U.S. service members and civilians working at the Taqqadum Air Base west of Baghdad in 2006 enjoy Thanksgiving Day dinner with all the trimmings. This year's meal will feed close to 350,000 troops and civilians in the Middle East.Troops to devour 171 tons of turkeysBy Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Nov 20, 2007 20:03:59 EST
Unlike Charles Dickens’ hungry orphan, Oliver Twist, who begged of his master, “Please sir, may I have some more?” many troops dining in the war zone this Thanksgiving will have all the turkey and trimmings they can eat.
Dinner organizers have planned meals for an estimated 350,000 U.S. service members, contractors and other hungry invitees working in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Dubai and Djibouti.
For this year’s holiday, the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia began shipping food to theater in July. Last month, it was parceled out to dining facilities using trucks, helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.
“We cannot bring the families of the troops together on Thanksgiving Day, so our goal is to bring a taste of home to our troops in harm’s way,” Ray Miller, director of the DSCP’s subsistence directorate, said in an e-mail.
Responding to requirements from chow hall managers who placed their orders in May, the DSCP has sent more than 171 tons of whole turkeys, turkey breasts and turkey thighs to those serving in the Middle East.
For meat lovers who want a little variety, there will also be about 60 tons of shrimp, 81 tons of beef and 44 tons of ham.
Rest of article at:
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/11/army_holidaymeals_071119w/