Ive been thinking about the Christmases I’ve been away from home serving in the Navy. I remember the best Chrismas present I ever got – a box full of my mom’s homemade cookies, waiting for me in Hong Kong in 1991. I remember having breakfast with Matt Feath the morning I discovered I was an uncle – my sister’s son Reid was born. I remember standing quarterdeck watch aboard the USS Elliot on Christmas Day with the Hong Kong skyline above me all decked out with Christmas decorations: amusing in a predominately Buddhist country. I remember coming off a long midwatch and feeling homesick, but rather than mope I decided to trade a few minutes of sleep for a picture with Santa Claus. That picture still makes me smile.
Reading about the suicide bombing in the Mosul mess hall made me think about those holidays I was away. At least I was confident I would see another Christmas.
I hope they all come home, and soon.