[Wolf Blitzer, Cnn Anchor:] As we mentioned, hundreds of U.S. Marines in Kandahar are now on high alert. Even so, they're making the best of this holiday so far from home. CNN's Bill Hemmer is there too.
[Bill Hemmer, Cnn Correspondent:] For the U.S. Marines in Kandahar, Afghanistan, the holidays won't necessarily be happy, but they will be busy. In fact, when the sun goes down, oftentimes the activity picks up at a greater clip. Giant cargo planes come in, land, and dump more supplies and more cargo almost every 30 minutes throughout the entire night. When the Marines first came here 11 days ago, they had no heat, no running water, no electricity. Still, on this day, they are absent of those amenities, but with each plane that arrives and with each passing day, certainly the conditions improve for the better. As for the holidays, there was a midnight mass on Christmas Eve late Christmas Eve for those who want to attend. There are other religious services scheduled on Christmas Day. But as for the Marines here, the holidays will not come without their work continuing. The Marines are staying busy. With the U.S. Marines in southern Afghanistan, I'm Bill Hemmer, CNN, reporting.