Mark's Notebook

Transplanted Traditions for Troops in Iraq

Washington Post

Turkey Trot and Holiday Feast Offer Respite at a Base Warmed by thoughts of Home

By Jackie Spinner

Some Thanksgiving traditions, like the Turkey Trot, can be transplanted -- even to the palm groves and farm fields near Baqubah in eastern Iraq. But Thanksgiving Day brought more than a race to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the Army's 1st Infantry Division, whose soldiers are among the 138,000 U.S. troops in Iraq who celebrated the holiday away from their families.

Civilian cooks, with soldiers supervising them, prepared a multi-course meal for the troops. Large silver platters in the center of the dining facility were filled with shrimp cocktail, which soldiers nibbled on while waiting in a long line to reach the servers, in white chef's hats and aprons, dishing out freshly carved roast turkey, prime rib, smoked ham and Cornish hens. There were also fresh crab legs, cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans and hot rolls.

The cooks started Wednesday and worked through the night to make Thanksgiving dinner for 2,013 people. The food was imported from the United States to Kuwait, Abuan said, then sent by truck to a military base in Balad, just north of Baghdad, and on to Warhorse.

"Getting through the holidays means we're that much closer to going home."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13014-2004Nov25.html

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Last updated Tuesday 13 May 2008