Military Matters

Montana soldiers mark Christmas away from home

Posted: Dec 25, 2012 8:11 PM by Melissa Anderson - MTN News
Updated: Dec 25, 2012 8:37 PM

FORT HOOD, TEXAS - Christmas is a time to share with family and friends, but for our military serving overseas, distances can be tough during the holiday.

Reporter Melissa Anderson was in Fort Hood Texas last month and spoke to members of the 495th to see how they pull together during this time as one big family unit.

It's not often that you see a father and son team in the same unit, but that's what you'll find in Montana's 495th Support Battalion, where First Sergeant Glenn Myers actually has two sons following in his footsteps.

"It's a real competition between me, him and his brother. He's got another brother that's in the Guard. And after one of us goes through the range the other one will call, 'hey how'd you shoot?' Or if you took a PT test, 'hey how'd you do on the PT test?' Myers said.

Specialist Alex Myers is at the top of his mark when it comes to his gunnery position in the MRAP's.

"I definitely try to make myself proud and I like to hold a high standard for my crews." said Specialist Alex Myers. "

"It makes you real proud especially when their Montanans but it also makes you proud when it's your own son". said First Sargeant Myers.

Besides training for months in advance for deployment in Afghanistan, these troops will also be away from their loved ones for an entire year. And for specialists Myers that means being away from his mother during Christmas.

"It's all right. She knows I love her and since this is my second time this is nothing new to her so. " said Specialist Myers. The troops become part of their own family.

"For me personally, I have lots of photos of my daughters and I get to talk to them once a week. And we write a lot of letter and cards and we talk. " said First Lieutenant Dan Bushnell, Operations Officer of the 495th of Helena.

"We're nervous. We're nervous about leaving our family and friends behind but also knowing that we're going to replace a group of people here in just a couple of weeks who are looking forward to coming home and seeing their family and their friends for the first time in the last year and to relieve them of that is pretty special." said 1st Lt. Adam Rahmlow.

Even though they are miles apart, the troops know that their hearts will be closer than ever this this holiday season.

"Ya, it will be. It will be the first time away from Christmas but we'll be able to keep in contact and we're in the cell phone and internet age so we'll still have a connection there. We just won't be as close." said LT Rahmlow.