By Edward Lee Pitts
Military Affairs
CAMP CALDWELL, Iraq -- At 4:30 a.m. Christmas Day, the platoon of 278th Regimental Combat Team soldiers got out of bed. But there were no presents under any tree, and 90 minutes later, the soldiers with 1st Squadron's Headquarters Battery were out in the streets of Iraq on reconnaissance patrol.
Other than a brief Christmas prayer, it was business as usual, ac-cording to Staff Sgt. Richard Spencer, 38, of Knoxville.
"We had our eyes open because it was Christmas, and we thought they might target us," said Staff Sgt. Spencer, who spent his first Christmas in 10 years away from home. "We take it pretty serious. There is a real threat out there."
While his wife and three children were visiting their grandmother's house in North Carolina, Staff Sgt. Spencer's unit had to clear the main supply routes for IEDs, or improvised explosive devices, before the day's traffic began.
Passing a funeral procession and a road filled with holes insurgents had dug to plant bombs did not dampen Spc. Tim Cogar's Christmas cheer. From his spot in the gunner's hatch on his Humvee's roof, Spc. Cogar began yelling "Merry Christmas" to anyone in sight. Then at the top of his voice came renditions of "Silver Bells," "Jingle Bells" and "O Holy Night" as the patrol drove through towns with underdeveloped utilities, no running water and a total lack of public sanitation.
Spc. Cogar said the Iraqi people near the town of Jiser Naft did not seem dismayed by the sight of a soldier singing and smiling while cradling a .50-caliber machine gun. A few even waved back.
"I thought to myself that we are doing something good here, so I'm not going to let it get me down," he said. "I wanted to remind them what day it was."
He said he woke up feeling a little down about being away for the holidays. But hearing his 9-month-old daughter, Skylar, garble out something close to the word "Daddy" over the phone from Knoxville, where it was still Christmas Eve, boosted his spirits.
"Christmas is my favorite time of the year," he said. "When December rolls around, I start getting excited."
The soldiers on Spc. Cogar's patrol said they enjoyed his performance, although they probably wouldn't buy any of his CDs.
"It made me actually feel like I was home for a little bit," said Spc. Brad Bishop, 26, of Knoxville.
A steady morning rain kept local traffic light and even cut the mission short, giving the platoon a chance to make it back to camp in time for the lavish Christmas Day meal.
Mess hall servers, wearing Santa hats, dished out mounds of roasted turkey, smoked ham, prime rib and Cornish hens. Bowls of shrimp, bottle upon bottle of Welch's sparkling grape juice and cakes in holiday shapes complemented the main courses. Chefs decorated the tables with carved watermelons, stuffed turkeys and ice sculptures.
While the weather allowed Staff Sgt. Spencer's team to return early, the wet day forced the 278th soldiers to navigate through the muddy quagmire created when a steady rain pounds the desert.
"I wish it were snow," said Cpl. David Young, 30, of Sparta, Tenn.
With dismal weather and full bellies, most 278th soldiers spent the afternoon relaxing indoors, watching movies or trying to read a book before succumbing to naps. By early evening soldiers waited in line for an hour or more to get 30 minutes of phone time.
Sgt. William "Heavy" Cagle, a combat medic from Athens, Tenn., wrote the words to a 278th version of the "Twelve Days of Christmas." The lyrics included 10 mortar rounds, six shots of anthrax vaccine, five IEDs, and one hillbilly up-armored vehicle.
By dinner time, the mess hall was serving leftovers, something several soldiers joked made them feel more at home.
After finishing his meal, Spc. Kirk Kinamon scampered off to track down a rumor that Santa Claus had braved a combat zone to make an appearance here.
Spc. Kinamon, 23, of Knoxville, said it would give him the chance to send one more present home.
Growing up terrified of the man in the jolly red suit meant Spc. Kinamon's mother has no pictures of her boy posing with Santa.
"Now I'm going to e-mail her and say, 'Look, Mom, I'm not afraid of Santa anymore now that I have my M-4 (rifle).'"
E-mail Lee Pitts at lpitts@timesfreepress.com
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