The leadership from the 6-9 Armored Reconnaissance Squadron, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, serves Christmas dinner which was prepared by the cooks from Company D, 215th Forward Support Company, at the Forward Operating Base Normandy dining facility, Dec. 25. (U.S. Army photo by By 1st Lt. Thomas J. Radabaugh, 6-9 Armored Reconnaissance Squadron, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division)


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SR# 122606-01
Dec. 26, 2006

By 1st Lt. Thomas J. Radabaugh
6-9 Armored Reconnaissance Squadron, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

FORWARD OPERATING BASE NORMANDY -- The day started like most Christmas mornings do. Some people woke up early to open their gifts, while others conducted gift exchanges. Some, who had stayed up late the night before at Christmas parties, chose to sleep in.

This was no ordinary Christmas, however. For some of the 6-9 Armored Reconnaissance Squadron, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Soldiers on Forward Operating Base Normandy, in the Diyala province of Iraq, Christmas morning marked the end of a long, cold night of guard duty.

For many Soldiers it was their first Christmas away from home and family. Most of the Soldiers tried to carry on traditions from home; hanging decorations and playing Christmas music. Some pulled out their Santa hats for this special day, while others opened boxes marked, “do not open until Christmas.”

“I sat around the fire with friends and reminisced.” said Sgt. Bradley Steptoe, C Troop, 6-9 ARS, and a native of Houston.

While each person carried on their own traditions, the dining facility carried the most holiday spirit. The “Blacksmith” Soldiers from D Co., 215th Forward Support Company, along with the workers from Tamimi Tafga (the dining facility contractor) spent days preparing the Christmas meal, the decorations, and the desserts.

“We started making the decorations seven to eight days out, and the baking began three to four days out,” said Staff Sgt. Jose Roman, the First Cook with Co. D, 215th FSC. “Everyone pitched in equally. The Tamimi workers and the Soldiers both worked on the baking and the decorations. It brought us great satisfaction to be able to improve the morale and to give the Soldiers a feeling of home. They deserve it.”

Like elves, the Blacksmith troops worked all through the night on Christmas Eve, but the hard work paid off. “I enjoyed seeing everyone’s reaction when they first came into the dining facility,” said Pfc. Jacques Bruce, Co. D, 215th FSC, and a native of Marysville, Calif. “I spent two days decorating a snowman cake. I wanted it to be just right.” This was Bruce’s first Christmas away from home. “I dealt with it by staying busy with work.”

While she stayed busy, Bruce still kept family close at heart.

“I’d like to tell my family I love them and miss them,” Bruce said, “I’ll be home soon!”

The Christmas dinner lived up to everyone’s expectations, and brought a little piece of home to FOB Normandy. For the Soldiers of 6-9 ARS, the Blacksmith crew made it an unforgettable experience.



The leadership from the 6-9 Armored Reconnaissance Squadron, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, serves Christmas dinner which was prepared by the cooks from Company D, 215th Forward Support Company, at the Forward Operating Base Normandy dining facility, Dec. 25. (U.S. Army photo by By 1st Lt. Thomas J. Radabaugh, 6-9 Armored Reconnaissance Squadron, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division)


Soldiers from the 6-9 Armored Reconnaissance Squadron, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, were able to enjoy desserts such as this snowman cake made by Pfc. Jacques Bruce, Company D, 215th Forward Support Company, during their Christmas meal on Forward Operating Base Normandy. “I spent two days decorating a snowman cake. I wanted it to be just right,” said Bruce. (U.S. Army photo by By 1st Lt. Thomas J. Radabaugh, 6-9 Armored Reconnaissance Squadron, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division)