Snow Days Heighten Spirits in Afghanistan War Zone (VIDEO)

DISPATCHES FROM AFGHANISTAN
As Tim King shows us in this next report, fresh snow can also go a long way toward lightening the spirits of troops at war.

Camp Phoenix takes on a new look covered in snow. Photo by: Tim King

(KABUL, Afghanistan) - A different kind of battle raged inside the gates of the American military base in Kabul, Afghanistan, it's one is bringing winter cheer, and no casualties.

"It's like a big playground, it's a winter wonderland in Afghanistan," said Janette Arencibia, of the US Navy.

The troops say they needed this; a break from the seriousness of war, where a soldier was graded by the size and accuracy of their snowball, suddenly they were all like a bunch of kids.

I took cover behind a row of Humvees, word was out the guy with the camera on his shoulder was worth a hundred points. No medics were needed, even though they were right in the line of the other team's fire.

And the winners? The Oregon Guard’s Brian Miller said, "Oh, it was a group effort, everybody split up into their opposite teams but I think we were victorious."

"We were the heroes, remember that Charlie Med, all these guys right here," argues Cynthia Follansbee of the Oregon Guard.

For a few minutes, all that counted was fun.

Another Oregon Guard member, Andy Barker settled the dispute, "It was a tossup, one side against the other, it was a pretty good even match, we had fun."

But soon machines came through and removed the team's ammunition, they had to call it quits for the night. Then the Oklahoma Guard decided to keep up the holiday spirit in another traditional way.

While trimming the make-shift Christmas tree without a star for a top, Jeff Cooke commented, "It's really pretty out here, it makes it look more like home than where we're at."

The snow took the troops by surprise, and news that it would last for the coming days accompanied the setting sun.

But most say of these soldiers say Jack Frost won't be bringing the blues to Camp Phoenix.

Cassandra Curry of the Oregon Guard said, "Were good about keeping our eyes out on each other, looking out for each other, making sure everybody's OK, always do the pat on the back, spirits are really high here, that helps, you know what part of that is, people believe in why we're here, and that really helps."

The snow around Kabul, Afghanistan was expected to last for about four days.

Watch the Video News Report below, direct from Kabul, Afghanistan by Tim King:

Tim holds awards for reporting, photography, writing and editing, including the Silver Spoke Award by the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (2011), Excellence in Journalism Award by the Oregon Confederation of Motorcycle Clubs (2010), Oregon AP Award for Spot News Photographer of the Year (2004), First-place Electronic Media Award in Spot News, Las Vegas, (1998), Oregon AP Cooperation Award (1991); and several others including the 2005 Red Cross Good Neighborhood Award for reporting. Tim has several years of experience in network affiliate news TV stations, having worked as a reporter and photographer at NBC, ABC and FOX stations in Arizona, Nevada and Oregon. Tim was a member of the National Press Photographer's Association for several years and is a current member of the Orange County Press Club.

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