Troops deploy to Afghanistan on Christmas

ATLANTA -- Christmas is a festive day at the USO at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, but it's also a day with big dose of reality.

As the last troops are returning from Iraq, the troops at the USO on Christmas day are deploying for the active war zones of Afghanistan.

For them, the war is far from over, but they worry that the American public has put this war on the back burner.

"I think a lot of people have forgotten about Afghanistan," said Elizabeth Chen, U.S. Army, as?she returned from Iraq and Kuwait. "As soon as Iraq came up, all you heard [was] Iraq, Iraq, and Iraq."

"We still have people out there," she added. "It's sad. I wish people would pay just a little bit more attention. The fact that we have our brothers and sisters, wives and daughters, and so many others over there. It's kind of sad that we forget about that sometimes."

But the troops?on their way back to an active war show little emotion.

"Those feelings I just leave them alone," said Ron Pierre, U.S. Army.?"I have no choice but to go back. In order for me to provide for my family I have to do that."?

"It's my job," added Michael Sheehan, U.S. Army. "It's what I signed up to do. My family is very understanding and supportive. It's OK. It's a little intense at times, but I'm okay with it."

"You've got to do your job day by day," Seth Lapham, U.S. Army, said as he checked in at the USO for his flight to Afghanistan. "You don't really think too much of the harm. You just got to keep your head up and just keep alert and stay focused." "

To brighten the day, and take their minds off what was ahead, the USO went all out to make the deploying troops feel right at home.

A lavish buffet was prepared by Atlanta's leading volunteer chefs and served by a contingent of community volunteers.

And bringing big smiles were?Santa and his helpers. Santa was Jackson Bedford, a Fulton County Judge and former Navy pilot who served in Vietnam.

As Christmas day started winding down, the troops marched across the airport atrium to loud applause and cheers as they headed to their waiting aircraft for a return to an active war.

Source: http://hapeville.11alive.com/news/news/95791-troops-deploy-afghanistan-christmas

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