December 20
OPERATION SANTA
Patti Smith, Mother of two Marines deployed to Iraq in 2005 and 2007, organizer of Operation Santa in the Midwest.
During Josey’s first deployment, instead of exchanging Christmas gifts, my husband and I agreed to outfit our son’s platoon (forty Marines) each with a Christmas care package. Researching the internet for the best items to ship, a list was given to everyone I saw or knew along with a request for funds for shipping.
The task seemed insurmountable. But enough came in for two hundred Marines and we were just getting started. Operation Santa has grown to become the largest Christmas drive for the troops in the Midwest. Just three years later, by 2008, we shipped more than thirty thousand Christmas stockings to troops.
I serve as full-time volunteer for our beloved troops and veterans putting in fourteen-hour days working the telephone, Internet, and public speaking to raise awareness and funds. Operation Santa (www.operationsanta.info) is sponsored by Central Illinois Proud Families of Marines, a 501c3 organization which I co-founded, and for which I serve as president.
School children through senior citizens are involved with sewing stockings and writing personal notes. Businesses, civic clubs, veterans groups, families, individuals from all walks of life turn out to stuff the stockings. Our local Post Office comes to our location to pick up the boxes by the truckloads. Even postal workers stay after their shifts, unpaid, to help bring Christmas to the troops.
Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn of Illinois presented Operation Santa with the Home Front Hero Award. I personally have received the Commandant of the Marine Corps Quality Citizenship Recognition Award along with the Challenge Coin. Our local WEEK-TV, an NBC affiliate, named me one of twenty-five Women in Leadership in 2006 for Operation Santa efforts.
This has been the most terrifying, yet purposeful chapter of my life to date. However I intend to live the rest of my life serving our veteran community in some way for two reasons: in gratitude for their sacrifice and service and secondly, to pass on the torch of public service to younger generations. Freedom isn’t free!
Prayer:
Lord, show me opportunities to serve you stemming from the circumstances in which you have placed me.
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)
December 21
RAISING SPIRITS
Patti Smith, Mother of two Marines deployed to Iraq in 2005 and 2007, organizer of Operation Santa in the Midwest.
The thank you notes we receive from the troops themselves bring a tear to my eye every time. They express depression over the holidays, for some it is their first time away from home. Morale tends to be low over the holidays that causes distraction from their job and can put them in danger. For some, our stocking is the only Christmas present they receive. Here are just a couple notes of thanks for those serving in harm’s way:
I would like to thank Central Illinois Proud Families of Marines for all of their love, support, and concern over the past several months. As our time here passes, all of us miss home and the ones we love that much more. Add to this the holiday season which is a time that many of us see our families and friends more frequently, and feelings of loneliness and homesickness become even more prevalent. The cards, letters, and presents sent by all of you worked wonders to help raise the spirits of all of us that are here in Iraq.
We are very fortunate to have so many people that care enough to take the time and effort to think of us while we are out here. All of the Marines were surprised when they received stockings and that we also had a Christmas tree to enjoy.
It is incredible how much support we receive from back home. We are truly grateful for your support not only during the holidays but throughout the year. It’s amazing how the little things always go a long way. It is organizations and people like you that remind us why we do what we do.
Thank you and God Bless,
GySgt Dave Melka
Marine Wing Communications Squadron 48
Great Lakes, IL
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We recently received some stockings that you put together for us over Christmas. Thank you for your support during this holiday season. We appreciate all the goodies and warm thoughts you sent our way. It means everything to us to know that we are on your minds and hearts back home.
From the Marines and Sailors of 3rd Battalion
3rd Marines Detention Collecting Point, Camp Fallujah, Iraq.
Prayer:
Lord, show me how I might encourage someone else today.
“Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.” (Proverbs 25:25)
December 22
MAKING SACRIFICES WORTHWHILE
Patti Smith, Mother of two Marines deployed to Iraq in 2005 and 2007, organizer of Operation Santa in the Midwest.
Notes like the ones below prove our Operation Santa efforts worthwhile:
On behalf of my Marines and Sailors, I would like to take the time to thank you and everyone else responsible for the wonderful stockings. We truly appreciate this noble gesture because we can see that somebody took some of their personal time to make the stockings to include filling them. My men and women noticed this and were deeply touched by the kindness and generosity displayed. Gestures like these truly make everything we do worthwhile because it tells us that America cares about their men and women who are out here serving their country. Being away from our loved ones during the holidays is difficult, but we knew and understood the sacrifices we would be making when we signed on the dotted line. It truly is an honor and pleasure to serve our country. Once again, please thank every person who contributed to the wonderful stockings on behalf of the RED DRAGONS. We would also like to wish you and your families Happy Holidays and may God bless you all as well.
Sgt Maj Diaz, Red Dragons
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Men and Women of the Central Illinois Proud Families of Marines,
I received several boxes of stocking from your organization over the past couple weeks. Tonight I passed them out to my company. Needless to say, they were very well received. A small token from home goes a long way. For many of my Paratroopers, this will be their first Christmas away from home. For other Soldiers, like myself, it is yet another Christmas away from home (four years in a row I have spent Christmas in a new country!). For all of us, the stockings are a token demonstrating that there are great Americans back home who support us and make our daily sacrifices worthwhile…
Please continue the prayers as well, each one certainly makes a difference.
Respectfully, CPT Jeremy Riegel
Commander, HHC 173d Special Troops Battalion
Jalalabad, Afghanistan
It has been said “a child shall lead them…” and if it weren’t for my sons’ enlistment, this journey, although incredibly painful at times, would have never taken place. I have a depth that only comes through pain and sacrifice. My babies have become my heroes, and I cannot do enough for those who serve to defend the United States of America the greatest country in the world!
Prayer:
Father, show me where I can be making a difference in someone else’s life.
“Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
December 23
CHRISTMAS PEACE
Maj. Brandon Reid, United States Air Force
I have not been back to Southwest Asia since I left in 2003. I have, however, spent many additional months on the road since then. During these times there is always this one constant in my mind: my wife and children who I miss, but God is always there to help me through the pain of longing for my family. They are my compass.
In December 2005 I was two and a half months into a four-month deployment to the Philippines in support of the Global War on Terror. It was Christmas night. Like most America
ns, attending a Christmas Eve service has always been a central part of my Christmas celebration, whether at home or abroad. But this was the first time I didn’t attend. I couldn’t get myself into the Christmas spirit. As a matter of fact, I was quite bitter about the military, my surroundings, and life in general. Once self-pity sets in, it’s easy to let it build and believe that you’re the most pathetic person on earth. These beliefs aren’t true, however once again God was there to bring me out of my misery.
I had taped a picture of my daughters in their Christmas dresses next to my cot. While I had been praying to God each day, they were often empty prayers. However, after talking with my wife on a satellite phone I went to sulk on my cot. Upon looking at the picture, I closed my eyes, started to say a few words, and stopped. I didn’t feel like thanking God at all. After about thirty seconds, guilt came over me. I closed my eyes again. At that time the God’s spirit came over me, stabilizing me. I felt a closeness that I hadn’t felt in weeks. He was with me at my most troubling time. I felt refreshed and reassured that whatever the challenges of the next two months, the Lord would walk with me and see me through; I simply had to have faith and be assured of God’s promise that he would with me no matter what was ahead.
Prayer:
May I constantly remember those in my inner circle, lifting them up in prayer to you.
“I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy.” (2 Timothy 1:3)
December 24
CHRISTMAS IN CHAOS
Chaplain Col. Gene (Chip) Fowler, U.S. Army, Command Chaplain for Combined Joint Task Force 7
From an email newsletter dated December 23, 2004:
The ancient city of Nineveh is in the news today. Modern day Mosul experienced the largest single coalition casualty event in the war we call “Operation Iraqi Freedom.” An explosion in a dining facility killed more than twenty and injured more than sixty people. Many were U.S. soldiers; some were U.S. and Third Country National civilians. Every death is a tragedy as it reminds us of the price of the sin of Eden. To have so many die during the Holy Season of Christmas seems to deepen the pain of grief, but as the Command Chaplain for the Multinational Corps forces in Iraq, I was deeply satisfied at the response of our chaplain teams. Immediately, they arrived and began crisis ministry taking care of wounded, giving Last Rites or Prayers for the dead, consoling the traumatized, and providing spiritual nurture and encouragement to all in the midst of tremendous chaos.
I can’t help but wonder on a larger scale isn’t this the ultimate result of the Christmas story? God coming in the midst of human tragedy to provide loving care to wounded hearts, consolation to grieving souls, and abiding encouragement in the hope that there stands over the human drama of life a ray of light emanating from a star. A star that bodes for us all an ultimate peace in his love. A love so simple and pure as to find itself in the bosom of a Babe in Bethlehem. Out of the awful traumas of humanity, he is indeed the Hope of the world. May this Christmas carry more meaning for us as the Light of the World helps us see more clearly the hope that lies ahead Peace on earth and goodwill among mankind.
Prayer:
Lord, in today’s troubled world, may we look to you as our Prince of Peace, the only source of true comfort.
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)
December 25
CHRISTMAS IN A COMBAT ZONE
Capt. Stuart Zeigler, U.S. Army, Afghanistan (2007–2008)
On Christmas Day of 2007, I once again found myself on a rather remote operating base in Southern Afghanistan. I woke up that morning very homesick and feeling far from my family and especially Amanda. I remember praying for some sort of worship opportunity to celebrate the birth of my Savior. The evening prior we were told that there would be no worship service due to the fact that we were too far from any major base and there weren’t enough military chaplains to go around.
As the day started a fellow believer and I made plans to conduct our own worship later that afternoon. At about ten in the morning I walked to our Tactical Operations Center (TOC) to handle some routine paperwork when I noticed two helicopters appear on our computer tracking device about twenty miles away and heading toward our base. This struck me as odd because there were no scheduled flights in our area for that day.
Several minutes later a pilot came over the radio to let us know that the “chaplain bird” was inbound and that the chaplain would be on the ground for fifteen to twenty minutes to conduct Christmas worship. I instantly ran to find my fellow believer and the two of us practically ran down to greet the helicopters. Two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters landed and out jumped ther other Army chaplains (one a Catholic priest and one a Protestant pastor).
So for me, Christmas Day 2007 was spent with a chaplain who had flown four hundred miles to conduct a fifteen-minute worship service complete with communion and seven other believers. God answers prayer. The helicopters circled the base for twenty minutes while the battlefield pastors worshipped and then picked up the chaplains and continued on to another remote base to conduct worship with more soldiers even further down range then we were. I will never forget Christmas worship with a rifle and helmet near a helipad in southern Afghanistan as evidence of God at work in a combat zone.
Prayer:
Lord, increase my faith that you hear and answer prayer according to your good will.
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24)
December 26
CHRISTMAS HOPE
Maj. Janis Dashner, Chaplain, United States Air Force
“Because of the danger that is still ever present here, I have not been able to see much of the area. The one sight that surprised me was the two signs in the airport pointing toward the Nineveh terminal and the Babylon terminal. Just for the record I didn’t get here in the belly of a whale, but in the belly of a C-17, which in the dark of night on a blacked out runway could be mistaken for a whale,” Chaplain Janis Dashner wrote in her Christmas letter to her friends in 2003. Although she had been deployed to the Middle East twice, she never expected to be deployed in Iraq.
“My ministry here is more rewarding than I ever imagined. Nightly young troops come through our medical facility. Many have injuries that will change the way they live their lives forever. Some are critically injured, but with great skill, care, and prayer they are stabilized and flown out of this place to Germany, and hopefully home soon,” she wrote.
Dashner considered it a privilege to spend time with these young men and women, noting that many hoped to return to their units.
“All of us will return home different people, I fear, and I hope,” she continued.
Dashner understood the realities of the battlefield, the danger of injury and death. Yet she also knew the blessing the power of God to transform hearts in the midst of war.
“Miracles abound here. Our base has been hit three times by missiles in the last two weeks and we experienced a ground attack the night after the announcement that Saddam was captured. Even still we have been safe and there is a feeling of security. In this austere setting, not too many complain about the long hours, port-a-potties and bad food,” she noted.
“Everywhere there is an eagerness to bring hope and peace to this troubled, troubled land. Just when I am tempted to question the reason I am called to do this, I find a young person reaching for my hand and thanking me for a simple prayer and I am humbled by their faith.” Dashner concluded her letter with a request. “During this Christmas season I ask you to pray for Peace that it might be real and swift in coming to this land and to the world,” adding “with Christmas Hope.”
Prayer:
F
ather, I pray for peace in the world’s most troubled places today. I pray encouragement for those who are serving in our military in far away lands, who need comfort and strength.
“This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:12)
December 27
NIGHT JUMP
Staff Sgt. Christopher Taffoya, U.S. Army, Iraq (2003–2004)
March 26, 2003. It was the dead of night, but sleep was the furthest thing from my mind. The war in Iraq officially began just days ago, and my brigade and I were sitting at the airfield in Aviano, Italy, rigging up our rucksacks, preparing for a night jump. We were to open up the northern front.
It would be my first night jump. Rehearsing all the possibilities the next few hours held, I was scared out of my mind.
I suddenly remembered an elder from our church base saying once read Psalm 91, the soldier’s psalm. He was a Viet Nam veteran and had told us that this psalm had gotten him through the war.
So as I’m sitting on my rucksack, waiting for time to go by, I must have read Psalm 91 a hundred times. Verses five and six stated, “You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness…”
What does that mean to me? I wondered. Then it hit me. It seemed to tell me, Do not fear what you’re about it do, because you’re going to be the terror of the night, and when day comes, you will be the arrow that flies by day. So what do you have to fear?
Stories of Faith and Courage from the War in Iraq and Afghanistan Page 49