The winter holidays are coming closer, and for many they will be filled with family gatherings and traditions.

But for the families of soldiers deployed in Iraq, the holiday season will be different.

Lester Stroup Jr. of Sarver has been in Iraq since February. He was in the desert for six months during the Gulf War in 1991, so he is no stranger to serving his country.

He and his wife, Crystal, have had to adjust to maintaining a long-distance relationship: In addition to being apart for the holidays, the Stoups will celebrate their first wedding anniversary on separate continents.

Stateside, Stroup is in a quality and assurance apprenticeship program with Penn United Technologies. His day job in Iraq is much different.

"I am in a National Guard field artillery unit performing a military police mission in Northern Iraq," said Stroup, 32.

As the senior team leader of a personnel security detail, Stroup and his team escort personnel and convoys performing various tasks.

"We are a part of the quick reactionary force that is ready at a moment's notice any time of day to handle emergency situations," he explained.

In September, Stroup took an emergency medical leave to visit his mother, who was scheduled for surgery.

Aside from family and friends, he was eager to taste the finer things in life during his short return home.

Though rain has been a common sight in Butler County this summer and fall, it was something Stroup wished for while he was home.

"He wanted more than anything to see rain. It hasn't rained in five months over there, so when it rained one day when he was home, he was grinning from ear to ear," Crystal Stroup said.

"He was also comforted to be able to drive down the road without being on alert at all times. And being in his own bed was a good feeling for him.

"There are lots of mortar attacks. It was one thing that he didn't have to hear as he was trying to sleep," she added.

Stroup said, "When I came home on emergency leave, I met many people who shook my hand and smiled - saying how much they were behind us.

"I had the opportunity to visit and thank the children at 'His Kids' school for their letters and care packages. One little boy, who had never met me, had named his new puppy Sgt. Stroup.

"I didn't realize until then just how much my community means to me," he said.

As for the upcoming holidays, the Stroups will spend a second season with the war influencing their celebrations.

Last year was the first Christmas for Crystal and Stroup after their wedding Dec. 5. Stroup remembers not allowing his departure on Dec. 29 to get in the way of celebrating.

"We made the most of that Christmas. We went to her parents' house for Christmas Eve and Christmas. We spent a great Christmas together, watching Christmas movies on Christmas Eve and getting up early to exchange gifts with family.

"Both days were all about being with ones we loved and celebrating together," remembered Stroup. "No one talked about my deployment for those two days."

"This year I don't think I'll even think about it being Christmas. To us over here, it will be just another day closer to coming home.

"I'm sure there will be decorations at the dining facility and there will be a special meal - but that isn't enough to make it feel like Christmas," he said.

"To me, Christmas is about being with the ones you love,"

Stroup

said, sharing the same sentiments as his wife.

"This holiday, like the others, I'm sure I will spend with friends and family, but sometimes my emotions get the best of me and I really start missing him," said Crystal, who opted to work Thanksgiving and Christmas this year at her job as a convenience store clerk. Crystal also is a substitute teacher and a bus driver.

"I opted to work every holiday this year to keep my mind off of things.

I know it doesn't sound like an enjoyable way to spend the holidays, but it's the only way for me right now.

"With him gone, a part of me is missing and I cannot find it in myself to go on with the traditional family functions with him being so far away," she added.

SPC. ADAM MCCORMICKof Butler used to work at Wal-Mart unloading trucks. Now he is with the military police somewhere north of Baghdad.For McCormick, the biggest challenge of being in Iraq is the separation from his family."There is no way to judge how you will take it before you leave. But through e-mail, phone calls, letters and love, it has become livable," said McCormick, who is married and has a baby daughter."I have learned through this experience that our preconceived notions, created by media images, or rumors, are often far from the truth. The Iraqi people I have worked with are truly good people."They wish to truly live in peace and thank us daily for coming to help," said McCormick, 24.He said the children best exemplified this."Having a 6-year-old tell you in better English than his parents that he is glad to see Americans in Iraq, really hits the heart."In the states, McCormick works according to a schedule and procedures. In Iraq, he is in a constant state of readiness."We have to be able to drop what we are doing to head out at a moment's notice. Hand-held radios, sign-out rosters and timeliness are the key here," he added.Because of the sand, vehicles and equipment must be cleaned and maintained daily, compared to monthly inspection of such items stateside.In the McCormick household, the holidays will go on for the sake of McCormick's 18-month-old daughter, Cassidy.His wife, Sara McCormick, remembers a different kind of holiday last year."Last year, the three of us celebrated Christmas together. It was bittersweet because Adam was leaving a couple of days later. Holidays and birthdays are important in our family."We usually decorate the house for Halloween and Christmas," said Sara McCormick, who explained Thanksgiving held less significance for their family."My husband and I made a date of it last year picking out Christmas presents for our daughter," she said."I think that the armory might throw a Christmas party again this year like they did last year. Obviously, I cannot wait to see Cassidy's face light up with opening her Christmas presents and for us to go Christmas services," she said."We are religious, and I think that has helped us through this year. I think that will help us get through the Christmas season too," she explained.BOTH STROUP AND MCCORMICKare proud of the accomplishments the military has completed in Iraq.Stroup noted he is even more proud of the mission accomplished by his family and friends stateside."I'm proud of my children for hanging on without me and proud of my friends for being available to my family when they need help. I'm proud of my community for supporting us."Most of all, I'm proud of my wife, who must be strong and take care of everything back home and for spending our first anniversary alone this December and for putting up with my 100 pound puppy by herself," said Stroup.He hopes to return home in February; but as is the life of a soldier, he is prepared for whatever may happen."We are hoping to leave around February, that's when our year is up. We all know that anything can happen though and are ready if it takes longer," he said.