Holiday surprise... Could they wait until a holiday was a bit closer?

[this blows]

Pentagon extends tour of Marines in Afghanistan
By Lolita C. Baldor – 4 hours ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon has extended the tour of 2,200 Marines in Afghanistan, after insisting for months the unit would come home on time.

Marine Col. David Lapan confirmed Thursday that the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which is doing combat operations in the volatile south, will stay an extra 30 days and come home in early November rather than October...