Troops in Afghanistan celebrate Christmas - Baltimore Sun (blog)

Dec 25, 2012

Michael Gold 0 Comment World Afghanistan, celebration, Christmas, holidays, NATO, soldiers, US Army

24 photos

Miles away from their families and their homes, troops in Afghanistan held Christmas celebrations at military bases and outposts. Soldiers from the U.S., France, and other countries involved in the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) shared each other's company for a traditional Christmas meal at the Kabul International Airport on Christmas Day. German Bundeswehr soldiers, meanwhile, set up traditional Christmas markets at their military outposts in Afghanistan.

U.S. troops from the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) hold candles during a mass at a NATO camp on Christmas Eve in Kabul on December 24, 2012. (Omar Sobhani/Reuters)

A German Bundeswehr army soldier walks to his tent, passing a Christmas tree, at the combat outpost OP North, near Baghlan, in northern Afghanistan, on December 9, 2012. The soldiers are celebrating their last Christmas at the combat outpost this year before it is removed in 2013. (Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters)

A U.S. soldier from the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) tears up during Christmas Eve celebrations in Kabul on December 24, 2012. (Omar Sobhani/Reuters)

A German Bundeswehr army Dingo armored vehicle, which is decorated as an Advent calendar, is illuminated with Christmas lights in an army camp in Kunduz, northern Afghanistan, on December 3, 2012. (Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters)

French soldiers with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) lineup to take their food during a special meal on Christmas Day at Kabul International Airport on December 25, 2012. There are presently around 100,000 US-led NATO troops fighting a decade-long Taliban led insurgency in Afghanistan. (Shah Marai/AFP/Getty Images)

U.S. soldiers line up to take their food during a special meal on Christmas Day at Kabul International Airport on December 25, 2012. There are presently around 100,000 US-led NATO troops fighting a decade-long Taliban led insurgency in Afghanistan. (Shah Marai/AFP/Getty Images)

German Bundeswehr armed forces soldiers dressed as Santa Claus and angels arrive to a Christmas market at camp Marmal near Mazar-e-Sharif, northern Afghanistan on December 16, 2012. (Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters)

Spanish and U.S. soldiers with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), wearing Santa hats, pose for a photograph during Christmas Eve celebrations at a NATO camp in Kabul on December 24, 2012. (Omar Sobhani/Reuters)

A German Bundeswehr armed forces soldier wears a Santa Claus hat during a Christmas market at camp Marmal near Mazar-e-Sharif, northern Afghanistan on December 16, 2012. (Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters)

British Prime Minister David Cameron (second from right) attends a carol service with British, Danish and Bosnian soldiers on December 20, 2012 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Cameron made a Christmas visit to British troops in the region amid tight security. (Stefan Wermuth – WPA Pool/Getty Images)

British Prime Minister David Cameron (second from left) eats dinner with British soldiers during a visit to Forward Operating Base Price on December 20, 2012 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Cameron made a Christmas visit to British troops in the region amid tight security. (Stefan Wermuth – WPA Pool/Getty Images)

A US soldier poses next to Christmas decorations during a special meal on Christmas Day at Kabul International Airport on December 25, 2012. There are presently around 100,000 US-led NATO troops fighting a decade-long Taliban led insurgency in Afghanistan. (Shah Marai/AFP/Getty Images)

Soldiers with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) eat their food during a special meal on Christmas Day at Kabul International Airport on December 25, 2012. There are presently around 100,000 US-led NATO troops fighting a decade-long Taliban led insurgency in Afghanistan. (Shah Marai/AFP/Getty Images)

A NATO troop from the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) gets food on Christmas in Kabul on December 25, 2012. (Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)

NATO troops from the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) get food on Christmas in Kabul on December 25, 2012. (Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)

German Bundeswehr armed forces soldiers pose with comrades dressed as Santa Claus and angels during a Christmas market at camp Marmal near Mazar-e-Sharif, northern Afghanistan on December 16, 2012. (Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters)

German Bundeswehr armed forces soldiers offer hot drinks at a booth during a Christmas market at camp Marmal near Mazar-e-Sharif, northern Afghanistan on December 16, 2012. (Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters)

German Bundeswehr army soldiers prepare a barbecue during a Christmas market at their combat outpost OP North, near Baghlan, northern Afghanistan on December 9, 2012. The soldiers are celebrating their last Christmas at the combat outpost this year before it is removed in 2013. (Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters)

German Bundeswehr army soldiers wear Santa Claus hats in a Christmas market at their combat outpost OP North, near Baghlan, northern Afghanistan on December 9, 2012. The soldiers are celebrating their last Christmas at the combat outpost this year before it is removed in 2013. (Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters)

A German soldier stands next to a Christmas tree at a flight departure area at the German Bundeswehr army camp in Marmal in Masar-i-Sharif, northern Afghanistan on December 2, 2012. (Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters)

German Bundeswehr army soldiers build a booth for a Christmas market at their combat outpost OP North, near Baghlan, northern Afghanistan on December 9, 2012. The soldiers are celebrating their last Christmas at the combat outpost this year before it is removed in 2013. (Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters)

A German Bundeswehr army soldier gets a hot drink in a Christmas market at their combat outpost OP North, near Baghlan, northern Afghanistan on December 9, 2012. The soldiers are celebrating their last Christmas at the combat outpost this year before it is removed in 2013. (Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters)

German Bundeswehr army soldiers are silhouetted as they leave a Christmas market in their combat outpost OP North, near Baghlan, in northern Afghanistan, on December 9, 2012. The soldiers are celebrating their last Christmas at the combat outpost this year before it is removed in 2013. (Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters)

A German Bundeswehr army soldier carries a Christmas tree after it was delivered to the army camp in Kunduz, northern Afghanistan on December 2, 2012. (Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters)