U.S., Coalition Troops Celebrate Christmas in Afghanistan

Department of Defense Photo Essay

  • U.S. Army 1st Lt. Nicole Utley decorates her desk on Forward Operating Base Farah, Afghanistan, Dec. 15, 2012. Utley, an assistant operations officer, is assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team Farah. U.S. Navy photo by Lt. j.g. Matthew Stroup
  • U.S. soldiers and sailors unload care packages and Christmas gifts during mail call on Forward Operating Base Farah, Afghanistan, Dec. 15, 2012. The soldiers and sailors are assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team Farah. U.S. Navy photo by Lt. j.g. Matthew Stroup
  • U.S. soldiers take time from their maintenance schedule to read Christmas letters and put up decorations sent by school children in one of the maintenance hangars on Forward Operating Base Fenty, Afghanistan, Dec. 13, 2012. The soldiers are assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Duncan Brennan
  • Santa Claus gives a Christmas stocking to wounded warrior U.S. Army Spc. Joseph Beldon at the Craig Joint Theater Hospital on Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Dec. 19, 2012. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. David J. Overson
  • Santa Claus gives Christmas stockings to U.S. coalition doctors and nurses at the Craig Joint Theater Hospital on Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Dec. 19, 2012. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. David J. Overson
  • U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Joshua Byrd, left, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Brad Leja, center, and U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Gary Yurgans, right, perform during a show for the 451st Expeditionary Communications Squadron on Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Dec. 20, 2012. Byrd, Leja, and Yurgans, musicians, are assigned to the U.S. Air Forces Central Band "Total Force." U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder
  • Members of the U.S. Air Forces Central Band "Total Force” perform for the 772nd Expeditionary Airlift Squadron on Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Dec. 20, 2012. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder
  • U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Michelle Hooper plays the accordion during a performance for the 772nd Expeditionary Airlift Squadron on Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Dec. 20, 2012. Hooper, a musician, is assigned to the U.S. Air Forces Central Band "Total Force." U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder
  • Members of the U.S. Air Forces Central Band "Total Force" take a photo with audience members on Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Dec. 20, 2012. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder
  • U.S. sailors wrap presents for the camp's holiday party for Christmas Eve on Camp Eggers in Kabul, Afghanistan, Dec. 23, 2012. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Kleynia R. McKnight
  • U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Betzy Bonilla, second from right, fills a Christmas stocking during an airmen’s call for the camp's holiday party on Camp Eggers in Kabul, Afghanistan, Dec. 23, 2012. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Kleynia R. McKnight
  • U.S. Navy Lt. j.g. Laura Cook, right, presents a Christmas gift to U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Daniel Baudin, left, on Forward Operating Base Farah, Afghanistan, Dec. 24, 2012. Cook, a physician assistant, and Baudin, an intelligence specialist, are assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team Farah. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Petty Officer Josh Ives
  • Coalition force members and civilians line up during a Christmas Eve cookout on Forward Operating Base Farah, Afghanistan, Dec. 24, 2012. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Petty Officer Josh Ives
  • U.S. Navy Cmdr. Louis McCray, center, addresses American, Italian and Slovenian coalition soldiers and local Farah members at the Christmas Eve cookout and soccer tournament on Forward Operating Base Farah, Afghanistan, Dec. 24, 2012. McCray is commanding officer of Provincial Reconstruction Team Farah. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Petty Officer Josh Ives
  • U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Jennifer Kleve, left, serves food to local Afghans during a Christmas Eve cookout on Forward Operating Base Farah, Afghanistan, Dec. 24, 2012. Kleve, a hospital corpsman, is assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team Farah. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Petty Officer Josh Ives
  • U.S. and Slovenian coalition force members participate in a Christmas midnight mass candlelight procession using chem lights on Forward Operating Base Farah, Afghanistan, Dec. 24, 2012. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Petty Officer Josh Ives