U.S. Troops Chow Down Spirits High As Soldiers Get Their First Hot Meal In About A Week

The bitter cold and a miserable rain failed to dampen the spirits of heavily armed U.S. soldiers who enjoyed Christmas Day dinners as President Clinton assured them their assignment was “the most noble mission of all.”

Chaplains passed out Christmas cards written by 7-year-olds in Morristown, N.J., as more than 1,200 soldiers entered the mess hall to wolf down their first hot meal in a week or more. A Santa Claus with a Bosnian accent arrived in a horse-drawn cart to distribute gift packages of candy, courtesy of the Mars candy company.

For a few hours, at least, the first wave of the 20,000 U.S. troops that are to be stationed in Bosnia was able to relax and quietly reflect on loved ones left at home.

Harry Rauch, 40, of Friendswood, Texas, an Army chaplain with the Conservative Baptist Church, delivered a pre-meal message. He preached of the prince of peace and told soldiers that the peacemakers are blessed and shall be called the children of God.

Merry Christmas, chaplain, the soldiers said. Then they moved in to tend to their temporal needs: turkey, ham, sweet corn, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, chocolate mousse, collard greens, black eyed peas, rolls, apple, mince and pumpkin pies, and fresh oranges, pears, apples and a variety of nuts.

But, alas, no mashed potatoes or stuffing. The omission was noted by more than a few GIs.

The ambience - rain, air pollution, no candlelight or soft music - was lousy, and the fare received mixed reviews. Yet no one was really complaining. It sure beat the dreaded prepackaged MRE Meal Ready to Eat - they had been living on for the past week or so.