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Thanksgiving Day With U.S. Troops in Afghanistan

Nov. 22, 2012 1:18pm Christopher Santarelli

U.S. Army Master Sgt. Wade Manol explains the rules of football to players during a six-team competition to mark Thanksgiving at the U.S.-led coalition base in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)

(AP) — It was Army Sgt. Keith Wells’ first Thanksgiving Day away from his family and despite a cornucopia of food provided for the troops, his taste buds were craving his wife’s macaroni and cheese back home.

“My wife’s a foodie – you know the Food Network, cooking shows. Everything she makes is golden,” Wells of Charlotte, N.C., said Thursday at a large international military base in the Afghan capital, Kabul.

The dining hall served up mac-and-cheese along with traditional Thanksgiving Day fixings. Wells was thankful for the good food, but he still missed his wife’s home-cooking.

Huge hunks of beef greeted the estimated 2,500 diners as soldiers lined up in the dining hall. Red-white-and-blue decorations filled the room. Brochures titled “Learn about combat stress” served as table centerpieces.

There was roast turkey, sliced turkey, ham and rib-eye steaks. The troops were served steaming side dishes of dressing, corn, collard greens, yams and mashed potatoes and gravy that some lapped up with spoons. For dessert, there was a massive cake with a turkey etched in icing, pumpkin spice cookies and scores of pies.

A short walk from the dining hall, service members were playing a modified version of American football.

Parts of the scene could have come from a snapshot of any U.S. city: American guys in sweats tossing the pigskin, a scoreboard, a coin toss to start the game.

But on this military base, concrete barriers surrounded the field. The referees wore camouflaged shirts and the spectators carried rifles. The artificial turf was frayed and so dusty that when one player spiked the football, a puff of dirt rose from the field.

The players used a regulation football, but the game was a mix of football, soccer and rugby to fit the short field.

Some soldiers commented about the 11-year-old war that has claimed the lives of 2,029 American service members.

Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Chuck Minton of Monroe, Ga., who has traveled extensively across Afghanistan, was optimistic. “It’s been progressing here, getting better. The Afghans have taken over more missions,” Minton said.

President Barack Obama pulled 10,000 troops out of Afghanistan in 2011 and 23,000 more this year, leaving about 66,000 American service members still deployed in the country. Nearly all international combat troops are to withdraw by the end of 2014 when Afghan forces will be fully in charge of securing the nation.

Army Maj. Rodney Gehrett of Colorado Springs, Colo., said he was surprised that the war was barely mentioned during the last U.S. presidential election – evidence that some Americans had tuned out the news from the front line a half a world away.

Thanksgiving with US Troops in Afghanistan (AP)

“The war in Afghanistan wasn’t even brought up as a topic of conversation” during the election, Gehrett said. “It was a little surprising to me. Hopefully, that will change and people will realize that we still have troops here and they are fighting every day.”

Army Sgt. Adam Draughn of Denver, Colo., said some people back home have the impression that the Afghan people don’t want American troops in their country.

“Honestly, I think the biggest misconception in my opinion is that, you know, we actually are loved here,” Draughn said. “The nationals do care about us. They do want us here to help them. We’re not here uninvited.”

Most of the holiday chatter, however, was focused on family.

Taking a break from the game, Army Capt. Robert Mikyska of North Aurora, Ill., pulled out a photocopied photo that was taken of he and his wife just before he deployed to Afghanistan nine months ago.

“Hi, honey!” Mikyska said, looking at the picture. “In a couple weeks, I’ll be home. I can’t wait to be back.”

“My family’s here,” Army Spc. Ricky Clay, also of Monroe, Ga., said as he smiled and embraced his teammates on the sidelines of the football field.

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Comments (26)

Geopatriot
Posted on November 23, 2012 at 3:44pm
Geepers! Where was President Obama this year? He could have thanked them for re-electing him. Maybe he didn’t show up, since the military would have voted against him 2 to 1 in favor of Romney. Oh but we can’t confirm that since almost all of the absentee ballots either got delayed or they were on that plane that crashed. Pile this on to the wonderful Rules of Engagement, which has doubled the casualty rate since Obama took over or maybe the Benghazi cover-up. I’m sure the dining hall could do without a surprise visit by someone who obviously would NOT be very welcome.

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SaturdaysWarrior76
Posted on November 23, 2012 at 9:45am
Heartfelt Thanks to all of our Military! (Active and Retired) KEEP THE FAITH! We are depending on you now more than ever. We know our blessed Military will do the right thing and always fight for America and Freedom. Godspeed! We love you!

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- SaturdaysWarrior76
  Posted on November 23, 2012 at 10:05am
  I saw a vet the other day wearing an army t-shirt and shorts, with one prosthetic leg. My heart went to my throat, I got into my car and cried. I knew he’d lost that leg in service of this country and all it stands for. I don’t think I will ever get that image out of my mind. Nor will I ever be able to expess the gratitude I felt that day for this Soldier’s sacrifice. Again, Thank you Troops and God Bless.
  
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scrapadapolis
Posted on November 23, 2012 at 6:33am
I’ve never been so proud of Americans who posted on this artical.Not one troll comment.I love our troops and they love America,Thats why their over there..Make someone smile Have you thanked a VET lately?

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HUGGINGMYBABIES
Posted on November 23, 2012 at 2:38am
God bless you all! Thank you for my freedom and I thank you for your sacrifices! May God bless your families, keep you safe and shower you with his goodness, always! You ARE the salt if the earth!

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- Ed_North
  Posted on November 23, 2012 at 5:26am
  Thank God for our military, I hope we still have one after another four years of Obama. Read fresh political commentary at: http://smallcraftadvisorychronicles.blogspot.com/
  
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hannahh
Posted on November 22, 2012 at 11:22pm
To all of you wonderful troops, thank you and God bless you:-)

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SilentReader
Posted on November 22, 2012 at 10:40pm
Thank you, troops. You’re the best!

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LeadNotFollow
Posted on November 22, 2012 at 9:52pm
.
May God bless and protect our troops.
Thank you for keeping us safe.

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rickc34
Posted on November 22, 2012 at 7:25pm
To our men and women active duty and retired..Thank You for serving and may God watch over you…

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Banter
Posted on November 22, 2012 at 6:11pm
God bless the troops. You are the true heroes in our continual fight for freedom. My family prays for your safety, and your safe return home to loved ones.

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tnman65
Posted on November 22, 2012 at 6:01pm
Having served myself, they need not think everyone has forgotten about them. They are in my prayers everyday. To steal a quote from mercenary4freedom. They have all written a blank check for their lives. That’s how I felt when I served. Do with me what you will during the time that you have me. I wish all of them a Happy Thanksgiving and a quick and safe return. God Bless All Of You.

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garbagecanlogic
Posted on November 22, 2012 at 5:20pm
May they ALL come home safe and in one piece physically and mentally.

Praise Be To Obama. Psalm 109:8

The U.S. Out Of The U.N.
The U.N. Out Of The U.S.

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GlennaBeckski
Posted on November 22, 2012 at 2:45pm
A huge thanks to all who are serving and who have served our country. God Bless and enjoy this day of Thanksgiving.. Hopefully you will all be back in the states with your families soon!

I pray that God will place a “hedge of protection” around each and everyone one of you and that you know the Peace and Divine Safety that only He can bestow.

Love to you all..

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okicnow
Posted on November 22, 2012 at 2:30pm
Anyone catch the Detroit lions vs, Houston Texans halftime show? Wonder why when they were flashing famous singer songwriter pictures on the screen from Detroit and surrounding areas, they didnt flash Ted Nuggent. Hmmmmm. Then again, I didnt see Stevie Wonder either.

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allensmithee789
Posted on November 22, 2012 at 1:56pm
All I see are Americans defending our inalienable rights of life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness. God bless them and may we at home remember their families and help get their kids to their sports activities, cook a dinner for a military family, cheer for their kids on the sidelines in lieu of their deployed parents, help with house upkeep (leaves) etc. to show thanks to those who preserve our freedoms.

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psadie
Posted on November 22, 2012 at 1:46pm
Our warriors need to come home now. Bless them all while they fight for us to be free.

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jungle J
Posted on November 22, 2012 at 1:36pm
Why do we only see whites Latins and Asians when they show us pictures? What is going on here?

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- TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
  Posted on November 22, 2012 at 1:46pm
  Are you trying to say something? Spit it out.
  
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- DEFCON4
  Posted on November 22, 2012 at 2:14pm
  @ JJ. I see, “light-green” + “dark green” = “Army Green” !
  
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- mercenary4freedom
  Posted on November 22, 2012 at 2:37pm
  On the 8th day God created the Marines. If everyone could be a Marine, we wouldn’t be The Marines!
  
  God bless them all, Army Navy Air Force, & Coasties too. They alll have written a blank check for their lives in the name of freedom, liberty, & the right for so many to act like idiots like we are seeing way too much these days.
  
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- Wisdom7
  Posted on November 22, 2012 at 3:30pm
  I think you need to look at the pictures again.
  
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- Individualism
  Posted on November 23, 2012 at 11:22am
  Bring them home now! no more war for the zionists islamists or any other foreign ideological factions.
  
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TSUNAMI_22
Posted on November 22, 2012 at 1:29pm
God Bless our troops.

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- TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
  Posted on November 22, 2012 at 1:45pm
  Yes…. most definately. May God Bless them (and their families). May they stay safe and vigilant. Regardless of what one thinks about our wars, it is our men and women in the Military who make the real sacrifices and pays the ultimate price for what OUR country asks of them.
  
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- Jenny Lind
  Posted on November 22, 2012 at 2:02pm
  You bet, God bless every one of them, may they and their families be together soon. This old navy wife knows how tough it is to not be able to huge the one you love on a holiday, that’s why they are in my heart even more today.
  
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