Christmas, 2005

Marines and sailors sing Christmas Carols outside the Camp Chapel, Dec. 24, 2005


Our Cammie-netting Christmas tree outside of DFAC-1, Camp Fallujah


Serving line decorations inside the Dining Facility


LtCol. Pat Carroll plays "Jingle Bells" atop building 33 on Christmas Day, 2005 at Camp Fallujah


LtCol Craig Covert, Christmas Day, 2005 Camp Fallujah, Iraq

Today is Christmas day. Despite being away from home, most Marines have tried to get into the Christmas spirit. Decorations are everywhere around the camp, hanging in offices, living quarters and work spaces. The dining facility staff set up a Christmas tree next to the serving line and hung decorations from the ceiling. Outside the chowhall, a makeshift Christmas tree stands near the entrance, camouflage netting filling in for pine needles. It was pretty funny watching the TCN’s, or third country nationals, trying to construct the tree. The workers, most of them Iraqi, Indian or Filipino, stood around the tree in a gaggle and argued about what a Christmas tree should actually look like. I imagine they received their marching orders from one of the dining facility managers who’d merely told them to construct a Christmas tree for the troops. A recording of Christmas music plays continuously on a looped soundtrack, sounding like a broken record playing under water. Even funnier are the Marines who jump into the sleigh and start yelling at the reindeer to take them to the North Pole. The tree and music gives everyone a chuckle.

Some Marines express their Christmas spirit in more unique ways. Just an hour ago, I heard the distant sound of Christmas carols outside the building I share with the 6th Provisional CAG. I stepped outside and found the music was coming from the rooftop. Climbing a ladder on the side of our building, I found several Marines from the CAG taking photos and listening to LtCol. Patrick Carroll play Christmas carols on his bagpipes. There’s nothing like the sound of bagpipes playing to send a shiver up and down your spine, even if it is a Christmas carol instead of Taps or a battle hymn.