Story by: Pfc. Mike Pryor
BAGHDAD -- It was the night before Christmas and not a creature was stirring . . . at least not on Pfc. Oscar Marquez" watch.
Christmas was a holiday for most Americans, but it was just another work day for Marquez and the other paratroopers of the 3rd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division deployed to Iraq, who spent the holidays manning traffic control points, conducting patrols, and in some cases in combat.
Marquez and his squad from Company A were responsible for guarding a control point in Baghdad's International Zone Christmas Eve. Spc. William Watson was manning the gun turret on the humvee blocking the entrance. A little after midnight, he called down to Marquez.
"Hey Marquez. Merry Christmas," Watson said. "It's your turn."
"Yeah, Merry Christmas," replied Marquez as he climbed up.
That was it. No presents, no Christmas carols, no eggnog, no nothing. The two men just switched places and went back to work.
That kind of reaction was typical among the paratroopers of the 3-325 AIF. They've become accustomed to spending Christmas away from their friends and families. Almost half of the battalion was In Iraq last Christmas on another deployment. The year before that, the battalion was on immediate recall status at Fort Bragg, N.C., and couldn't take leave.
Veteran paratroopers like Sgt. Richard Mouser, a squad leader with Mortars Platoon, Headquarters Company, are used to missing Christmas.
"By this point, I'm just like, eh, it's another Christmas," said Mouser with a shrug of his shoulders.
This was the third Christmas in a row Mouser, spent away from his home in Indianapolis. Instead, he spent Christmas Eve on a rooftop observation post, watching the Baghdad skyline for snipers, smoke from explosions and other notable activity. Mouser said Christmas did make him miss his family and girlfriend, but not more than he usually does.
"It's just another day," he said.
Not every paratrooper was able to maintain such a detached attitude.
Pvt. Charles Dexter of Company A, who is on his first deployment, said he was finding the holiday season hard to deal with.
Since joining the Army, Dexter has carried a photo of his wife with him wherever he goes. He writes her as often as he can, and ends every letter with "I love you, always and forever," Dexter said.
Being apart from her is always hard, but not being able to be with her during the holidays really hurts, he said.
Spc. Michael Fink of Company C, who spent Christmas day on patrol in the drizzling rain, summed up his feelings about spending the holidays in Baghdad in one phrase.
"Bah humbug," he said.
But missing Christmas because of a deployment is no reason to be a scrooge, said Staff Sgt. Norbert White, supply sergeant, Company C.
"As Soldiers it's important to take the time to remember the day, even as the mission continues. You have to embrace it," White said.
White didn't let the fact that he was in Iraq keep him from carrying out his traditional holiday routine. On Christmas Eve, he watched the movie It's A Wonderful Life, sang Christmas carols, and held a candlelight religious service, just like he would have back home, he said.
Paratroopers are trained to adapt and overcome all kinds of bad situations. Christmas deployments are just another thing they have to learn to deal with, said Staff Sgt. William Hutchens, Battery C, 2nd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division.
"Everyone's coming to grips with it," Hutchens said. "Hey, it's the 82nd, it's what were" going to do."
| Date Taken: | 01.11.2005 |
| Date Posted: | 01.11.2005 10:24 |
| Story ID: | 832 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 51 |
| Downloads: | 20 |
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