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News | Nov. 21, 2016

DLA delivers Thanksgiving meals to troops overseas

By Alexandra Siemiatkowski DLA Troop Support Public Affairs

American troops serving around the world will be able to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal, thanks to the Defense Logistics Agency.

More than 14,968 pounds of turkey and 8,712 pies, including sweet potato and pumpkin, have been delivered to troops in Afghanistan.

Army Warrant Officer Raul Lewis, a food service officer with the 1st Cavalry Division Resolute Support Sustainment Brigade, organizes food support for service members in Afghanistan.

“It is an honor to serve my country. But it is an even greater honor to serve my fellow service members an outstanding meal,” said Lewis. “There is nothing more comforting when you are far away from home and missing your loved ones than to sit in front of a hot meal and share a few laughs and moments of joy.”

It takes a lot of planning to ensure food items are delivered in time so that service members can enjoy a taste of home for Thanksgiving, said Anthony Amendolia, who works with DLA Troop Support’s Subsistence supply chain in Philadelphia.

“Thanksgiving is so important to us, and such a priority, that we have to start in the April, May timeframe,” said Amendolia. “It is a long process but we think service members really enjoy having a great Thanksgiving meal with their troops.”

Some of the food that DLA Troop Support provided for service members deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq, Jordan and Kuwait include:

  • 34,760 pounds of turkey
  • 32,550 pounds of beef
  • 21,450 pounds of ham
  • 28,980 pounds of shrimp
  • 9,114 pounds of stuffing mix
  • 879 gallons of eggnog

The Subsistence team worked with regional vendors to provide Thanksgiving food items to Navy ships at sea and to service members at the following locations: Japan, Singapore, Philippines, Korea, Okinawa, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, and various locations in Europe and Africa.