We’re gunner miss you all
Gunners Ross Mccarty, Christian Sheehan, Steven Desmond, Jamie Kenny and Sgt Ger Shaw HUNDREDS of our brave troops will spend this Christmas away from their families on peacekeeping missions.
Six hundred Defence Forces members are serving in 13 different countries around the world and they’ve shared their touching messages for everyone at home.
Almost two thirds (379) of these are serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon and were visited by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar yesterday.
Another 136 personnel are deployed on the Golan Heights in Syria, one of which is Sgt John Murray, from Athlone, Co West- meath. He is preparing to spend his third Christmas away from his family, including his fiancee Aisling and his children Ethan, three, and one-year-old Brook.
Sgt Murray said: “We’ll get together in our shared room and decorate it together.
“The cooks here will also make excellent food, no doubt, on Christmas Day.
“We make the absolute best of it, however, it’s never the same as home. I will miss my kids and my fiancee.”
Sgt Murray revealed it’s a lot easier to keep in touch with people at home these days.
He added: “It used to be very Cpn Tarlach Doorley Pte Stephen Barry Sgt Jemma Davison, FS John Mccarthy and Cpl Lily Ray difficult to keep in touch overseas, we had to send letters.
“However it’s a lot easier now with social media and there’s good Wi-fi provided in Camp Ziouani.
“Being overseas is tough. However, from the training and the amount of time we spend together over here we now know each other Cpl Jason Rhattigan and Signalman Darren Carrie very well. We’re same boat.
“Ultimately, we have a peacekeeping job to do so even on Christmas Day we are on duty and ready to go in case of a callout with our Quick Reaction Force.
“It’s definitely fulfilling because we’re always active and doing something for the security of the region.
“Apart from the operations we have a great training schedule which helps us to improve our soldiering.
“Also we do some sports with each other in the camp such as soccer, volleyball and rugby. Aside all in the