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American Morning
Marines in Afghanistan Make Do For Holidays
Aired December 25, 2001 - 08:25 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR, ATLANTA: And now to Kabul, where Marines are standing guard over the U.S. embassy there. Our Jason Bellini checked in to see -- to see them and to see what they're doing for this Christmas.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JASON BELLINI, CNN NEWS, KABUL, AFGHANISTAN: What is this, again, this is the former Marine house bar?
UNIDENTIFIED MARINE: Yeah, if you see the brass sign in the back, back there, it's -- you can obviously, you see the bar.
BELLINI: Right. And that, what is it?
UNIDENTIFIED MARINE: And that, it's, like I said, it's a puppy basket. It's (ph) the residents, the first squad (ph) while they're here.
BELLINI: Where are the beds?
UNIDENTIFIED MARINE: Well, ...
UNIDENTIFIED MARINE: Everybody's (ph) rolled out. We're all laying on top of each other, just like a basket full of puppies.
(LAUGHTER)
UNIDENTIFIED MARINE: Sir, this is Ray Conover (ph).
BELLINI: Hey, how are you doing?
RAY CONOVER (ph): Fine, how are you?
UNIDENTIFIED MARINE: All right.
BELLINI: How are you all going to celebrate Christmas here in the Marine house bar?
CONOVER (ph): This is just like another day here, you know, standing post. You know, I've been (ph) trying (ph) to put (ph) together (ph) here, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) secure ourself (ph).
BELLINI: Yeah, exchange gifts? CONOVER (ph): Yeah, a little bit. You know, like MRE pound cakes or something like that, you know, whatever. Whatever we can do, you know, to keep their spirits up.
We try to make it a little bit more comforting, you know, get a record player.
BELLINI: Marines like Billy Joel?
CONOVER (ph): Got no choice.
(LAUGHTER)
BELLINI: Tell me about this over here, the stockings you've got, or the socks.
UNIDENTIFIED MARINE: Have (ph) they (ph) been (ph) cleaning (ph) these socks you have up here?
UNIDENTIFIED MARINE: No, sir. No they're not.
BELLINI: They're not clean?
UNIDENTIFIED MARINE: No. We actually just took them off and put them up on the wall there, sir.
BELLINI: If Santa were to come by and put something in your stockings, what you want it to be?
UNIDENTIFIED MARINE: I'm sure everybody here would like some real food and some more warming layers, because it's pretty cold out here.
BELLINI: Well, I hope you have a full stocking in the morning.
UNIDENTIFIED MARINE: Hope so, too, sir.
BELLINI: Does it seem likely?
UNIDENTIFIED MARINE: No, sir.
(LAUGHTER)
BELLINI: So the tree my be a little Charlie Brownish, but the Marines, got to give them credit. They've made an effort. On top of the tree they have an angel wearing a burka.
And they told me about this Christmas decoration, hand-made by the Marines. This is Tali-Claus. This is Taliban Santa Claus. Check out the long beard.
Other decorations -- a camel. They don't have a lot to work with, but the Marines are celebrating Christmas with pride and a sense of humor.
UNIDENTIFIED MARINE: It's hard to imagine this is actually Christmas. I mean, look, it's sunny, it's bright, it's warm here.
Back home in Lejeune it's probably cool, be out shopping. You know, I always do my Christmas shopping last minute. So, sort of lazy like that.
But, of course, all my thoughts are at home right now, even though we're still focused on the mission here. It'd be nice if we could be home, but this is where we are. This is, you know, this is what we trained for.
CORP. WILLIAM BRIGGS: I made a phone call home the other day. I mean, that was basically the only, the only thing that really consists for my Christmas. I mean ...
BELLINI: Who'd you talk to?
BRIGGS: Talked to my father and my mother, and my sister.
BELLINI: Is tonight just like any other night for you? Or are you thinking about home more, it being Christmas Eve?
BRIGGS: I guess the people are thinking about it more. But, I mean, no one's really said too much. I guess, trying to keep it out of -- keep it in the back of mind, just so I don't get like -- don't want to think about it too much, I guess.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MARINE: Roger that, Cowboy. Post One out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SGT. GRADY RICHARDSON: Just had a baby boy. And, now, this is -- it's not my first Christmas away, so, kind of get used to it. What can you do? I mean, I'm in the Marine Corps, you know, serving my country. That's really all I can do -- proudly.
UNIDENTIFIED MARINE: Lately it's just getting to be just another day. I'm going to miss home, going to miss the holidays. But make up for it next year.
UNIDENTIFIED MARINE: Rather be home. Going to make the best of it, as (ph) we're (ph) here.
UNIDENTIFIED MARINE: Merry Christmas, happy New Year. See you soon. That's all.
BELLINI: Jason Bellini, CNN, at the US embassy in Kabul.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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