American Troops Share in the Holiday Spirit over Christmas Eve Dinner in Afghanistan

U.S. troops stationed in Afghanistan took a short break from the frontline to celebrate Christmas Eve dinner among what many call their ‘second family,’ some 7,000-miles from home.

The men and women in Kabul’s U.S.-led coalition base dined among decorative paper snowmen, Christmas trees and Santa Clauses while underneath them their weapons temporarily rest, tucked beneath their seats.

Walking through the dinner line, some readily carried their assault rifles slung over their shoulders – a sign of work as usual – while outside some soldiers walked around wearing traditional red and white Santa hats.

American troops are serving their 12th Christmas in Afghanistan this year, with approximately 66,000 troops currently serving in Afghanistan.

‘When we’re here we try to put the family aside and not dwell on being away from them,’ Capt. Ray Davidson, the chaplain at outpost Arian told USA Today. ‘And then Christmas comes,’ he said of many soldiers’ shared pain at being away.

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