Holidays During Wartime
American servicemembers serve for peace on earth.
By Col. Warren S. Lacy, USA-Ret.

As we celebrate this holiday season, thousands of American servicemembers will be on duty, far removed from their families and friends. Three years into the war on terrorism, Iraq and Afghanistan still draw the biggest headlines. But don’t forget our forces — active component, National Guard, and Reserve — keeping peace in the Balkans and in the Pacific; serving on ships at sea; and holding down posts in Korea, Germany, Japan — so many places so far from home.

Of course, it’s always tough for families to be separated. But when it happens during the holidays, it’s that much more difficult to take. If you’re reading this magazine, you’ve probably been there, done that. Either as a servicemember or family partner, you no doubt remember at least one holiday when you couldn’t be with your loved ones. Sometimes those occasions stick in our minds because of the pain of separation. But often we remember them because of something special — some extra effort — that made that holiday memorable.

I recall my infantry company in Southeast Asia coming in from the jungle on Christmas day for a treat at an artillery fire base. The mess daddy sculpted a “turkey” from some barely edible substance scooped from an oversized tin can. We decorated bunkers with makeshift ornaments. DJs played holiday tunes on the military radio network. We sang carols. We missed our families, but somehow we felt closer to each other and our loved ones far away.

For this month’s magazine, we decided to pursue the theme of holidays during wartime: How American military men and women have faced harsh conditions to ensure that the next holiday will be spent not in some foreign land but in the company of those they love the most. Beginning on page 56, we offer five first-person accounts of the holidays during wartime. Some are dramatic; others, inspirational. All of them illustrate the dedication and ingenuity of our military forces.

Our holiday story is about service and caring, duty and sacrifice. Another story also is about service and caring: service to military families and caring for our youth. Financing a college education is a challenge for any family. It’s even more difficult for the children of military parents. Frequent moves and overseas duty can make receiving scholarships and financial aid more difficult. For this reason, the association established The Scholarship Fund of MOAA to help students of military families earn their educations and follow in their parents’ footsteps. Check out the story, "Invest in Tomorrow".

As most of us celebrate the upcoming holidays with family and friends, our thoughts go out to those who will be on duty this year defending freedom and advancing the cause of peace on earth. Have a happy and safe holiday season — no matter where you are!