Thanksgiving with the Troops By: Richard Johnson

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Thanksgiving, as many of us understand it, is a uniquely American holiday. While the tradition predates the founding of this country, it has been an important part of our culture for as long as any of us can remember. While days of thanksgiving are common throughout many societies, the formal holiday of Thanksgiving in the United States has added weight and significance here in this country.

Thanksgiving dinner in a foxhole during World War II on the Italian Front north of Rome
Thanksgiving dinner isn’t always at a table. For our troops, Thanksgiving may be celebrated in a foxhole. This soldier eats some holiday turkey during the Italian campaign of World War II. Image: NARA

For many people, Thanksgiving is a time when family members gather to spend time with each other. At its core, however, Thanksgiving is a time of expressing gratitude for the blessings in our lives.

Thanksgiving during the Korean War
U.S. Marines enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner during the Korean War. Commanders did their best to ensure a taste of home for as many men as possible to keep morale up. Image: U.S. Marine Corps

At the prompting of the U.S. Congress in 1789, President George Washington formally selected Thursday, November 26, 1789, as “a day of public thanksgiving and prayer” for the “many signal favors of Almighty God.” Later, President Abraham Lincoln made the holiday a federal one fixed on the final Thursday of November each year. Both of these men were wartime leaders, and both understood that peace, liberty and prosperity were things for which we all should be thankful.

For many American service members deployed abroad, the holiday holds a special significance as a time to express gratitude and for remembrance of loved ones at home. Deployed soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen have found ways to celebrate this quintessentially American holiday, often in challenging and dangerous conditions.

serving Thanksgiving meal at Baghdad International Airport Iraq
U.S.A.F. Master Sgt. Michael Rollins, 447th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron (ERS), serves a hearty Thanksgiving meal to military personnel at Baghdad International Airport (IAP), Iraq. Image: NARA

Americans in combat make do with what they have available. For Thanksgiving religious services, chaplains have used altars made of ammo cans or the hood of a jeep. Turkey dinners are flown to men at remote outposts where they may be eaten crouched down in a foxhole. For a G.I. on the battlefield, some time at peace with a carved turkey with sides of stuffing, potatoes and a pie wedge can make for a little flavor of home.

USS New York CA-2 Thanksgiving program
Program of the Thanksgiving Day 1898 entertainment on board the USS New York (CA-2). Image: U.S. Navy

We here at The Armory Life want to express our gratitude to all those men and women deployed — both today, and in the past — during Thanksgiving.

U.S. soldiers chase turkeys for Thanksgiving dinner in England 1943
After receiving permission from the farm owner, these U.S. soldiers stationed at the Norfolk, England air base invade a turkey pen to find Thanksgiving dinner in 1943. Image: NARA

We’ve assembled this photo essay of our troops serving on Thanksgiving. We hope that you take a few minutes to scroll through and appreciate — as we do — what your fellow countrymen have sacrificed so that all of us can be with friends and family today.

Task Force Ripper Thanksgiving dinner 1st Marine Division Operation Desert Shield 1990
Cooks from the Task Force Ripper mess hall prepare to serve Thanksgiving Day dinner at the 1st Marine Division combat operations center (COC) during Operation Desert Shield in 1990. Image: NARA

And for our readers who have spent part of their own lives deployed during the holidays, thank you. Please visit our forum and share your experiences with other readers — many of which who have likely served or are still serving today.

US Navy sailor eats Thanksgiving meal on USS Okinawa LPH-3 in 1987
In 1987, an air controlman eats his Thanksgiving dinner while keeping an eye on the radar scope in the helicopter direction center aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Okinawa (LPH 3). Image: NARA
Thanksgiving celebration on USS Charleston C-2 1893
Thanksgiving Day celebrations on board the USS Charleston (C-2) in November 1893, at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Image: U.S. Navy
US Marines eat Thanksgiving dinner in Saudi Arabia Operation Desert Shield
U.S. Marines sit in the sand to eat their Thanksgiving Day dinners in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield. Image: NARA
wounded US soldier in American Red Cross hospital during World War I
This wounded American soldier had Thanksgiving dinner in bed provided by the American Red Cross. Photo taken at American Military Hospital No. 1 at Neuilly, 1918. Image: Library of Congress
Thanksgiving Day church services on USS Santa Fe World War II Gilberts campaign
Crew members attend Thanksgiving Day religious services on the after deck of the USS Santa Fe (CL-60), during the Gilberts campaign in November 1943. Image: NARA
President Donald J Trump eats with US Army soldiers at Bagram Air Base Afghanistan
President Donald J. Trump talks with U.S. troops during a 2019 Thanksgiving meal at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. Image: Shealah Craighead/Official White House Photograph
sketch of Thanksgiving dinner in Union Army camp 1861 Civil War
This sketch shows a Thanksgiving celebration in a Union Army camp during the Civil War. It was sketched on November 28, 1861 by Alfred R. Waud
US Marine eats Thanksgiving dinner on USS Carl Vinson
U.S. Marines eat Thanksgiving dinner aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) in 1984. Image: PHAN David L. Miller/U.S. Navy
Lt.Col. W.W. Stickney cuts Thanksgiving cake with Japanese sword on Guadalcanal
Lt. Col. W.W. Stickney, U.S.M.C., the commanding officer, cuts a Thanksgiving cake with a Japanese officer’s sword at Guadalcanal, as hungry Leathernecks look on. Image: U.S. Marine Corps
Thanksgiving military operations Vietnam War 1967
It’s not all Turkey and stuffing. In this Vietnam War photo, Marines fire a 105mm M101 howitzer in support of 1/1 “E” Company 2/12 near Con Thien on Thanksgiving Day 1967. Image: U.S. Marine Corps
US Navy pilots prepare for bombing missions on Thanksgiving Day 1952 in the Korean War
USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31) aircraft are prepared for a 1952 Thanksgiving Day strike against the communists in North Korea. In the foreground are Grumman F9F Panther jets. Image: U.S. Navy
comedian Jay Leno performs for US troops on Thanksgiving during Operation Desert Shield
In 1990, comedian Jay Leno entertains U.S. military personnel on Thanksgiving Day. Leno was part of a USO tour during Operation Desert Shield. Image: NARA
US soldiers play baseball on Thanksgiving Day during World War II in India
U.S. soldiers play baseball on Thanksgiving Day 1943. The men were stationed at an air base at Chabua, Upper Assam, India during World War II. Image: NARA
sailors on the battleship USS North Dakota run an obstacle course on Thanksgiving Day 1919
Aboard the battleship USS North Dakota (BB-29), sailors climb an obstacles during Thanksgiving Day festivities in 1919. Image: U.S. Navy
turkeys for Thanksgiving dinner on the USS Okinawa
In 1987, a mess management specialist puts turkeys in the oven for Thanksgiving dinner aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Okinawa (LPH-3), Image: NARA
President George W Bush serves Thanksgiving dinner to US troops in Iraq
President George W. Bush helps serve Thanksgiving dinner to U.S. soldiers at the Bob Hope Dining Facility in 2003. The dining hall was located in Baghdad International Airport, Iraq. Image: NARA
Thanksgiving Day menu Parris Island SC 1916
A Thanksgiving Day menu for a dinner held at the Marine Barracks, Parris Island, South Carolina on November 30, 1916. Image: U.S. Marines
US troops in religious service on banks of Yalu River Korean War 1950 Thanksgiving
With a Jeep for an altar and Manchurian Hills for a backdrop, Chaplain Burgess P. Riddle conducts Thanksgiving Day services on the banks of the frozen Yalu River at Hyesanjin, North Korea. Image: Jack Walsh/NARA
First Marine Air Wing 1943 Thanksgiving Day
Men of the First Marine Air Wing celebrate Thanksgiving in 1943 with a mostly traditional feast. Image: U.S. Marine Corps
wounded US Marine is fed Thanksgiving dinner by nurse on USS Repose hospital ship
Wounded in combat, Pfc. Jack Newman, U.S.M.C., is assisted by a U.S. Navy nurse with Thanksgiving dinner. They were aboard the USS Repose (AH-16) at Inchon, South Korea. Image: U.S. Navy
British soldier served Thanksgiving dinner by American US Marines 1st Marine Division Operation Desert Shield Gulf War
The 1st Marine Division introduced this British soldier to an American Thanksgiving dinner during Operation Desert Shield. Image: NARA
US soldiers Manila Philippines Thanksgiving dinner 1899
U.S. troops have Thanksgiving dinner during the Philippine-American War in 1899. They were stationed at Pasay near outer Manila. Image: NARA
program for Thanksgiving football game between US Marine regiments
Shown is the cover of a program for a Thanksgiving day football game between the 4th Marine and 6th Marine regiments. Image: U.S. Marine Corps
Women's Army Corps Thanksgiving dinner with German war orphans
In 1946, Women’s Army Corps (WAC) Colonel Westray Battle Boyce shares a Thanksgiving dinner with two German orphans in Frankfurt, Germany. Image: NARA
Thanksgiving turkey prepared for 5th Marine Regiment near Chosin Reservoir
A Thanksgiving turkey is prepared for the members of the 5th Marine Regiment near Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War. A few days later, these Marines would be in a fight for their lives against the communist Chinese in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. Image: Sgt. F. C. Kerr/NARA
US soldier returns to his family on Thanksgiving Day 2005
Surrounded by family members, Specialist Elijah Cooley and his unit returned home on Thanksgiving after a 12 month deployment to Iraq. Image: NARA

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