Holiday season trying time for military families

I'll be home for Christmas

The haunting, melancholy Christmas song written by Buck Ram, Kim Gannon and Walter Kent, and popularized by Bing Crosby in 1943, when the outcome of World War II was far from assured, hearkens back to the vain hope of World War I doughboys who thought the "war to end all wars" would be over quickly.

Neither war ended quickly, but both were shorter than the current military engagements in which the United States is involved.

No tune better captures the longing military personnel have to spend time at home, with loved ones, during what is traditionally the biggest holiday of the year.

Current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan differ from previous ones, in that all members of the military are there voluntarily rather than as a result of the draft.

But that doesn't mean the pain of separation is any less real.

More Nebraska Army National Guard members than ever are expected to be stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2010, according to Nebraska Adjustant General Judd Lyons.

About 1,300 Guard members are scheduled to be stationed overseas next year, most of them in Iraq and Afghanistan, but 50 in Kosovo, scene of another international involvement.

The previous high was 1,200 members deployed in the summer of 2006.

Earlier this month, President Barack Obama order an additional 30,000 U.S. troops into Afghanistan, bringing to total to about 100,000 troops.

Lyons, however, said he wasn't sure how much that would affect deployments.

One thing we do know, however, is that each member is leaving behind a wife or husband, parents or children who long every day for their safe return.

Let's hope and pray fewer and fewer of these young men and women have to be away from home next Christmas and Christmases to come.