A Military Thanksgiving

From the Stars and Stripes:
"Thanksgiving Army-style at remote base in Afghanistan"

COMBAT OUTPOST BOWRI TANA, Afghanistan — As she prepares Thanksgiving lunch and dinner here, Spc. Nikki Barthelemey faces a few holiday challenges — cooking the turkey evenly, finishing side dishes on time, avoiding incoming mortar fire. Wait — what? Barthelemey is head cook for an Army infantry company at this outpost in remote east Afghanistan near the Pakistan border, a transit region for militants entering the country, and an unlikely setting for a traditional American Thanksgiving. Yet that’s how Barthelemey is spending the day, cooking a meal that rivals what Company C, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, is missing during deployment. “Just want everybody to be happy,” she said. “You can’t be with your family, but you can be with me.” She’s offering a full menu, from fried and roasted turkey to ham and a 75-pound beef “steamship round” roast. She’ll have traditional sides such as stuffing, green bean casserole and cranberry sauce, and dessert that includes pie, cookies and ice cream. Entering the third month of a nine-month deployment, soldiers with the 3-187 and its parent unit, the 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, have spent their days patrolling villages and training local security forces, and their evenings on guard duty or running nighttime operations.

^ Americans need to remember the men and women who continue to risk their lives to protect our country - especially on Thanksgiving. It is great that the soldiers in the warzone also get to celebrate a traditional Thanksgiving - it's the least the military can do to thank the soldiers for their service. ^

 

http://www.stripes.com/news/thanksgiving-army-style-at-remote-base-in-afghanistan-1.197979