Merry

[MARINEVET]

CHRISTmas Greetings to All from Afghanistan!

Net has been up/down (crashes at the most inopportune times) but gonna try to do a cut and paste of an EMail I sent to some folks a few hours ago. Let's see IF it will work

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It has been 37 years since I spent my last CHRISTmas in a combat environment. That said, and except for being a little (well...a lot) older, and hopefully somewhat wiser, many of the emotions are still the same, and in some cases, even more pronounced.

It is one thing to be separated from loved ones and friends simply by distance, but quite another to also be separated by circumstance (combat) and a great difference in the surrounding culture. On this "tour," I'm feeling the effects of all three of these factors!

Here's something interesting and positive I want to share...all the Merry CHRISTmas (most use the term "Happy Christmas") wishes I've received from the many Afghan people I deal with on a daily basis...our Interpreters, soldiers of the Afghan National Army, etc. These folks don't HAVE to even acknowledge this very special Holiday to Christians, but they have gone well out of their way to share their greetings and well wishes with me for a "Happy Christmas"...!

One of our former "Terps" called me on the phone from Kabul to wish me a Merry Christmas, and others have sent E-Cards...very heart warming and most encouraging. In that regard, I'm attaching the text from an E-card sent by our #2 Terp, Mr. Hadi, as well as a photo of him and me at a planning session. Mr. Hadi, and young folks like him (he's only about 22), are the hope of the future here in Afghanistan, and the world! He and our other Terps are at great risk working with us, yet they do it gladly hoping for a better world in which to live! EDIT NOTE: NOT ATTACHING MR. H's PHOTO...NOT A GOOD IDEA GIVEN CURRENT SECURITY SITUATION THEY LIVE UNDER.


Yup, it's been 37 years since I spent a CHRISTmas Eve in combat. Cold & Rainy here in Kandahar tonite...was Cold (for Vietnam) and foggy on ZULU Relay (a bleak hilltop) in the A Shau Valley, where I was the OIC of the 3d Force Recon Co Radio Relay site, on Dec 24, 1969. A lot has changed since then, tech-wise (and it IS warm and dry here in my room), but as I mentioned earlier, so very much stays the same. We're expecting the Bad Guys to do something here over the next day or so (incoming or whatever)...folks have warned us about same...JUST AS DID (then) Maj Alex Lee, our famed Boss in 3d Force...when he sent a CHRISTmas message to the Company...to those in the rear and those of us in the field (and HE TOO was in the field)...ending his message by warning us to be very wary of small men bearing gifts...!!!!

The NVA didn't hit us that CHRISTmas Eve night..."stuff hit the fan" on ZULU a nite or so later, which made for some interesting times for those of us perched atop that hill, but not that CHRISTmas Eve nite back in 1969...there was Peace on Earth and Good Will Towards Men...at least on our hilltop...at least that nite!

Merry CHRISTMAS to all from the Cold & Muddy Sands of Kandahar,

Wayne

Wayne V. Morris
Col USMC (Ret)

President
WAYMOR Inc