Bushes wishes troops Merry Christmas

WASHINGTON, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- President George Bush Monday telephoned 10 armed forces members overseas to wish them a Merry Christmas and thank them for serving the nation.

Soldiers and military personnel receiving presidential greetings were in all branches of the military and were stationed in multiple locations throughout Iraq, along with sites in Afghanistan, the Persian Gulf, the Bering Sea and Germany, a White House press release said.

Recipients of presidential calls included Coast Guard Boatswain Mate 1st Class Michael Tapp of Grand Haven, Mich.; Army Staff Sgt. Anthony Lewis; Army Spc. Joseph Sizemore of Snowshow, W.V.; Marine Cpl. Orlando Anaya of Roswell, N.M.; Marine Sgt. Joseph Jenkins of Grand Prairie, Texas; Air Force Airman 1st Class Rachael Whitlaw; Senior Airman LaTishia Hall; Navy Electrician 1st Class Kelly Mumm of Neola, Iowa; and Claudine "Toni" Gayle, Navy personnel specialist first class, of Virginia Beach, Va.