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thedrifter
11-28-03, 12:06 PM
Thanksgiving away from home
Submitted by: MCB Camp Butler
Story Identification Number: 2003112803416
Story by Lance Cpl. Ryan A. Walker



CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa, Japan(Nov. 22, 2003) -- Approximately 360 Marines and Sailors dined at the 5th annual Thanksgiving 'home cooked' dinner at the Globe and Anchor, Camp Foster Nov. 22.

Lance Cpl. Michael J. Valencia, legal specialist, Staff Judge Advocate, Headquarters & Service Battalion, Marine Corps Base, was one of those who attended the dinner.

"I went to get a taste of home cooked Thanksgiving food and to spend time with my fellow Marines," he said. "I wish they would do things like this more often than just holidays."

According to Valerie Baltimore, chairman, Hospitality Foster Gospel Services, the dinner was organized to reach out to single Marines and Sailors and bring them together in a positive atmosphere and fellowship.

The Foster Gospel Services organized the dinner while donations of food came from faith groups at Foster Chapel. Volunteers from various organizations including Prince Hall Masonic Family, Omega Psi Phi, Delta Sigma Theta, and the Catholic Community Webelos Scouts Troop 152, participated in setting up and serving food to the single servicemembers.

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/200311280430/$file/Thanks-01low.jpg

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa, Japan--Approximately 360 Marines and Sailors dined at the 5th annual Thanksgiving 'home cooked' dinner at the Globe and Anchor, Camp Foster Nov. 22.
Lance Cpl. Valencia, legal specialist, Staff Judge Advocate, Headquarters & Service Battalion, Marine Corps Base, was one of those who attended the dinner.
"I went to get a taste of home cooked Thanksgiving food and to spend time with my fellow Marines," he said. "I wish they would do things like this more often than just holidays."
According to Valerie Baltimore, chairman, Hospitality Foster Gospel Services, the dinner was organized to reach out to single Marines and Sailors and bring them together in a positive atmosphere and fellowship.
The Foster Gospel Services organized the dinner while donations of food came from faith groups at Foster Chapel. Volunteers from various organizations including Prince Hall Masonic Family, Omega Psi Phi, Delta Sigma Theta, and the Catholic Community Webelos Scouts Troop 152, participated in setting up and serving food to the single servicemembers. Photo by: Lance Cpl. Ryan A. Walker

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/94AD3CDE532310BD85256DEC001E9A96?opendocument


Sempers,

Roger
:marine:

thedrifter
11-28-03, 12:08 PM
Submitted by: 13th MEU
Story Identification Number: 20031128124235
Story by Sgt. Mark P. Ledesma



ABOARD USS PELELIU(Nov. 27, 2003) -- Marines and Sailors aboard the USS Peleliu, currently deployed with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) gobbled up a well-deserved Thanksgiving meal Nov. 27.

The cooks and messmen aboard the ship, a work crew composed of Marines and Sailors, began working hard the night before preparing for the big feast.

"The night crew started preparing all of the food and we came in this morning at 5:30 to continue the preparation," said 25-year-old Sgt. Michael S. Almendarez, galley supervisor for the troop mess deck, Marine Medium Helicopter 163 (Reinforced).

The food prepared was so plentiful that Marines and Sailors were welcome to help themselves to seconds if they desired. But for those who enjoyed the Thanksgiving meal, portion servings were large enough that one plate was able to fill them up. Plates overflowed as crewmembers went through the food line, which was served by the officers and senior noncommissioned officers.

According to Almendarez, the cooks prepared 3,000 portions of each food item for the ship's more than 2,000 crewmembers.

Some of the food listed on the menu was fried turkey, beef, honey-glazed ham, candied-sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, simmered-green beans, and a variety of gravy and assorted desserts.

Another important feature of the Thanksgiving meal, which didn't go unnoticed, was the meal presentation.

According to Almendarez, they worked hard on the food presentation because everyone is away from their loved ones. A special table was dressed with food and all sorts of Thanksgiving decorations to put everyone in the festive mood while they enjoyed their meal.

"Thanksgiving is a big day for us," he said. "We've all been working really hard to make sure everything was precise to cater to the Marines and Sailors."

For many of the Marines and Sailors on their first deployment, the special meal helped with some of the homesickness on Thanksgiving Day.

"I thought it was better than what it was going to be," said 20-year-old Lance Cpl. Eric E. Wynn, deployable data system network specialist, Communications Detachment, Marine Expeditionary Unit Service Support Group 13, who is on his first deployment. "I thought we weren?t going to have anything special at all, but we actually had a pretty good dinner."

"They changed the entire environment of the mess deck and made it feel more relaxed," he said. "I think they did a really good job."

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/E3F33A6A14E6ECEF85256DEC006148A0?opendocument

Sempers,

Roger
:marine:

Doc Crow
11-28-03, 08:30 PM
God I hated Okinawa. Never in my career was any of my Deployments from January to July. Everytime I deployed including Desert Storm all were over the Major Holidays. For the longest time my Kids thought Christmas was actually Mid January