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US soldier in Iraq spreads holiday cheer

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An audio postcard from a US base in Iraq, courtesy of independent radio producer Jake Warga. He spoke to one soldier at the base who is performing holiday songs to cheer up his comrades this time of year.

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This text below is a phonetic transcript of a radio story broadcast by PRI’s THE WORLD. It has been created on deadline by a contractor for PRI. The transcript is included here to facilitate internet searches for audio content. Please report any transcribing errors to theworld@pri.org. This transcript may not be in its final form, and it may be updated. Please be aware that the authoritative record of material distributed by PRI’s THE WORLD is the program audio.

MARCO WERMAN: US troops deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq face very difficult and dangerous conditions daily.  But this time of year they also face the added hardship of being away from home during the holidays.  Often they try to cope by cheering each other on.  Independent radio producer Jake Warga is embedded with the US Army at Camp Speicher in northern Iraq.  That’s where he spoke with one of the soldiers who performed at a holiday concert there.  Jake sent us this audio postcard.

SGT JODY MANFORD: My name is Sergeant 1^st Class Jody Manford from Black River, New York and I’m serving with the 3^rd Infantry Division band, from Fort Stewart, Georgia.

JODY: [SONG – I’LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS]

JODY: My favorite song that I performed today would have to be I’ll Be Home for Christmas because it touches a big part of my heart. The 3^rd Infantry Division band has been at Camp Speicher since October of 2009.  We’re here for a yearlong deployment.  We just gave our Christmas concert and we’re getting ready to take the show to different cops in the local Iraqi area, to spread the word of music and to get in the holiday spirit.  What I’d like for Christmas is to make it through this deployment in one piece and to have health and happiness throughout the world.  I hope that everybody has a wonderful and happy holiday season.

MARCO: That audio postcard sent to us by independent radio producer Jake Warga at Camp Speicher in northern Iraq.  This is PRI.

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