Cold winter Christmas for troops

Corporal Denton Paterson does not get many traditional family Christmases.

In recent years, the New Zealand Army soldier from Burnham has spent the festive season serving in Bosnia and East Timor.

This Christmas, he will again be separated from his family - partner Sharmaine, and daughters Sheridan, Kianna, and Nikita - while he serves in Afghanistan.

"You never really get used to it. But I suppose it does get a bit easier," he says.

"We'll write heaps of letters ... and ring when we can. It should be all right."

Corporal Paterson was one of 84 Army, Navy and Air Force personnel who left Christchurch for Afghanistan yesterday.

They will relieve members of the New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team, which has been providing security and rebuilding communities in the Bamian province since August. For the new arrivals such as Corporal Paterson, it will mean making the best of Christmas in the freezing temperatures of the Afghanistan winter.

"We'll have fun. It always is with the Kiwis," he says.

He expects his previous experience serving overseas will be of some use in Afghanistan, where he will lead a section of nine soldiers providing security.

He cites Bosnia as being helpful with dealing with the weather.

"It should be similar circumstances. We always have a reasonable knowledge of the area we are going into, but there is always going to be bit of an unknown."

All New Zealand personnel in Bamian are armed for their own security, but Corporal Paterson is hopeful he will not need to use his weapon.

"We are always ready if something does happen."

- NZPA