Share your favorite photo or memory from a Thanksgiving you spent away from home

RallyPoint Team — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 14:38:31 -0500

We want to hear Thanksgiving stories. Share your favorite holiday memory or funny story below.

Response by PVT Mark Zehner made Nov 10 at 2020 2:41 PM

PVT Mark Zehner — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 14:41:53 -0500

Thank you for the post!

Response by SGT Robert R. made Nov 10 at 2020 2:44 PM

SGT Robert R. — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 14:44:16 -0500

I don't have many pictures of me during my life in the military. I regret that.

Thanksgiving in West Berlin was awesome. We had invited single soldiers to our house and had a huge feast. Thanksgiving in Korea meant eating in the DFAC and being served by officers in their blues.

The military life sure gave me a lot of opportunities and experiences.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Nov 10 at 2020 3:02 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 15:02:39 -0500

Thank you for the share RallyPoint Team , unfortunately I have no way of sending a picture, thank you though for the great share.

Response by SN Donald Costello made Nov 18 at 2020 7:22 PM

SN Donald Costello — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 19:22:22 -0500

My memories of a Holiday while serving on the CVA- Ticonderoga was witnessing the landing and recovery of the Apollo 16 Astronauts. I was also part of the recovery of Apollo 17, and Skylab.

Response by CPT Wayne Price made Nov 18 at 2020 9:04 PM

CPT Wayne Price — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 21:04:11 -0500

Shared caring and mutual support.

Response by SP5 Alan HIldebrant made Nov 18 at 2020 10:45 PM

SP5 Alan HIldebrant — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 22:45:18 -0500

1968 at Fire Support Base 22 (3rd/7th Battalion, 199th Lt Inf Brigade), south of Saigon, west of Binh Chanh, I didn't finish up and make it to the mess tent until everyone one had eaten and left. The cooks were cleaning up. The cooks unpacked the food and made me my own special thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings. I ate alone at a table while they finished cleaning up, but I really felt special that they would do that for me, not just throw me a C ration.

Just now all of the memories are flowing back into my head, but that was a good memory that stuck with me. It was years before I would ever eat on a paper plate again with plastic utensils.

If anyone from the 179th MID, 199th Lt Inf Brigade reads this, please contact me. I'd love to her from you.

Alan Hildebrant
[login to see]

Response by LT Rosalee Adams made Nov 18 at 2020 11:40 PM

LT Rosalee Adams — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 23:40:41 -0500

During my years on active duty, I never had the opportunity to go home either
due to job need or distance (when my parents were overseas. Dad was in I Corps
and mom lived in Bangkok).
I always offered to stand OOD to relieve officers who had families
However, I
never felt deprived because I was always with my 'family'
(am also a Navy brat)

Response by MSG Robert Gaspar made Nov 19 at 2020 4:26 AM

MSG Robert Gaspar — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 04:26:26 -0500

I WAS IN THE BORDER SAUDI ARIABIA AND Iraq, BEFORE THE WAR STARTED, THE BRING THE TURKEY WITH ALL EVERYTHING VIA HELICOPTER IN OUR CAMP, AND WHEN I SEE THE PUMKEN PEI I WAS SO EXCITED AN I SEE THANK YOU LORD FOR THE FOOD AND THE TURKEY, WHILE WE ARE EATING THE DUST STORM ARRIVE AND HEAVY SO, THE TURKEY DINNER WAS SAD I DID NOT EVEN EAT MY PUMKEN PIE BECAUSE IS SO MUCH DUST AND THROUGH ALL MY DENNER IN THE TRUSH CAN AND COVER MY FACE, HEAD WITH TOWEL AND SEAT DOWN THINKING MY FAMILY, IT SO HARD FOR ME, BEING A SOLDIER AN NO MATTER WHAT IS JUST DRIVE ON, HOAH THESE IS MSG. ROBERT GASPAR ( SERVE IN THE ARMY FOR 25 YEARS AND,19 DAYS AND 4 HOURS.) AND MY MOTO IS I DONT TAKE NO FOR ANSWER )

Response by SPC Steve Barusso made Nov 19 at 2020 7:22 AM

SPC Steve Barusso — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 07:22:20 -0500

It was 1956, after graduating from basic traininng,I was flying to Fort Rucker for training to be a Helicopter Crew Chief on thanksgiving day. It was my first flight in a aircraft packed with others going to this destination.
When we landed, we transferred to the base very hungry from this long day of travel. When we went to the mess hall all the dinner for thanksgiving was gone and all operations for that day was all over. The mess sSargent apologized for this and said all that he had was hot dogs. Needless to say that was thanksgiving dinner that day.

Response by PO3 Edward Gerhardt made Nov 19 at 2020 8:55 AM

PO3 Edward Gerhardt — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 08:55:10 -0500

It was Thanksgiving in 1969. Assigned to the CGC STORIS in the ship yard for repairs. Back then it was required to be in uniform when off ship for liberty. The Seattle area was a very military friendly area. I was walking along a road in the morning when a car pulled up along side me and a couple in the car asked where I was having my Thanksgiving dinner. I responded by saying “on board”. They then asked me if I would like to have Thanksgiving dinner with them at home. I responded, with surprise, with a resounding I’d love to. They then said to bring a friend and told me to be waiting at the gate at 4 o’clock. One of my buddies was interested and joined me and as arranged we were picked up at the main gate and driven to their home.

Even we arrived, we were met by two very nice girls our age, and their mom at the door. After introductions, we all sat down to a, to put it lightly, a grand feast with the biggest turkey with all the trimmings you could imagine on the table. I didn’t hesitate to fill my plate just as I would if I were home. My buddy was being polite by taking a little bit of this and a little bit of that. I said to him “eat well, that’s what folks like to see when the invite a total stranger to dinner”. At that, I filled my plate again. When asked what kind of pie I’d like for desert, apple, pumpkin or mince, I said that would be great! Thanks.

However the evening wasn’t over yet. After dinner the four of us were driven into Seattle to the USO dance for a couple hours of music and dancing. But the evening wasn’t over yet. After the USO dance, we were picked up and taken to Farrells Ice Cream Parlor and treated like family. As the night ended we were driven back to the ship. This was indeed my most memorable Thanksgiving.

Ed Gerhardt
Chapel Hill, NC

Response by SSgt Paul Imboden made Nov 19 at 2020 8:59 AM

SSgt Paul Imboden — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 08:59:00 -0500

Thanksgiving 1973. Stationed in Incirlik CDI, Turkey. Our section had to work on Thanksgiving morning and after we were done our commander surprised us by having Thanksgiving dinner at his apartment down town. It made a wonderful day for us.

Response by SGT Lawrence Aubin made Nov 19 at 2020 11:36 AM

SGT Lawrence Aubin — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 11:36:48 -0500

My memory of Thanksgiving in Vietnam in 1966 stands out. Two of us were on Dragon Mountain which was South of Pleiku City and the highest point for miles which made it perfect for our radio relay operations. We ate C rations three times a day and had only enough water for drinking while on the mountain. To our surprise our unit shipped us a turkey dinner in Mermite containers. There was hot turkey, mashed potatoes and vegetable. It was a welcome break from the C's and left a lasting impression on us.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 19 at 2020 12:04 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 12:04:16 -0500

I was stationed at Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal on Thanksgiving 1985. One of the base chaplains invited to his place to be a part of his family for the holiday. I was a single airman at the time and it was my first permanent duty station. I was away from home and family and overseas for the first time. It was an adjustment for me since my family always got together for Thanksgiving and had a Hugh turnout. But having the Chaplain invite me over made things nice. We had a nice Hugh traditional meal. We all shared what we were thankful for. The chaplain said this Thanksgiving was a tradition him and his wife started when he joined the Air Force. He said he never took leave during Thanksgiving because he wanted to open his home to his new family, the military family. He knew not everyone could get leave and wanted to make a place for military members to enjoy it. After dinner we watched the Lions game on tv on the only channel available on tv. After that they allowed me to doze off in the recliner. Then woke up and nibbled on more food and played board games. This was the best Thanksgivings away from home I had.

Response by SPC Jose Valdez made Nov 19 at 2020 12:43 PM

SPC Jose Valdez — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 12:43:37 -0500

Many warriors will be away from love ones on this special day. Take care and God bless you . Your family’s at home will be safe because of all of us that sacrifice. See you soon.

Response by SGT R Maurino made Nov 19 at 2020 2:09 PM

SGT R Maurino — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 14:09:33 -0500

It’s 1970, I’m a 22 year old, Infantry squad leader, in a front line rifle company, deep in the jungles of Vietnam somewhere near the Cambodian border. Twelve thousand miles away from home. I have never been away from home on thanksgiving before.
It is raining, it has been raining straight for maybe three or four days. We are all covered in mud. I don’t know what day it is and neither does anyone else.
We are waiting to get resupplied. Our captain tells us a chopper is coming, clear an area. That command was unusual because usually they just fly over and drop out supplies since we are in such a Vietcong infested area and Charlie loves to hit choppers.
But this time a chopper lands and men get out carrying large green thermo-containers and to our amazement they set up a chow line right here in the middle of the jungle. We then hustle through the line which has hot turkey and all the fixings. We gobble it all down in no time. Then they quickly gather it all up. Run back on board the chopper and take off.
My buddy turns to me and says, “do you know what they are doing back home right now? They are watching football”. That’s when it hit me it was Thanksgiving! Yea, one I’ll never forget.

Response by Sgt Everett Jacobsen made Nov 19 at 2020 2:12 PM

Sgt Everett Jacobsen — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 14:12:12 -0500

Thanksgiving 1070. Marble Mountain Viet Nam (Just outside DaNang.) I flew that day as a gunner on an H-46 with Marine Squadron HMM262. We started early delivering Thanksgiving dinner to grunts in the field and later picking up the insulated boxes they were in. Thought we would be done around 1800. Turns out a lot started happening and by the time we called it a day it was close to 2400. The pilot had the tower call the chow hall and they said they would break out some food to feed us. They did. Canned turkey, instant mashed potatoes, some kind of vegetable. To this day it was the best tasting Thanksgiving meal I have ever had.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 19 at 2020 2:46 PM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 14:46:35 -0500

One of my most favorite times was when I was serving in Afghanistan. My NATO- DCG I worked for we went to visit troops in Herat to serve troops on Thanksgiving day. It was a joy mingling with the Soldiers, Airman and Marines that day talking with them, finding out about them and serving them. They had some very healthy appetites as they ate all of the Thanksgiving food and when we were finally done the Mess Hall staff had to find something to scrounge up to feed our staff. It was all worth it though to see all the smiling faces of the Military personnel after they had finished eating!!

Response by SSG Trey Schiesser made Nov 20 at 2020 7:23 PM

SSG Trey Schiesser — Fri, 20 Nov 2020 19:23:46 -0500

Thanksgiving Day 2007. Firebase Anaconda, Oruzgan. Awoken in my B hut by the mortar alarm clock. The walls shook as I grabbed my kit and ran out the door. I jumped in V2 after helping to rig it up with its weapons. We rolled up the ramp to the south wall. V2 had the M47 as primary. We didn't get to fire it as we were taking only mortars and rockets from Toshakan mountain which was out of small arms and heavy weapons range. So, we helped spot and prep mortars. Got to hang and drop a few from the 81 and 120. Probably went through 300 rounds? I'm not sure, but the dunnage pile was an impressive mound. The CCT's directed a B2 to drop five to seven 500 pounders on em. Got it on a crappy digital cam video. We did that until about noon I think. Their ICOMs chatter was hilarious. They were screaming about needing more vehicles to pick up their bodies. Then we had dinner. I think we even had some brass fly out on the ring route. Then when the sun went down the mortars and rockets came in and we did it all again!

Response by SP5 Dennis Loberger made Nov 21 at 2020 6:19 PM

SP5 Dennis Loberger — Sat, 21 Nov 2020 18:19:06 -0500

I don't know if this is my favorite. I was in basic training and got really sick. I spent the whole day in my bunk trying to fight whatever it was that had gotten me. I was originally a retailer and didn't believe in missing work. I was right back at it with the rest of them

Response by SSG Gerald Thornhill made Nov 22 at 2020 7:27 AM

SSG Gerald Thornhill — Sun, 22 Nov 2020 07:27:45 -0500

I had just finished Armor Training in 1962 and I was in transit to Korea. I was 18 years old at the time and in the middle of the Pacific Ocean on a Troop Ship. It was very unique experience.
That was followed up by the return trip by Troop Ship in1963 and in the middle of the Pacific Ocean again on Thanksgiving.
I was having breakfast at the replacement center before being transported to the ship when the news came over the radio that President Kennedy had just been assassinated.
Two Thanksgivings that I will remember forever.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 23 at 2020 6:02 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 23 Nov 2020 18:02:38 -0500

I was in the Kuwaiti desert for a few months on an Intrinsic Action mission. A Blackhawk with two caterers and a MG stepped out of the helicopter and a line of about 60 feet of food were put on tables. That must have been the best tasting Thanksgiving dinner I have ever had. We took some extra food and climbed on top of our tanks like bloated pigs, but we kept eating.

Response by SFC Terry Wilcox made Nov 23 at 2020 6:05 PM

SFC Terry Wilcox — Mon, 23 Nov 2020 18:05:39 -0500

The base of this cake is four foot by four foot - took hours to bake and decorate. Just part of Thanksgiving Dinner in Merrell Barracks, Nuremberg, Germany.

Response by 1LT Ernest Chamblee made Nov 24 at 2020 2:58 PM

1LT Ernest Chamblee — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 14:58:14 -0500

Thanksgiving 2013 - my final and toughest deployment. Many men became brothers in war that rotation. That Thanksgiving on our remote COP with those Rangers and Operators felt more like family then many previous Thanksgivings. The food was out of mermite containers and most of ate standing up, but the experience, gratitude, and sacrifices were so powerful that I will never forget the feeling, and the honor of spending that Thanksgiving with in a foreign land with men would become my brothers.

Response by CPO Melissa Osborne made Nov 25 at 2020 9:09 PM

CPO Melissa Osborne — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 21:09:37 -0500

Living in Turkey the locals held Thanksgiving Dinner for several of us. There was the skinniest turkey I had ever seen. The thought and effort was great!

Response by SSG Wm Polta made Nov 25 at 2020 9:55 PM

SSG Wm Polta — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 21:55:13 -0500

The wonderful and lots of food in Korea in the cold weather

Response by CWO4 Stu Seashols made Nov 25 at 2020 10:49 PM

CWO4 Stu Seashols — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 22:49:27 -0500

As a recalled Navy Reservist that did our ODS in Sicily, Thanksgiving was a potluck affair shared with folks we knew for years and it was a great "Family" gathering far away from home.

Response by CDR Ron Miller made Nov 25 at 2020 11:02 PM

CDR Ron Miller — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 23:02:55 -0500

Stationed on Okinawa 1963 and the ship with the turkeys didn't make it to port. No turkey for Thanksgiving that year. But when the ship finally arrived we had turkey served in some fashion for breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the chow hall.

Response by SSG Dennis Gittinger made Nov 25 at 2020 11:17 PM

SSG Dennis Gittinger — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 23:17:03 -0500

Thanksgiving on the DMZ in Vietnam in 1968 was going to be a special "dining in" for the officers in the brigade. The cooks managed to get a LOT of lobster shipped up from Da Nang. Unfortunately, the Viet Cong decided to shell our Landing Zone, LZ Nancy, the site of the dining-in. So none of the officers from the other battalions in the brigade were able to come. I was a lowly E6 working in battalion HQ. But the S1 told me to decide who got the lobster dinners. So I decided to offer the feast to a bunch of tankers who had seen a lot of combat in the DMZ. The following month I got to choose two soldiers —from the hundreds who could really use a break—to go to Cam Rahn Bay for the Bob Hope Christmas show, costarring singer and actress Ann-Margret, in a sexy miniskirt, and NFL great Rosie Grier, in deep appreciation.

One Christmas Eve at Bien Hoa Air Base, Hope quipped: “I asked McNamara if we could come and he said, ‘Why not, we’ve tried everything else!’”

Anyone who cares to read my Vietnam story, send e-mail to [login to see]

Dennis Gittinger

Response by LCDR George Johnston made Nov 25 at 2020 11:37 PM

LCDR George Johnston — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 23:37:22 -0500

In 1970 I was on the USS America returning from Vietnam with over 40 days at sea. We celebrated Thanksgiving and then crossed the international date line and celebrated again the next day.

Response by LTC Robert D Gordon made Nov 26 at 2020 12:44 AM

LTC Robert D Gordon — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 00:44:16 -0500

Thanksgiving 1965, arrived in Da Nang Vietnam that morning it was raining and muddy and miserable as we climbed aboard a deuce and a half to go to our new outfit. We missed the turkey dinner and therefore we had c-rations for our Thanksgiving dinner. I had ham and beans, the ration box had the date of 1955.

Response by SSG Sergio Adan Hernandez made Nov 26 at 2020 7:20 AM

SSG Sergio Adan Hernandez — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 07:20:20 -0500

My favorite memory of Thanksgiving day was in 1994, Camp Casey Korea (Dongducheon-si). That day was my first Thanksgiving ever. It was amazing even though I was not with my immediate family but I was with my new family. My comrades, my buddies, my brothers in arms. It was a great experience!!!

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 26 at 2020 7:29 AM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 07:29:05 -0500

My first Thanksgiving in the army was in 1966 and I got to visit my uncle on Long Island. It was great!

Response by PO3 Bruce Eicher made Nov 26 at 2020 9:32 AM

PO3 Bruce Eicher — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 09:32:38 -0500

I was in boot camp in 1980 from October to December. There was another recruit who was from the Orlando area and he was allowed to have Thanksgiving dinner with his family. He was allowed to take one other recruit with him and he picked me!

I am a lifelong Dallas Cowboy fan and had never missed watching the Thanksgiving game, I was once again able to watch the game on Thanksgiving thanks to the Navy and my friend. I can't recall who played them or the score but I will never forget the experience of his family sharing their dinner with me!

Response by 1SG Gerald Gabriel made Nov 26 at 2020 12:07 PM

1SG Gerald Gabriel — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 12:07:28 -0500

It was Thanksgiving 1969 while serving as a Medic with the 82nd Airborne in Vietnam. The unit was on Stand Down getting ready to return to Fort Bragg at that time and there was plenty of turkey with all of the traditional side dishes to go with it. Though I would not be returning to the world at that time, I had just learned I would be reassigned to work in an Evacuation Hospital, so plenty to be thankful for.
Gerald Gabriel 1SG Retired

Response by SMSgt Michael Gleason made Nov 26 at 2020 2:37 PM

SMSgt Michael Gleason — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 14:37:08 -0500

November, 1968: I was newly arrived at the 7th Infantry Division's base, Camp Casey, in Tongduchon, South Korea. The milk served in our dining hall was "reconstituted". It was shipped to Korea as powdered milk, and "reconstituted" back to liquid at a U.S. Army Milk Plant in Seoul, and then shipped out to the various installations. The "reconstitution" however, used coconut oil to replace the milk fats removed in CONUS. If it was REALLY cold, it tasted fine, but if it was LESS than REALLY cold, it tasted like "plastic". On Thanksgiving Day, however, we were pleased to partake of eggnog that had been made from REAL milk, and airlifted to Korea from Hawaii. I was impressed that the Army would go to those lengths to make Thanksgiving special. The kind act was repeated for BOTH Christmases and the next Thanksgiving that I was in Korea!

Response by SPC Matt Ovaska made Nov 27 at 2020 12:36 PM

SPC Matt Ovaska — Fri, 27 Nov 2020 12:36:30 -0500

Thanksgiving must have been. Like any other day. After 9 months we got a new top. He asked me when was the last day off for us. I responded. Day off.