Hope you had a Great Thanksgiving.
Here we read what a few selfless Non-Commissioned Officers — themselves not the highest paid professionals — were doing at Langley Air Force Base to make Thanksgiving a little more pleasant for some of the lower-ranking Airmen.
This is not an isolated phenomenon among our military. Here are a few images of our troops both giving and receiving this Thanksgiving.
Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Donna Patrick helps judge Naval Hospital Beaufort’s Thanksgiving basket competition. Sailors and civilian staff from Naval Hospital Beaufort were encouraged to enter food-filled baskets in one of three categories; most abundant, most creative, or most festive. Winners received a certificate and the satisfaction of knowing they made someone’s holiday a little brighter. (U.S. Navy photo by Regena Kowitz)
Army Sgt. 1st Class Julie Steward examines a bag of potatoes before crews load it into a vehicle during the Thanksgiving basket giveaway at the Food Care Center in Killeen, Texas, Nov. 20, 2012. Steward is assigned to the 79th Ordnance Battalion.
Staff Sgt. Cynthia Morales, 455th Expeditionary Mission Support Group commander’s executive administrator, offers her co-workers the home-baked cookies she just received in a care package at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Nov. 19, 2012. Members of the knowledge operations management office dedicate themselves, day-in and day-out, to provide an appreciated service to 455th Air Expeditionary Wing by keeping the mail flowing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Chris Willis)
Left, Capt. David Sasek and Command Master Chief Thomas Cyr, the chief staff officer and command master chief at Naval Base Ventura County, serve up thanksgiving meals with members of local community and law enforcement agencies. Thirty Sailors, including Chief Petty Officer Alan Grow, right, helped serve over 800 meals at the Ventura County Rescue Mission in Oxnard, Calif. Nov. 21. (Photo by Andrea Howry, NBVC public affairs)
Command Senior Chief Nancy Estrada, assigned to USS Constitution, with fellow Constitution chief petty officers, serve Thanksgiving dinner to the crew. Constitution is the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat. She defended the sea lanes against threat from 1797 to 1855, much like the mission of today’s Navy. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Michael Achterling)
Electronics Technician 1st Class Matt Anseth and Andrew Woodson are assisted by Gene Reynolds, a warehouse assistant at the FoodBank of Southeastern Virginia, as they donate 2,459 pounds of food. (U.S. Navy photo by Shelby F. W. West)
Marines with 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7 enjoy a Thanksgiving Day meal featuring turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing and pumpkin pie in the dining facility at Forward Operating Base Geronimo, Afghanistan, Nov. 22, 2012. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Timothy Lenzo
And talking about Big Hearts, how about One Big Turkey:
Master Sgt. John Willard lowers a turkey into a turkey fryer at Dover Air Force Base, Del., Nov. 16, 2012. Willard is the NCO in charge of flight safety with the 436th Airlift Wing Safety Office. (U.S. Air Force photo/Roland Balik)
Added:
U.S. Army Capt. Jefferson Mason, left, serves Thanksgiving dinner to a soldier on Joint Combat Outpost Mushan, Afghanistan, Nov. 22, 2012. Mason commands the 2nd Infantry Division’s 38th Engineer Company, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team.
Soldiers enjoy a Thanksgiving meal on Combat Outpost McClain, Afghanistan, Nov. 22, 2012. The soldiers are assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team.
All photos and captions: DOD
The author is a retired U.S. Air Force officer and a writer.