Pentagon sends Thanksgiving dinner to U.S. troops

WASHINGTON – Forward of the Thanksgiving vacation and amid a backdrop of world provide chain woes, the Pentagon despatched almost 60,000 kilos of roasted turkey to American troops stationed on U.S. navy installations world wide.

Final 12 months, with the intention to mitigate the unfold of the coronavirus, vacation meals had been switched to a grab-and-go takeout fashion as an alternative of huge group gatherings in eating services. The Pentagon doesn’t anticipate delays or disruptions to this 12 months’s Thanksgiving dinner regardless of provide chain issues.

“The vacation meal ought to look extra regular this 12 months, with in-person eating returning in lots of places,” mentioned Protection Logistics Company troop assist commander Military Brig. Gen. Eric Shirley.

The Protection Logistics Company, or DLA, coordinates the Pentagon’s colossal fight provide chain. As well as, DLA oversees the supply of conventional vacation meals to U.S. troops. Shirley mentioned logistics to ship the vacation meals begin in March.

In all, the DLA delivered greater than 390,000 kilos of conventional Thanksgiving meals, comparable to ham and candy potatoes, to service members on ships and installations all through the Center East, Europe, Africa, Korea, Guam and Honduras, in addition to different places.

This 12 months, service members world wide obtained an estimated:

• 5,706 entire turkeys
• 59,666 kilos of roasted turkeys
• 99,187 kilos of beef
• 51,994 kilos of ham
• 43,767 kilos of shrimp
• 38,400 kilos of candy potatoes
• 68,465 kilos of pies and muffins
• 23,461 gallons of eggnog

“Thanksgiving is among the most necessary meals we work on all 12 months,” mentioned Col. Larry Dean, director of the subsistence provide chain at DLA Troop Assist. “It means a lot to have that style of dwelling on Thanksgiving when you’ll be able to’t be there,” he added.