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CNN Live At Daybreak
U.S. Troops Celebrating Christmas in Afghanistan
Aired December 24, 2002 - 06:25 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.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: U.S. troops serving in Afghanistan are getting a little flavor of the holiday this Christmas.
CNN's Karl Penhaul is joining us from Bagram, Afghanistan, with their story.
Hello, Karl.
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, there.
We're here today with -- it's Christmas Eve -- with Karlene Hemerlyfluck. She's from the Pennsylvania National Guard.
Hi, Karlene. Now, what's the mood here in Bagram Air Base today?
KARLENE HEMERLYFLUCK, PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER: I'd have to say that things are highly motivated here and today we had a PX open up which is like a military Wal-Mart, and a lot of us got to do some final last minute shopping so that they can send some gifts home to their family as well as purchase gifts for our fellow soldiers.
PENHAUL: And what about the weather? We've got a white Christmas here.
HEMERLYFLUCK: Actually, this morning we did get a white Christmas. Unfortunately, it melted away, but the mountains are still white. I did shed a tear, though. The ground was covered and the snow was falling. It was just beautiful.
PENHAUL: Now they tell me this is your first time outside the United States?
HEMERLYFLUCK: Yes, Karl, it is. This is my first appointment. I've never gone out of the United States, and it's just a wild experience. I really can't even explain it.
PENHAUL: Have you had any chance here to get off the base and see some of the real Afghanistan?
HEMERLYFLUCK: Actually, yes. Yesterday I got to go to an orphanage in Kharakar (ph). There's an organization on post that does a lot of things on the outside. We got to give the children toys and socks and school bags and things like that. It was very emotional, but it was at the same time very rewarding to be able to help these children. They are very much in need.
PENHAUL: And what about decorations on the base? I've seen some decorations around. Snow men, some tinsel, some Christmas trees. What are you doing in the tents?
HEMERLYFLUCK: In the tents, some of us have some Christmas lights hanging up in our huts (ph), and, you know, just some little Christmas trees. They brought them from home with ornaments; things like that. So we're surviving here. Our families are at home, and the reason that we're here is to keep them safe. So if they're at home having a merry Christmas, that's all that matters.
PENHAUL: Now behind us here, Karlene, we've got -- we've got the boneless ham defrosting. What else is on the Christmas menu?
HEMERLYFLUCK: Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce and salad. You name it, it's there. They take care of us pretty well on the food lines.
PENHAUL: Any special events going on this evening?
HEMERLYFLUCK: Actually, yes. David Letterman's coming in and we'll have a choir and we're going to be doing Christmas carols. And there's also a midnight church service. So I really don't think that we're missing all the comforts of home like everybody at home thinks we are.
PENHAUL: That's all from us for the moment from Bagram Air Base. Back to you.
CALLAWAY: Thank you very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired December 24, 2002 - 06:25 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: U.S. troops serving in Afghanistan are getting a little flavor of the holiday this Christmas.
CNN's Karl Penhaul is joining us from Bagram, Afghanistan, with their story.
Hello, Karl.
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, there.
We're here today with -- it's Christmas Eve -- with Karlene Hemerlyfluck. She's from the Pennsylvania National Guard.
Hi, Karlene. Now, what's the mood here in Bagram Air Base today?
KARLENE HEMERLYFLUCK, PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER: I'd have to say that things are highly motivated here and today we had a PX open up which is like a military Wal-Mart, and a lot of us got to do some final last minute shopping so that they can send some gifts home to their family as well as purchase gifts for our fellow soldiers.
PENHAUL: And what about the weather? We've got a white Christmas here.
HEMERLYFLUCK: Actually, this morning we did get a white Christmas. Unfortunately, it melted away, but the mountains are still white. I did shed a tear, though. The ground was covered and the snow was falling. It was just beautiful.
PENHAUL: Now they tell me this is your first time outside the United States?
HEMERLYFLUCK: Yes, Karl, it is. This is my first appointment. I've never gone out of the United States, and it's just a wild experience. I really can't even explain it.
PENHAUL: Have you had any chance here to get off the base and see some of the real Afghanistan?
HEMERLYFLUCK: Actually, yes. Yesterday I got to go to an orphanage in Kharakar (ph). There's an organization on post that does a lot of things on the outside. We got to give the children toys and socks and school bags and things like that. It was very emotional, but it was at the same time very rewarding to be able to help these children. They are very much in need.
PENHAUL: And what about decorations on the base? I've seen some decorations around. Snow men, some tinsel, some Christmas trees. What are you doing in the tents?
HEMERLYFLUCK: In the tents, some of us have some Christmas lights hanging up in our huts (ph), and, you know, just some little Christmas trees. They brought them from home with ornaments; things like that. So we're surviving here. Our families are at home, and the reason that we're here is to keep them safe. So if they're at home having a merry Christmas, that's all that matters.
PENHAUL: Now behind us here, Karlene, we've got -- we've got the boneless ham defrosting. What else is on the Christmas menu?
HEMERLYFLUCK: Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce and salad. You name it, it's there. They take care of us pretty well on the food lines.
PENHAUL: Any special events going on this evening?
HEMERLYFLUCK: Actually, yes. David Letterman's coming in and we'll have a choir and we're going to be doing Christmas carols. And there's also a midnight church service. So I really don't think that we're missing all the comforts of home like everybody at home thinks we are.
PENHAUL: That's all from us for the moment from Bagram Air Base. Back to you.
CALLAWAY: Thank you very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
