"
Tonight is Christmas eve and Ive just put the finishing touches on the piles of goodies under the tree in my living room. The fire is glowing in the background and outside my glass doors its 4 below zero with 3 inches of snow on the porch.

My children are upstairs sleeping, finaly tired from trying to stay awake long enough to catch a glimpse of Santa. They are suspicious of potential logistical complications with his rendevous with the world that I have not been able to explain away to their satisfaction.

My wife moves throughtout the house, on her own mission to finish the nights business before turning in.

My thoughts move to the soldiers overseas and I dimly recall the Christmas eve I spent in Iraq just two years ago.

So, if you are a soldier overseas serving your country tonight far away from your home and family I salute you.

If you are an Infantryman, standing outside the fatal funnel, the smell of burning trash and feces strong in your nose I say "Tip of the spear".

If you are back home and going to bed tonight with a knife under your pillow, or a handgun in the clutches of your fingers I say, Merry Christmas...."
Chapter: War