Patrols and turkey in Afghan war zone

[unhappycamper]

U.S. soldier Mike Greenberger gives a plastic bag containing clothes to an Afghan boy on Thanksgiving Day outside the U.S. base of Bagram north of Kabul. Greenberger distributed some clothes, which were sent to him by his family in the U.S. to be given to local children.


Patrols and turkey in Afghan war zone
By Denis D. Gray - The Asssociated Press
Posted : Thursday Nov 26, 2009 10:14:24 EST

BARAKI-BARAK, Afghanistan — Thanksgiving Day for soldiers in this valley ringed by towering snowy peaks began with a six-mile slog to aid village schools without desks and windows, and ended with five, once scrawny local turkeys soldiers have been fattening up for the past month.

“Just another day, another mission,” several soldiers said as a 25-man patrol from Able Troop, 3-71 Cavalry Squadron set out on a cold morning under brilliantly blue skies.

Others let sentiment seep through their matter-of-fact, stoic shells.

“We’re with our family just like we would be at Thanksgiving back home,” said Staff Sgt. Ben McKinnon, of New Haven, Conn., nodding toward the soldiers around him that have daily shared hardship, suffering and some elation over the past year.

Commander Capt. Paul Shepard said his unit, part of the 10th Mountain Division, had a great deal to be thankful for: the squadron has suffered two soldiers killed in action and a number of wounded but none have died in Alpha Troop.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/11/ap_thanksgivingafghanistan_112609w/