Day 25 - Christmas Has Come

Awaking at 11am, I began to get dressed to head off for a lunch I would remember for the rest of my time in the military, if not the rest of my life. A few days earlier, I was asked to submit information on my job and responsibilities while serving here in Iraq. Not knowing the full extent of the request, I completed it and turned it in, never thinking too much about it. The previous day I found out that I would be a guest of honor for a very distinguished person – General David Petraeus, commander of Central Command (CENTCOM).

I had been one of ten individuals selected to dine with the 4-star General that afternoon. In all, there were six Marines, two Sailors, one Soldier, and myself. It was a huge honor to be selected to represent the Air Force here on this base for the high-visibility visit. Not only was this a success for the Air Force and my unit back home, this was a personal success for myself as well.

As the General entered the dining facility, surrounded by several armed military members, cameras began to flash. There were numerous photographers and videographers on scene, ready to capture every moment of the event. Walking around the table, he greeted each of us with a firm handshake, asking our names and where we worked. After being invited to sit, we were able to relax as he went around the table with questions for each of us.

Though I can’t go into detail about what was exactly discussed at the table, the one central theme most of us young warriors portrayed was how we celebrated Christmas in Iraq. For most, it was our first deployment. For others, it was their first time away from family for the holiday season. Varying in time, we were deployed between two and eleven months at the time. Some were weeks from going home. Others, like myself, still had several months ahead of them.

Seeing so many stars is an inspiring ordeal. Before me sat a man who had served for over 33 years, and was recently assigned the duty of the top commander for all of CENTCOM. Sharing his experiences, he divulged that he never believed he would make it to the rank he now holds. As he went around the table, there were a few of us who had aspirations to go from being enlisted to officers once we completed our bachelors degree.

Along with the General, there were also 3-Star Generals, 2-Star Generals, Colonels, and a host of other brass floating around, sitting within arms reach of us. As we dined and conversed, many made it a point to walk past our table to get a glimpse of what was going on, pulling out digital cameras to capture the moment as well. In an odd sense, I was not afraid to be in his presence. Yes, he was the one of the few people who could decide our future in Iraq, Afghanistan, and every other country covered in his command. At the same time, he was just that – a person.

After we had all dined on a great meal prepared by the dining facility staff, we stood next to the Christmas decorations to take several group photos. Before the blinding camera flashes took place, we were each presented with a General’s Coin. For those who know the tradition behind military coins, having a 4-star coin in your collection was something to be very proud of. As he stood splitting our group, five warriors on each side, dozens of photographer lined up before us, getting as many shots as they could before the General had to depart.

For Christmas, many will brag about gifts they received, compare monetary values, or compare presents with relatives and friends. For us here in Iraq, we had something to really brag about. We were serving a great country in a time of need, making the ultimate sacrifice of being away from loved ones, ensuring a better tomorrow. In the process, we also took home a coin that few can say they were personally presented by the Commander of CENTCOM. What a great way to spend a Christmas.