Obama in Afganistan

[BrianW]

Well, Brian, if you'd like more content of a different nature, maybe a good start would be for you to enlighten the 99.9% of us that have never set foot in Afghanistan or Iraq about what it's like to sit down to Thanksgiving dinner with the troops in a combat zone.

I've already done that...



...although that was closer to Christmas.

It won't help though. A certain group of people will never understand, but feel compelled to make comments anyhow.

[wardd]

up until 9/10/01 it was missile defence against iranian missiles then 9/11 and it was sadam

[BrianW]

What's a "sadam"?

After September 11th 2001, the first place the USA waged combat was Afghanistan.

[Tall Boy]

As far as "Bush haters" are concerned,

[wardd]

What's a "sadam"?

After September 11th 2001, the first place the USA waged combat was Afghanistan.

how long before iraq?

how much was diverted from afghanastan for iraq?

[BrianW]

how long before iraq?

how much was diverted from afghanastan for iraq?

So many questions...

[Curtism]

I've already done that...

...although that was closer to Christmas.

It won't help though. A certain group of people will never understand, but feel compelled to make comments anyhow.

I don't think you give people enough credit for what they understand or how they come to their conclusions. But that's just my opinion.

So, did the meal consist of "processed turkey loaf and wonder bread stuffing, topped with instant gravy with canned cranberry sauce on the side", or, did it resemble the lovely bird and trimmings Bush was serving up in the photo op?

Seems like a simple enough question and, since you're the one with the experience in such matters, enlighten us commoners if you would.

[TomF]

Well, 7 people would still be alive today if Obama would have stayed home...

Not to be too flippant, probably 7 different people would have been dead. There were lots of deaths last week and the week before in Afghanistan too, which weren't related to Obama's visit. I expect the same will be true next week.

The ongoing deaths are indeed tragic. But I'd be very surprised if these 7 represent a spike.

[Donn]

I spent 2 Thanksgivings and Christmases in Vietnam, and each time we had fresh roasted turkey with all the trimmings (also fresh) for Thanksgiving, and the same plus fresh ham for Christmas.

This was on a piddly little Marine Corps LZ/Artillery hill which no President would ever visit, although we did have a few helicopter wrenches.

[wardd]

war can be safer, how many of those in afghanastan would have died in the states from other causes, such as auto acidents

[Y Bar Ranch]

So, did the meal consist of "processed turkey loaf and wonder bread stuffing, topped with instant gravy with canned cranberry sauce on the side", or, did it resemble the lovely bird and trimmings Bush was serving up in the photo op?

Seems like a simple enough question and, since you're the one with the experience in such matters, enlighten us commoners if you would.

When I was forward in foreign combat lands for the 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and all of my kid's birthdays, for the special dinners at the main chow halls there'd typically be a "show plate" of whatever was the entree set up somewhere, i.e., a cooked and shellaced turkey along with all of the sides. I imagine that's what they used for the foto op. Then we sat down and ate actual turkey, already sliced and in trays in a serving line. No idea if it came as pre-sliced turkey breast. Did this sort of thing in Bagram, Kandahar, Balad, and Camp Victory (Baghdad), along with Djibouti.

Of course, somewhere out there were folks who were spooning turkey gruel out of MREs. Been there/done that too. Comes with the territory.

[ccmanuals]

I was stationed at Incirlik in the early 70's. One Thanksgiving someone had the bright idea of dressing up the Turkish workers in the dining hall as Pilgrims. To add to this they decided to fly in live turkeys to give ambiance to the dining hall.

The turkeys got loose in the dining hall and the Turkish workers (dressed as pilgrims) was given the mission to catch them. Gawd, I wish I had a camera with me at the time.

[Donn]

On Thanksgiving 1950, my father shared in one of these drops:



We got a letter from him, 6 weeks later. He wrote it right after Thanksgiving Dinner.

Four days later, the Chinese Communists sprung their trap at the Chosin Reservoir, and my father spent until after Christmas fighting his way out, to Hungnam, where he and what was left of his company were evacuated.

[BrianW]

I don't think you give people enough credit for what they understand or how they come to their conclusions.

Generally, people don't get credit when they come to the wrong conclusion. Especially if their just trying to be mean.

But, that's just my opinion too.

[wardd]

Generally, people don't get credit when they come to the wrong conclusion. Especially if their just trying to be mean.

But, that's just my opinion too.

of course you don't mean that about republicans

[LeeG]

BrianW, you're kind of a long hair compared to those guys.

[BrianW]

When I was forward in foreign combat lands for the 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and all of my kid's birthdays...

Thanks for your service Y-

...for the special dinners at the main chow halls there'd typically be a "show plate" of whatever was the entree set up somewhere, i.e., a cooked and shellaced turkey along with all of the sides. I imagine that's what they used for the foto op.

Sounds about right. For Christmas, some people would wear santa hats. I didn't think they were actually Santa Claus, or even trying to pass themselves off as Santa. Had I been caught in a picture with them, maybe even smiling, I fear someone, some day, might actually try to confuse the moment for political gain.

On the 4th of July, we usually have a cake with a flag decorations. I don't think anyone confused it with a real flag, and tried to hoist it up a pole. But God knows, there's someone ready to confuse the issue.

[seanz]

BrianW, you're kind of a long hair compared to those guys.

He's almost finished his and everybody else is only just starting theirs....

[BrianW]

BrianW, you're kind of a long hair compared to those guys.

Plus I was suffering from "helmet head" after a couple hours of flying to get there.

It's worse now. I've tried to get to the barber shop a couple times, but it's been packed. Might have something to do with nice eastern-Europe female barbers.

[BrianW]

He's almost finished his and everybody else is only just starting theirs....

Had things to do, and places to be.

I don't even like root beer, but it was the first thing I saw to drink, so I grabbed it.

[Shang]

I haven't but I vividly recall 8 years of Bush serving up one tukey after another.

Not exactly.
But to give credit where it is due, Bush was in Iraq in 2003 where he was delivered at sea, proclaimed "Mission Accomplished" and posed with a plastic turkey, 2006 when he admitted that there were no WMD's, 2007 to be told by Petraeus that the war was going well, and 2008 when shoes were thrown at him.

[bobbys]

I spent 2 Thanksgivings and Christmases in Vietnam, and each time we had fresh roasted turkey with all the trimmings (also fresh) for Thanksgiving, and the same plus fresh ham for Christmas.

This was on a piddly little Marine Corps LZ/Artillery hill which no President would ever visit, although we did have a few helicopter wrenches.

.

Dad said they went months on Crations till they ran out, They ate Japanese rice and Bananas. The only water they had was the canvas lister bay filled with muddy water.

Later on when they were taken off the line and went back to being Seabees they were in control of ALL the food.

When a Marine came back from the front the Navy and Army would not let them in their mess halls.

Any Marine could get a Meal from the Seabees just by going into line.

The Captain would say , We have a lotta Seabees today!.

One time there was a Red Cross set up with doughnuts and coffee.

But they had to pay but had no money so no coffee or doughnuts.

Dad never forgave the Red Cross.

[Curtism]

Generally, people don't get credit when they come to the wrong conclusion. Especially if their just trying to be mean.

But, that's just my opinion too.

You’re not gearing up to turn into Betty White on us, are you?

Seriously, I’m sorry, Brian. Had I known you were so touchy about the former President I wouldn’t have taken that pop at him. See if you can find it within yourself to forgive my misstep . . . then go find a supply sergeant and enquire about stocking up on some Snickers bars.

Sincerely,
Aretha Franklin

[Curtism]

When I was forward in foreign combat lands for the 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and all of my kid's birthdays, for the special dinners at the main chow halls there'd typically be a "show plate" of whatever was the entree set up somewhere, i.e., a cooked and shellaced turkey along with all of the sides. I imagine that's what they used for the foto op. Then we sat down and ate actual turkey, already sliced and in trays in a serving line. No idea if it came as pre-sliced turkey breast. Did this sort of thing in Bagram, Kandahar, Balad, and Camp Victory (Baghdad), along with Djibouti.

Of course, somewhere out there were folks who were spooning turkey gruel out of MREs. Been there/done that too. Comes with the territory.

Thanks for the reply, it's good to know the guys get decent food whenever it's possible. Most of the vets I know have said similar things about holidays abroad but they served back in the 50's and 60's. It's good hearing that those traditions are maintained.

[Curtism]

On Thanksgiving 1950, my father shared in one of these drops:

We got a letter from him, 6 weeks later. He wrote it right after Thanksgiving Dinner.

Four days later, the Chinese Communists sprung their trap at the Chosin Reservoir, and my father spent until after Christmas fighting his way out, to Hungnam, where he and what was left of his company were evacuated.

That's an interesting slice of history and I'm glad your father made it back. So, was 1950 pre-Donn or were you born prior to that?

I love the old news reels, they almost seem surreal. I sorted and scanned a bunch of my fathers old pics from Korea in the mid 50's and even knowing him as I did, it's impossible for me to imagine life for a young man in times like that. He never talked about it much, understandably.

[Donn]

I was 3 when the Chosin Reservoir thing happened. When we heard about it on the news, my grandfather collected us and took us to his house to wait out the news. My mother was pretty distraught.

We didn't find out Dad had made it out until the following February.

[Meli]

I seem to remember Bush fils flying to Baghdad on Thanksgiving (unannounced) for a photo op of him "serving" the troops their Thanksgiving dinner. The picture was of him holding a platter with a big roast turkey. The turkey, natch, was inedible, since it had been tarted up for the camera by the food stylists — greased with motor oil and the like for the cameras. After the photo op, he flew back to DC and the grunts got their Thanksgiving dinner -- processed turkey loaf and wonder bread stuffing, topped with instant gravy, I'm sure, with canned cranberry sauce on the side.

The right, was, ecstatic, about this show of "support for the troops", IIRC. Funny that they're whining about Obama doing the same sort of thing.

Well you learn something every day.!!
I wasn't aware that Bush junior had a Passport.
Or maybe he didn't ?

[John Smith]

Maybe it's just me, but I expect to see some "adultness" in a presidential candidate.

My problem with Romney in this area is he should stand up and applaud Obama for getting Bin Laden. Their failure to do this is what makes this politicized. When one of his advisers is forced to resign for being openly gay, Romeny remains silent.

Yet, I see a gay republican yesterday trying hard to support this silence.

It becomes increasingly difficult to understand how anyone who believes in the principles of this nation can support any republican for any office, let alone those who are women, gay, or not white. Bill Maher's got it right: these people are in a bubble.

Norquist would have us believe we don't need a president for anything but signing bills Norquist likes.

[BrianW]

You’re not gearing up to turn into Betty White on us, are you?

I don't do much YouTube over here... the internet is too slow. I don't want to drag it down further, as we share it.

But I'm hoping your link was something like this...

[BrianW]

I'm crying foul. He wasn't wearing a flight jacket with trendoid sewn patches.

While looking for my Betty White picture, I found this one for you purri...



It's a couple years old, but in Bagram

[Curtism]

I don't do much YouTube over here... the internet is too slow. I don't want to drag it down further, as we share it.

But I'm hoping your link was something like this...

Well, not exactly, though that's a pretty good comeback.

Too bad about the slow internet. (I was going to say you'll just have to wait 'til you're back to civilization but I just remembered where you live.)

[brad9798]

Nice to Curtism apologize, seriously. THAT gives me some hope about how misinformed folks can IMMEDIATELY realize what is really happy ... and make adjustments on the fly.

SERIOUSLY!!!

B