Sending greetings home

Spending the holidays away from friends, family traditions and home-cooked meals can be tough for anyone. This year the holidays are going to be particularly rough for families in Southeast Missouri who have a loved one serving in Iraq.

"There are those of us who are really dreading this holiday season because we can only think of our families and that we are away from them," wrote Kyle Meadows in an e-mail to the newspaper. Meadows is serving in Iraq with the National Guard's 1140th Engineering Battalion.

But there are plenty of other soldiers who know this is just one year away and view their time in the desert at "sort of an adventure, a new twist to things," Meadows said.

On Christmas, all missions will be suspended but soldiers will be rotated on and off duty. "We are supplied with everything we need and families back home are more than willing to send us anything we do not have," he said.

"For the most part it is not too bad here. The dust storms don't happen during the winter months." Soldiers had been used to 130 degree temperatures but now winter is setting in and the temperatures drop to 65 in the daytime and 30 at night. Severe showers also are a problem. "One minute it can be calm outside, then the clouds will just open up and dump as much rain as possible. I don't think there is one tent here that doesn't leak. Again, these situations are what you make of them."

And the soldiers are trying to make their days as festive as possible during this holiday season. Here are their Christmas wishes to friends and family:

Just another day in a Texas-style sandbox. Seasons greetings to all my family and friends.

-- Sgt. Paul Collins

Happy holidays to my beautiful wife, Susan, and my wonderful kids, Derek and Sydney, and the rest of my family. I wish I could be there with you. Dad loves you.

-- Sgt. Mike Savage

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all from Iraq.

-- Spc. Curt Wesbecher

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all my family and friends from Iraq.

-- Sgt. Charley Marcee

Season's greetings to all.

-- Sgt. Tracy Cluck

Season's greetings from Iraq.

-- Spc. Brian Perry

I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, especially my wife, Katherin, all five of my children and the rest of my family. Thanks for your love and support through this last year. I love you all. Thanks for the chocolate.

-- Sgt. 1st Class Richard Chappell

I would like to wish my wife, Pat, and family a "Happy Thanksgiving" and a "Merry Christmas." See you when I get home.

-- Sgt. Jerry Ball

I would like to say hello to all family and friends. I wish that you have a wonderful and safe holiday. I would like to say I love you to my wife, Magro, and my son, Austin. I miss you both very much.

-- Block

Happy holidays to my family & friends.

-- Colton

Happy Holidays to my beautiful wife, Cherilyn, my little princess, Jaiden, and the rest of my family and friends.

-- Spc. Shawn Grimes

Seasons greeting from Iraq.

-- Spc. Deron Hovis

Seasons greetings to family and friends. This reminds me of how that song does not go: "I'll not be home for Christmas."

-- Maj. Robert Jones

I love you Allie, Jake, and Abbie. Happy Holidays to everyone back home.

-- Spc. Rusty Sullens

1st Platoon Holiday Greetings:

Happy Holidays to my wife, Aniko, and my daughter, Angie. Love Ben.

-- SSG Benjamin Gretzmacher

Happy Holidays to my daughter, Kylie, my family and my brothers. I will be home soon.

-- Sgt. Darrell Cureton

Happy holidays to my friends and family. Especially to my lovely wife, Michelle and our son, Justin.

-- Spc. Jason Dane

Happy holidays to everyone back home.

-- Spc. Chris Smith

Happy holidays to all my family and friends.

-- Spc. Timothy Glore

Love to all my family and friends from Iraq.

-- Spc. Michael Hensley

Happy Holidays to Diana, Laura, Nick and Krysta. Love Marcus.

-- Sgt. Marcus Arganbright

Happy holidays to all my family and friends in Jackson.

-- SSG Kenneth Brown

Merry Christmas to all my family and friends. I love you and miss you Melissa.

-- Sgt. Joshua Hauf

Happy holidays to my family, friends and my girlfriend Sarah. Big Al will be home soon.

-- Cpl. Danny Allen

With love from Iraq, I love and miss everybody.

-- Spc. Kyle Marshall

Ho, Ho, Ho! Enjoy your holidays.

-- Spc. David Blevins

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all my family and friends.

-- Spc. Robert Brown

I would like to wish everyone a Happy holidays and best wishes. Kim, Billy, Todd and Tricia, I love you all and will see you soon.

-- SSG Mark Crites

Happy holidays to my family and loved ones from Iraq.

-- Sgt. David O'Brien

Happy Holidays, see you soon.

-- Cpl. Joel Lawson

Happy holidays to my mom, dad, siblings, nieces and nephews.

-- Spc. Eddie Helm

We want to extend a warm Merry Christmas to our families. May your Christmas be filled with joy and comfort knowing that we are holding you in our hearts this Christmas season. Thank you for all your support.

-- 1140th Engineering Battalion, S-1 section

I would like to wish all my friends and family a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year. To my mom and dad, Steve and Linda Meadows, I love you and I thank you for your awesome love and support. To my sister Rachel Dailey: Isn't it great this is your first Christmas being married? I pray that you and Mikie will enjoy the season. I also want to thank all my friends and family for their prayers and encouragement. I love you all and I pray God blesses you with his richness.

-- Spc. Kyle Meadows

Happy holidays to my family and friends scattered throughout the heartland. To my wife Amy, her family, the McKaskles, and my family, the Eagans: I just want to send my love and appreciation to you all. I miss you, and look forward to seeing you again soon! To La Croix United Methodist Church and Pastor Ron Watts: Thank you for all of your encouraging letters, your support and the prayers. I am blessed to be a part of such a wonderful church family! To the Company B, 1140th Engineer Battalion Family Support Group from Perryville and Jackson: I can't thank you enough for what you have done and are continuing to do for us. Additionally, to the family members of all military personnel away from home this holiday season: Thanks for your sacrifices and for all of your support. We will return home safely soon!!

-- Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Eagan

The commander and 1st Sgt. of Bravo Company, 1140th Engineer want to wish a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of our soldiers' spouses and families. We want to thank you for your courage and the sacrifices you have endured during our absence. You certainly are our heroes at home. We would also like to extend "Happy Holidays" wishes and our thanks and gratitude to the individuals and businesses that have donated money and care items to our deployed soldiers, they are both well received and greatly appreciated. We wish to extend our gratitude to those of you keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. We hope that you will keep praying for our safe return and truly believe that it has helped to keep us safe from harm so far.

-- Capt. Kevin Compas and 1st Sgt. Michael Costello