Merry Christmas to our Marine Corps family. We're now over the hump and are on our downhill portion of the deployment. Regardless of how the deployment has affected us (families included), we are all still very proud to be serving here. Our Battle Rhythm now includes our regular 1000 church service on Sundays with Chaplain Perez. We hold the service in the MWR building that the Marines constructed a few months back. Following the worship service, Capt Grimm, the Executive Officer (XO), opens up "Ram-Rods" beauty salon (his barbershop is now commonly referred to as beauty salon to be "PC" since he cuts both male and female Marines' hair). The 1stSgt, GySgt Taylor, has refused time and time again to allow the XO to cut his hair. I think the real reason is that he's afraid it may not grow back.

We're now experiencing the coldest of the desert temperatures. Highs are now in the low 50s and lows dip down into the mid 20s. Sgt Carpenter keeps looking for his ice fishing shack but can't seem to find it anywhere! It's especially cold considering that we were just experiencing the brutally arid & fantastically hot climate . . . not the bone chilling temperatures that we're now enduring.

We've hung our ornaments from the Christmas tree and I can't thank everyone enough for their efforts in making our Christmas in the field seem a little more like home-at least a taste of home. The Santa, the banner, the quilt with all of your pictures; Again, we appreciate your collective efforts in making this possible. Our Key Volunteer Network has been phenomenal and we pay honors to you as you get us through the home stretch of our deployment.

When we first learned of our re-deployment to Operation Iraqi Freedom-II, I focused the Company training on three pillars: Moving, Shooting and Communicating. The three most dynamic facets of our environment. That training has paid off tremendously. I entrusted my faith and confidence in the abilities of our NCOs and they have repeatedly proven worthy of every ounce of it. Our good fortune continues as we progress through the deployment, and although it's not been without its bumps and bruises along the way, we've remained vigilant in our stance to protect each other. Again, our success can only be attributed to our young Warriors that are making things happen through quick and accurate decision making...Decisions that sometimes effect the success of the entire company.

Our pride and esprit de corps are as conspicuous as ever. I'm amazed at the numerous challenges and hurdles that we manage to overcome on seemingly a daily basis. And yet, the Marines seem un-phased as we continue to execute in the rich tradition that our Marine Corps forefathers set before us. They too would be proud of our accomplishments, and for the way that the Marines have bestowed honor among our sister services. We are the ambassadors of our families, our towns, our Marine Corps and our Country-to the people of Iraq and with our coalition partners.

The care packages and Christmas gifts that we've been receiving are more than abundant and again, words cannot thank you all enough. We have received so much that we felt that we too should share in our abundance . . . giving to the coalition forces that don't have as much as us, and to the children of Iraq. After all, as ambassadors of the United States, it is the impression that we leave with those children that will become our legacy and will eventually win this war that we're engaged in.

WISNER, M. P. CAPT USMC