More than 200,000 active duty US Servicemen (and women) are deployed overseas this Christmas. That means they will not see their family or friends during this important time of the year. Far more of our 1.4M servicemen are stationed here at home, but cannot abandon their posts to be home with their loved ones, either.

I'm not whining. Servicemen and women voluntarily assume the hardships associated with keeping us safe. They do it for honor, and because they are educated in some of the grim realities of what happens in the world (which we don't all learn of), and they don't want those realities coming to our shores to threaten the ones they love.

We blunder thru our 'sloppy civilian' lives in safety and oblivion, usually mindless of the sacrifices our men and women are making on our behalves. That's OK ~ we're not "guilty" for enjoying the freedoms these people protect for us. That's actually what they expect us to do; live free and happy.

But let's spare a moment this season to consider and silently thank the men and women who are away from their homes this Christmas and New Year, making sure we can enjoy ours in peace and safety. Some of our own members are deployed this year and will not return until after this joyous season has passed.

Their duty is seldom a pleasure, but ALWAYS an honor. Let's spare them a thought this year. When you hug your family members or greet a long-lost relative this season, pause to think of the individual serviceman or woman who is standing his/her post far from home, ensuring you are safe and free to enjoy that.

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Assigned Strength of U.S. Active Duty Forces (as of Nov2013):


Army 539,675
Navy 326,684
Air Force 322,900
The Corps 198,415
Coast Guard 41,362

TOTAL 1,429,036


Semper Fi ~
Frank T

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1970 240Z