Troops in Iraq find Christmas in memories

by 158 | December 26, 2008 at 07:30 am

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In addition to other hardships and

dangers the troops in Iraq must

face the fact of spending the

Christmas holidays away from their

families, wives, children, parents.

With a more than 80 percent drop in violence in Iraq — attacks are down from 180 a day last year to about 10 a day this year, there are reasons for soldiers to be hopeful. The U.S. military, though, has acknowledged the improved security conditions remain fragile.

Sgt. Major David Dantzler lost 19 men during his last deployment. This time, he said, there have been no casualties.

It's perhaps in that spirit, that Dantzler for weeks has been asking soldiers if they mailed Christmas cards home, if they put up decorations, if they picked up holiday care packages mailed by strangers half a world away