Letters to and from the war

By JAN WESNER, Times Staff Writer
Published December 24, 2007

Some 158,000 U.S. troops are spending Christmas in Iraq this year, and another 26,000 are in Afghanistan. It's not a day off for them - there may be turkey or steak for special meals in the chow hall, but outside the war goes on. Seven American service members were killed in bomb attacks last year on Christmas Day. The Times asked a few local troops and their families to share their thoughts as they spend the holiday half a world away from each other. Some are apart for the first time; for others, it's a routine that's become all too familiar.

Army Staff Sgt. Wayne Lacy, 44, is in Afghanistan, where he has been rebuilding the country's roads, bridges and other infrastructure since November 2006. Lacy is a 1982 graduate of St. Petersburg's Gibbs High School.

Unit: 864th Engineer Combat Battalion, 555th Engineer Brigade at Fort Lewis, Wash. Three soldiers from the unit have been killed on this deployment.

Family: Wife Katrina and sons Micah, 17, and Jaylen, 4.

"As the holiday season approaches, I am wishing I was there. It is cold here in Afghanistan and it snows pretty regularly. I especially miss my boys, Micah and Jaylen. Micah, I miss coming to your basketball games and was hoping I would be able to be there for your senior year, but I do plan to be there in time for your graduation. Jaylen, I miss seeing you as you grow up and hearing the funny things you say. It is very hard being away from my family, but it is what it is and I am moving forward to get the job done. Will be home in February and I look forward to seeing you all when I return."

Marine Lance Cpl. Hector Hernandez Jr., 21, said goodbye to his wife shortly after their June wedding to deploy to Iraq for seven months with an Orlando-based reserves unit. Hernandez graduated from Gibbs High School in 2005.

Unit: 6th Motor Transport Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group, from the First Lt. David R. Wilson Armed Forces Reserve Center in Orlando.

Family: Wife Sasheera, father Hector Hernandez, sister Jerellis Hernandez.

"This is the first time that I will be away from my loved ones for a holiday season. I feel so lonely at night because I don't have my wife by my side. I miss the way we used to wrestle and watch the sunset while walking the beach. I miss everything about my wife. This deployment has really shown me how much I truly love my wife and my family. I have learned not to take anything for granted, not even the smallest things. For all of you who read this, make sure that you tell your loved ones that you love them and that you are happy that you are able to spend this holiday season with them."

Lori Snively is missing her son, Marine Cpl. Joel Snively, 20, who also spent Christmas in Iraq last year. Joel graduated from Plant City High School in 2005. Lori has established a support group in Plant City for families with a loved one in the military.

Unit: 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Other family: Sister Emily Snively, dad Jeff Snively.

"I'm a little bit more at ease (this year). Things aren't quite as tense over there as they were last year. I get to talk to him. Just to be able to hear his voice ... I know he's okay. It's one thing to be away from family at Christmas that are here in the States. But to know that your child is 10,000 miles away, and you don't know if you're going to get that call on Christmas, it's hard. But you put it in God's hands and that's what I did. My message to Joel is just be safe, keep your head about you, stay healthy and come back home so I can put my arms around you."

Linda Craigof Bradenton feels like she's already had her Christmas. Her son, Army Pfc. Andrew Craig Jr., was home on leave in November and got married. It was especially bittersweet because when he returned to Iraq he found out his bunk mate had been killed. Andrew attended Manatee High School and Manatee Community College.

Unit: 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.

Other family: Dad Andy, wife Andrea.

"I don't watch the evening news. I do check out the war online. If anybody in his battalion has been hurt or injured, I do contact the families. I want him to know, which sometimes these guys can forget, we do think about them. Even though they may think they've been forgotten, they haven't. I'll be weepy (today). I'll take comfort in the people I do have here."

Standing By Christmas letter

Times staff writer Jan Wesner blogs about her life as an Army wife while her husband spends a year in Iraq. Read her Christmas letter to him at blogs.tampabay.com/standingby.

[Last modified December 24, 2007, 01:14:13]