Editor's Note: December 23, 2008, we first published this letter from our son while he was deployed in Afghanistan. He came home safe and sound - the message he sent then reverberates this Christmas as much as it did years ago.

Grandpa Ivan and your readers,

This is my second Christmas spent on a deployment abroad, and I promised myself I would do this holiday differently. On the last mission, I remember being a bitter and lonely person, and I had no desire to be with anyone.  My Forward Operating Base (FOB) had 'mandatory fun', and provided distinguished guests which desired to spend their Christmas season miserably with me.

At that time, I didn’t (or didn't want to) understand, and simply wanted to separate myself from the process that put me a million miles from home on the holidays.

Through my life experiences, leadership responsibilities to my soldiers, and just plain common sense, I realized that we have to make the best of the situation, and try to help the less experienced cope with an already tough situation before Santa was scheduled to fly in. I often tell my soldiers that we are in positive control of only one thing: our attitude. 

You will never hear me pout about what I am missing; this is the life I have chosen for myself and my family. However, anyone who has deployed can tell you that he learns what is important to him, whether it's family, friends, or selfish, personal indulgences.

This Christmas, I only want a better life and home for my family. I desire only to hear my children's laughter, my wife's conversation, and seeing what I associate with my home in central Kentucky. My Rest & Relaxation (R&R) period refilled my 'tank' enough to get home this spring.

Here in Afghanistan, the people live day to day, literally. They farm enough food to feed their family for the harsh winter, and barely get by. The water they drink, bathe, wash their clothes, and irrigate their crops with is from nearby streams. They have no utilities, including running water (all well water, if they have one), electricity (for heat and light), internet, or phone lines. There are few schools, and the Taliban will kidnap teachers of unapproved subjects, if they are able. We won't discuss what little future girls have in this country.

Be grateful that God decided to give you parents who resided in a modern country, and that you were presented opportunities for success. Thank God that you have health care, heat, warm clothing, food either in your cupboard or at the corner market, you have freedom to choose who your leadership is, and that you don’t live in fear.

What is my point? I want everyone to make the most of their time spent with their loved ones. In speaking for my unit and my comrades abroad, I think of no better way of thanking us for our 'sacrifice' by doing just that. I want everyone to say 'I love you' to your loved ones more often, hug/kiss/spoil your children this Holiday season, eat good home-cooked food, and enjoy any other holiday tradition you may have to the fullest. Doing these things is a better 'thanks' than any care package sent to me (that doesn’t mean stop sending them, Mom!).

So, I want you to not worry about the economy, the leadership, the bailout, or the war. We have intelligent, creative, experienced people in key positions to get it done. If they screw up, we'll fire them or try like crazy to beat them in the next election. Do what you can at your level, which I think you are doing. Educate folks about the significance of the bailout, why we're at war, and how to survive the economic crisis (recession). It's the sum of the whole which will get us through.

I love you, and will be home before you know it!

                                                                                   John