American and British troops celebrate Christmas

Описание: (25 Dec 2001)

1. Two shots wreckage of planes at Bagram airport
2. Armed British Marines walking across tarmac
3. Wide shot of hangar and tarmac
4. Member of security force putting star on top of makeshift Christmas tree
5. Member of US force talking member of British Marines
6. British and US troops mingling
7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Major Vic Harris, Bagram Public Affairs Office (from Yellow Springs, US State of Ohio)
"The thing that's missing most for me is my family. I'd certainly like to have my family here so I could celebrate Christmas with them or be back there with them, but I think that most soldiers would say they miss their family the most."
8. Unloading of supplies on jeep
9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Roy Dove, British Marine, Medical Assistant
"I'm missing my baby daughter who's 21 weeks old in two or three days time, my wife, all my family and all my friends, they're all back home in Swindon in England and I just want to say hi to them all."
10. US troops sitting at table and showing Christmas cards to each other
11. Close up card reading "God Bless America"
12. Wide shot troops at table showing cards, with makeshift Christmas tree in background
13. Close up card reading "Merry Christmas and a Happy New York"
14. Various British and US troops praying at table, standing holding hands
15. Various troops queuing up for Christmas lunch
16. Various troops eating Christmas lunch
17. Tilt down from top of airport hangar to show troops eating at table
18. Various US troops singing Christmas Carol
19. Various troops phoning home on satellite phone borrowed from media
20. Various troops playing American football
21. US troops saying "Merry Christmas Matt"

STORYLINE:

US and British troops stationed in Afghanistan celebrated a Christmas lunch provided by the German government followed by a game of American football.

Christmas was celebrated by around 50 members of the US armed forces and 10 British Royal Marines at the airbase in Bagram, 40 kilometres (25 miles) north of the capital, Kabul.

The British Royal Marines celebrating lunch were stationed in Afghanistan before their compatriots arrived last Thursday.

Fifty-three British Royal Marines landed at Bagram airport, near Kabul last Thursday, to spearhead a 1,500-strong British contingent of the new UK-led international peacekeeping force.

Around 100 Royal Marines are already in the country to lead a force that will eventually number 3,000 to 5,000.

The multinational force will be under overall US military authority, with the promise of American assistance in an emergency.

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