DISPATCH Iraq

By Edward Lee Pitts Military Affairs

CAMP CALDWELL, Iraq — The 15 carolers didn’t let the desolate location ruin their Christmas spirit.

Despite the lack of snow among the sand and rocks of this desert camp, the soldiersingers held red and green military chem-lites to add a holiday glow as they belted out seasonal tunes to their 278th Regimental Combat Team counterparts.

"This is a piece of home for us out here in Iraq," said Spc. Sarai Lajas-Johnson, 24, from Cleveland, Tenn., who organized the event after spending recent meals singing Christmas classics at the mess hall entrance. "Christmas caroling is something we always do at home, so we might as well do it here."

The night carolers represented one of the few signs of the holiday season here. With a brigade of North Carolina National Guard soldiers packing for home while the Tennessee-based 278th soldiers settle into new jobs, celebrating the season is not on a lot of people’s minds.

"I know people are trying, and I give them credit, but it is hard to get fired up about Christmas when you are so far away," said Staff Sgt. John Coppa, 47, of Cookeville, Tenn.

Soldiers said the holiday season has gone largely unnoticed even inside the base chapel.

"I didn’t even know it was Christmas until they asked me to put these presents under the tree," said Sgt. Chris Milligan, a chaplain’s assistant from Athens, Tenn., as he unloaded a box of wrapped gifts sent from his home state.

Families back home also are coping with the absences. Sgt. Barry Kincaid’s family sent him a series of pictures showing his two children putting up the Christmas tree.

"I’ve never missed a Christmas until this one," said the 39-year-old Benton, Tenn., resident. But Sgt. Ricky Parker, 50, of Knoxville, said he got a letter from his wife, Cathy, this week telling him the family will not put up its traditional cedar tree this year.

"Her exact words were that is my job," he said.

Soldiers here are being showered with packages, some containing strict instructions not to open until Christmas. The mail center for the regiment this week received nine 20-foot shipping containers each holding about 400 packages, according to Capt. Pete Rayls, the commander of a Germany-based personnel services detachment. He said the post office also received about 25,000 letters in the last two weeks.

"On Sunday I got 10 times the amount of letter mail that I normally do," he said.

Sgt. Mike LaBudie, 39, of Etowah, Tenn., received 11 packages this week stuffed with a CD player, DVD movies and lots of junk food. However, Sgt. LaBudie said, he didn’t get the item he needed most for Christmas.

"I’ve got six pair of underwear, so I’m one day short," he said.

But the 278th won’t spend today just opening gifts. Platoons of soldiers still will journey outside the base looking for roadside bombs and armed insurgents.

Inside a door decorated with Christmas cards designed by school children, soldiers with the regimental reconnaissance unit monitor these dangerous patrols. "For me it is just another day," said Sgt. 1st Class Tony Powell of Knoxville, whose granddaughter, Taylor, sent him a paper reindeer using cutouts of her hands for antlers. "You can’t think about something like that when you still have missions going out." Sgt. Sean Witcher, of Clarksville, Tenn., said he has to stay focused on monitoring radios and maps even though his wife, Kendalyn, is expecting the couple’s first child sometime in the next few weeks.

"My life is changing," he said. "But there is not a whole lot I can do about being over here."

Spc. Shawn Maples, 21, of Seymour, Tenn., said his missions so far have involved more humanitarian aid than combat. He has handed out pencils and taught Iraqi children basic math and English. This adds a whole new meaning to the Christmas tradition, he said.

"This is a mission trip," he said. "We are carrying weapons, but we are also giving them educational weapons with school supplies. We are showing them another side of America that they don’t see on the television station Al-Jazeera."

During a recent helicopter ride around the region, Staff Sgt. Robby Miller, of Athens, Tenn., said seeing the desert lands that are reported to be the setting of many Old Testament events reminded him of the religious meaning of Christmas. Such thoughts often get lost in all the glitter and gifts of the season, he said.

"You just see the Bible out there, and it comes alive," he said. Spc. Burns Stephens, 31, of Benton, Tenn., said he will miss the familiar secular tradition of Santa Claus and "seeing my kids’ faces in the morning when they get up and see their presents underneath the tree."

"That makes my whole day," he said.

For newlywed Sgt. Kenneth McDevitt, 29, of Smyrna, Tenn., starting such holiday rituals with his new wife, Heather, will have to wait one more year. His family celebrated the holidays early, with Sgt. McDevitt receiving the first gift from his wife — a Gameboy Advance for all the idle time he will have to spend here in the desert during the next year.

E-mail Lee Pitts at lpitts@timesfreepress.com

U.S. Army Photos by Staff Sgt. Russell Lee Klika Members of the 278th Regimental Combat Team attend a Christmas Eve service in Iraq.

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