BAGHDAD, Iraq - When Lawrence Countians close their eyes at night, this time of year no one could blame them if they dreamed of warmer climes.

But for one Coal Grove native, Lawrence County may well be in his dreams at night. It is home, and right now, home is very far away.

Adam Koster is a Senior Counterintelligence Agent with the U.S. Army's 30th Brigade Combat Team.

He is currently stationed in an area 75 miles outside of Baghdad. Koster has been in Iraq since February. He gets a two- month leave to come back to the United States in December and January.

"As an agent, my team and I are responsible for collecting information from Iraqi nationals regarding force protection, Koster said.

More specifically, we run missions almost daily into local Iraqi towns to meet sources of information," he said.

"We gather critical intelligence information regarding possible threats to Iraqi Forces and/or Coalition Forces. … We also interrogate prisoners for information regarding their activities leading to their detention, most of which plan or conduct attacks against Iraqi Military/Government forces or Coalition Forces."

Koster is a 1982 Graduate of Dawson Bryant High School. His family - parents Clarence and Donna and brothers Gary and John - still live in Lawrence County.

Clarence Koster said he has not seen his son since he left for Iraq in February. Since then, he said the family has been very worried about him, and very proud, too.

"I put a ribbon on my porch when he left," Clarence Koster said. "I'm proud of him. He's a fine boy and he's missed."

Clarence Koster said he hoped that everyone would support and pray for the American troops.

When he gets leave, Koster will return to Charlotte, N.C., where he lives now with with his wife, Kimberly and his children, Will and Reagan Nicole. He said he hopes to be able to make it back to the Tri-State shortly after Christmas.

In the meantime, he and other American service men and women try to find comforts of home where ever they can.

"They just opened a Burger King at the airbase I am at currently, so I had a Whopper and Fries for Thanksgiving, just one of the many things I missed from the states while deployed," Koster said.

"I also miss the freedom and safety for our families we enjoy so much in the states.

I have witnessed many things here, including the death of Iraqis who wanted to serve their country and support the U.S., as well as dealing with the death of fellow soldiers, fighting for our country."