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Chaplain reflects, reminds of holiday sacrifices

  • Published
  • By Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Carl R. Yost
  • 315th Airlift Wing Chaplain
CHARLESTON AFB, S.C. --  It was 0400, Christmas Eve, Bagram Airfield. I was asleep in my b-hut when the cell phone buzzed. The Chief on the line alerted me "Chaplain, come to the Air Tactical Operations Center. Bring the First Sergeant."

I got up from my bunk and made my way through the maze of alleys to the stairs that lead to the ATOC. I laughed as I entered the building because I notice the "live" Christmas tree, standing 30 feet tall, in the entrance. I had no idea how it got there in this treeless landscape.

As I entered the Commander's office, I was surprised to see two familiar Team Charleston faces. They were part of a flight crew and stopped by to check in on us deployed Team Charleston members. After a quick visit we escorted the crew back to the tarmac, and the night stars began to give way to another sunrise. It was Christmas Eve.

Throughout the day, our Chapel team visited workplaces, shops, security checkpoints, dining facilities, and hospital wards. We unloaded a ton of treats in the passenger terminal for all the holiday travelers. As the day began to draw down, I greeted a newly arrived Chaplain and prepared for the three Christmas Eve Services planned for that evening.

About an hour before the first service, an announcement for an assembly for a Fallen Comrade ceremony came across the giant voice speakers. It was about sundown as we Airmen, Marines, Soldiers and Sailors stood shoulder to shoulder along the street, saluting the caisson of a fellow service member killed earlier in the day. As the caisson past us by on its journey to the ramp, I looked directly across the street at Team Charleston members standing at solemn attention. After the ceremony, I immediately went to work helping to lead the three services. There in the land of the wise men, hundreds of voices sang in the cool night air.

At the conclusion of the last service I walked to the hospital to check the emergency room where some local trauma victims had arrived. It was about 0200 when I returned to my b-hut. It was Christmas Day.

It is now a year later, and there are still men and women of Team Charleston and the U.S. Armed Services on duty at home station and deployed around the world striving to keep peace and security. Wherever you may find yourself this Holiday Season know that you are not alone. There is a Team Charleston member around ... readiness is our way of life.

Of note: I returned from deployment a few weeks after Christmas. As I opened up the morning paper there was a picture of two beautiful little girls standing beside their father's casket at a graveside service. He had been killed in action Christmas Day in Afghanistan.