All in the line of duty for the troops at Christmas

IT may be a long, long way from Clare to Camp Shamrock in South Lebanon but for six Clare soldiers, it is all in the line of duty.
The Clare troopers are serving with the 105 Infantry Battalion UNIFIL and spent the festive period on duty, maintaining the battalion’s intense programme of patrols and security duties.
However, for Captain Colm Tubridy (Doonbeg), Lieutenant Colm Hogan and Private Barry O’Gorman (Kilrush), Corporal Colin O’Callaghan (Ennis), Gunner Emma O’Reilly (Shannon) and Private Mark Slattery (Clarecastle), Christmas Day was like any other day. 
As the cooks of the 105 Infantry Battalion worked feverishly from the early hours to prepare what was a Christmas dinner of note for over 400 personnel, the Clare troops went about their business of preparing weapons, equipment and Mowag Piranha III Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) for several patrols into the Irish Battalion Area of Operations (AO).
Staff officer Captain Paul Holohan admits it is a sobering moment for any soldier in South Lebanon when on Christmas morning, they draw their personnel weapon from stores to go on patrol at 06.30hrs, a time where they may normally be exchanging gifts under the Christmas tree with loved ones at home.
“Christmas morning patrols depart Camp Shamrock with the threat from roadside bombs or rocket attacks ever present, even on this of holy days,” he says.
In Camp Shamrock, UN Post 6-5 home of the Irish troops in South Lebanon, the troops rotated through dinner at different timings, allowing the patrol schedule to be maintained without interruption.
For the two Irish platoons serving on the Blue Line in UN Post 6-50 and UN Post 6-52 after contacting home to loved ones, dinner was their next highlight of the day as they returned from their patrol duties along the Blue Line.
The troops on the Blue Line positions received mass from Rev Fr Tom Brady after which they enjoyed their well-earned traditional Christmas dinner of turkey, ham, Brussel sprouts and, of course, Christmas pudding.
The troops on UN Post 6-52, who enjoyed this small respite, were saved little time to digest their Christmas dinner as they were called out to an incident along the Blue Line.
As they say, all in the line of duty and for the Clare troopers, this term of duty will end mid-May.