Some of them slept in beds in barracks. Some of them slept on cots in tents. Some of them slept on the floor of warehouses. Some of them stayed up all night on guard duty. Waking to their Christmas morning already has happened. It came in Middle Eastern time zones while Santa was placing presents under our Christmas trees.

Most of them don&8217;t get Christmas trees. If they do, it&8217;s probably a fake tree inside a secured zone and away in the corner where only Americans will encounter it. Santa probably sent his gifts in the mail earlier this month.

Perhaps they are playing football in the desert sand with platoon buddies right now. They could be driving a truck from one town to another right now. They might be catching up on sleep or doing laundry in a bucket.

Or maybe they are sitting down to a special Christmas Day dinner. For some, it is a steak dinner with mashed potatoes, fixed by the battalion cooks. For others, it is a Meal Ready to Eat or T-rations &8212; each with the opposite effect on their innards. And for the rest it is something in-between and probably bland. They won&8217;t get grandma&8217;s apple pie or mom&8217;s stuffing. They won&8217;t see the excited eyes of the children in their family on Christmas Day.

But they will celebrate Christmas, and each and every soldier, sailor, airman and Marine will do it in his or her own way.

Be sure to think of their sacrifices while we enjoy our blessings on this holy day.