Joseph L. Galloway
is the senior military correspondent for Knight Ridder Newspapers and a nationally syndicated columnist.
One of America's preeminent war correspondents,
with more than four decades as a reporter
and writer, he recently concluded an assignment
as a special consultant to Gen. Colin Powell
at the State Department.
Galloway, a native of Refugio, Texas, spent
22 years as a foreign and war correspondent
and bureau chief for United Press International,
and nearly 20 years as a senior editor and
senior writer for U.S. News & World Report
magazine. His overseas postings include tours
in Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Singapore
and three years as UPI bureau chief in Moscow
in the former Soviet Union. During the course
of 15 years of foreign postings Galloway served
four tours as a war correspondent in Vietnam
and also covered the 1971 India-Pakistan War
and half a dozen other combat operations.
In 1990-1991 Galloway covered Desert Shield/Desert
Storm, riding with the 24th Infantry Division
(Mech) in the assault into Iraq. General H.
Norman Schwarzkopf has called Galloway "The
finest combat correspondent of our generation
-- a soldier's reporter and a soldier's friend."
WASHINGTON - It is good that we think of the American military family this holiday season when we gather with our own families over tables laden with a feast and around decorated trees barricaded with gaily wrapped presents.
We are a nation at war, and these holidays are somehow dimmed by the thought of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in harm's way in the combat zones of Iraq and Afghanistan as well as in a hundred other places around a troubled world.
For the families of the 175,000 troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and elsewhere, their only joy will come with the safe return home of their soldier or Marine. For 900 children who have lost a father or mother in combat since these wars of the 21st century began, no present or fancy dinner can repair a broken and longing heart.
My friend Karen Spears Zacharias, whose father was killed in Vietnam in 1966, has a memory that returns to her every year during the holidays. She writes, movingly, of that memory:
"Recent news reports estimate nearly 900 U.S. children have lost a parent in the war in Iraq. (These) headlines take me back to the Christmas season of 1965 -- the year my own father went to war. Don't ask me why his deployment took place during the holidays. There's a lot about military policy that befuddles me.
"There isn't much that I remember about that last festive celebration with my father before he was slain in Vietnam. I can't remember whether we ate a ham or turkey or a can of Spam. We were living on Oahu; Spam was a popular dinner choice on a GI's grocery budget.
"What I can remember with an aching clarity, however, was Christmas Day itself. My older brother, Frankie, 11, got me out of bed before Mama and our baby sister, Linda, woke. There wasn't anything for us to do. No presents to unwrap. No stockings to unstuff. No cookies to nibble. No motor cars to rumble around the living room. No Slinkies to coil down the stairs.
"So we went for a walk in the cul-de-sac. Frankie said it sure didn't feel much like Christmas. I nodded in agreement. Eyeing a decorated tree in the window of a neighboring house, we stood still. A young man opened his front door. His wife stood behind him. He asked Frankie what we were doing out so early on Christmas morning. Why weren't we at home, opening gifts from Santa?
"Frankie said we didn't have any gifts to open. 'Daddy left for Vietnam,' Frankie explained. 'Santa came to our house early.'
"A shadow fell across the young man's face. I knew from his haircut that he was a soldier, too. 'Would you like to come inside and share our Christmas with us?' he asked.
"Frankie and I looked at each other. We knew Mama wouldn't approve, but we were both so lonesome that we didn't give her another thought. Besides we needed some proof that this really was Christmas Day and not just another day without Daddy.
"We watched and giggled as the couple's daughter eagerly tore through the silver-wrapping and red bows. It didn't bother us one bit to watch another kid open all the presents under the tree. We were content, even happy, to be part of that merry event -- a baby's first Christmas.
"Not a holiday season goes by that I don't recall that young family and the priceless treasure they bestowed upon Frankie and me that morning -- the gift of hospitality.
"It's the one gift that I cherish more with each passing year. Especially now that we are at war again. I grow sad thinking of all those children who will be spending this Christmas Day without their daddies or their mamas. And my heart is broken for all each and every one of those children whose parent has already died in war.
"For those families Peace on Earth is more than just a holiday greeting. It's our daily prayer."
Karen's book, "Hero Mama," which tells the story of what her father's death in Vietnam did to her and her family, will be published next month by William Morrow Co.
