Lt. Col. Thomas Bischof (left), Multi-National Division-Baghdad Provost Marshal, serves food to Soldiers as they celebrate Thanksgiving at Camp Liberty. U.S. Army photo by Pfc. William Hatton.
Posted on 11/24/2006 9:15:03 AM PST by SandRat
CAMP LIBERTY -- This wasn’t Grandma’s house, but the table was full of people. They came from over the river and through woods, did route clearing, stood guard and made it in for a traditional meal. Lt. Col. Thomas Bischof (left), Multi-National Division-Baghdad Provost Marshal, serves food to Soldiers as they celebrate Thanksgiving at Camp Liberty. U.S. Army photo by Pfc. William Hatton.
Far from home, Soldiers of the Multi-National Division-Baghdad spent Thanksgiving with each other, rather than their families.
This is not a new experience for some soldiers. Sgt. John Eldridge, 372nd Military Police Battalion, 89th MP Brigade, is deployed for a second time and will miss sharing a turkey with his family again, he said.
This year, the light-wheel mechanic took a break from inventorying the motor pool, to partake in a Thanksgiving Day feast with fellow Soldiers.
“(It’s) not so bad,” the 25-year-old said. “You get kind of used to it. It’s like having your family here with you.”
Though Eldridge won’t be dining on his grandmother’s cornbread stuffing and watching Dallas or Detroit do battle, he said he was still able to chow down on his favorite Thanksgiving Day dish — macaroni and cheese, and catch some gridiron action later in the evening.
This year’s Thanksgiving is bittersweet for the Washington, D.C., native because after nearly one year deployed, he said he’s headed home just in time for Christmas.
“It feels good because we’ll make it home for Christmas to see our families,” said the father of two. “This is our last celebration in Iraq. I’m thankful I made it through another year in Iraq.”
For other Soldiers the experience of being deployed for the holidays is a foreign concept.
Pfc. Davina Medina, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Division Special Troops Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, would rather be home with her son than fighting in the Global War on Terrorism this Thanksgiving.
However, the intelligence analyst said she would settle for the next best thing, a telephone call home to talk to her son, who sleeps while his mother eats turkey and stuffing half-a-world away.
On a normal Thanksgiving, the Azusa, Calif., native could be found cooking, eating and sleeping all day. But this year she is serving her nation as a Soldier.
Though the 18-month Army veteran will miss her favorite dish, Ecuadorian stuffing, compliments of her grandfather, she said there is a positive side to deploying for Thanksgiving.
“You don’t have to cook or clean up,” she said, adding that she takes comfort knowing her family is comfortable at home.
Even though Soldiers sacrifice by missing holidays with their loved ones, they don’t spend the holidays alone. This year, Soldiers on Camp Liberty are spending Thanksgiving Day as a military family.
In other developments throughout Iraq:
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