For many people, Thanksgiving is a time when family members gather to spend time with each other.
At its core, however, Thanksgiving is a time of expressing gratitude for the blessings in our lives.
Americans in combat make do with what they have available.
Thanksgiving dinner isn’t always at a table. For our troops, Thanksgiving may be celebrated in a foxhole. This soldier eats some holiday turkey during the Italian campaign of World War II. Image: NARA
For Thanksgiving religious services, chaplains have used altars made of ammo cans or the hood of a jeep.
Turkey dinners are flown to men at remote outposts where they may be eaten crouched down in a foxhole.
Weve assembled this photo essay of our troops serving on Thanksgiving.
U.S. Marines enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner during the Korean War. Commanders did their best to ensure a taste of home for as many men as possible to keep morale up. Image: U.S. Marine Corps
And for our readers who have spent part of their own lives deployed during the holidays, thank you.
U.S.A.F. Master Sgt. Michael Rollins, 447th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron (ERS), serves a hearty Thanksgiving meal to military personnel at Baghdad International Airport (IAP), Iraq. Image: NARA
Program of the Thanksgiving Day 1898 entertainment on board the USSNew York(CA-2). Image: U.S. Navy
After receiving permission from the farm owner, these U.S. soldiers stationed at the Norfolk, England air base invade a turkey pen to find Thanksgiving dinner in 1943. Image: NARA
Cooks from the Task Force Ripper mess hall prepare to serve Thanksgiving Day dinner at the 1st Marine Division combat operations center (COC) during Operation Desert Shield in 1990. Image: NARA
In 1987, an air controlman eats his Thanksgiving dinner while keeping an eye on the radar scope in the helicopter direction center aboard the amphibious assault ship USSOkinawa(LPH 3). Image: NARA
Thanksgiving Day celebrations on board the USSCharleston(C-2) in November 1893, at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Image: U.S. Navy
U.S. Marines sit in the sand to eat their Thanksgiving Day dinners in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield. Image: NARA
This wounded American soldier had Thanksgiving dinner in bed provided by the American Red Cross. Photo taken at American Military Hospital No. 1 at Neuilly, 1918. Image: Library of Congress
Crew members attend Thanksgiving Day religious services on the after deck of the USSSanta Fe(CL-60), during the Gilberts campaign in November 1943. Image: NARA
President Donald J. Trump talks with U.S. troops during a 2019 Thanksgiving meal at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. Image: Shealah Craighead/Official White House Photograph
This sketch shows a Thanksgiving celebration in a Union Army camp during the Civil War. It was sketched on November 28, 1861 by Alfred R. Waud
U.S. Marines eat Thanksgiving dinner aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USSCarl Vinson(CVN-70) in 1984. Image: PHAN David L. Miller/U.S. Navy
Lt. Col. W.W. Stickney, U.S.M.C., the commanding officer, cuts a Thanksgiving cake with a Japanese officer’s sword at Guadalcanal, as hungry Leathernecks look on. Image: U.S. Marine Corps
It’s not all Turkey and stuffing. In this Vietnam War photo, Marines fire a 105mm M101 howitzer in support of 1/1 “E” Company 2/12 near Con Thien on Thanksgiving Day 1967. Image: U.S. Marine Corps
USSBon Homme Richard(CVA-31) aircraft are prepared for a 1952 Thanksgiving Day strike against the communists in North Korea. In the foreground are Grumman F9F Panther jets. Image: U.S. Navy
In 1990, comedian Jay Leno entertains U.S. military personnel on Thanksgiving Day. Leno was part of a USO tour during Operation Desert Shield. Image: NARA
U.S. soldiers play baseball on Thanksgiving Day 1943. The men were stationed at an air base at Chabua, Upper Assam, India during World War II. Image: NARA
Aboard the battleship USSNorth Dakota(BB-29), sailors climb an obstacles during Thanksgiving Day festivities in 1919. Image: U.S. Navy
In 1987, a mess management specialist puts turkeys in the oven for Thanksgiving dinner aboard the amphibious assault ship USSOkinawa(LPH-3), Image: NARA
President George W. Bush helps serve Thanksgiving dinner to U.S. soldiers at the Bob Hope Dining Facility in 2003. The dining hall was located in Baghdad International Airport, Iraq. Image: NARA
A Thanksgiving Day menu for a dinner held at the Marine Barracks, Parris Island, South Carolina on November 30, 1916. Image: U.S. Marines
With a Jeep for an altar and Manchurian Hills for a backdrop, Chaplain Burgess P. Riddle conducts Thanksgiving Day services on the banks of the frozen Yalu River at Hyesanjin, North Korea. Image: Jack Walsh/NARA
Men of the First Marine Air Wing celebrate Thanksgiving in 1943 with a mostly traditional feast. Image: U.S. Marine Corps
Wounded in combat, Pfc. Jack Newman, U.S.M.C., is assisted by a U.S. Navy nurse with Thanksgiving dinner. They were aboard the USSRepose(AH-16) at Inchon, South Korea. Image: U.S. Navy
The 1st Marine Division introduced this British soldier to an American Thanksgiving dinner during Operation Desert Shield. Image: NARA
U.S. troops have Thanksgiving dinner during the Philippine-American War in 1899. They were stationed at Pasay near outer Manila. Image: NARA
Shown is the cover of a program for a Thanksgiving day football game between the 4th Marine and 6th Marine regiments. Image: U.S. Marine Corps
In 1946, Women’s Army Corps (WAC) Colonel Westray Battle Boyce shares a Thanksgiving dinner with two German orphans in Frankfurt, Germany. Image: NARA
A Thanksgiving turkey is prepared for the members of the 5th Marine Regiment near Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War. A few days later, these Marines would be in a fight for their lives against the communist Chinese in theBattle of Chosin Reservoir. Image: Sgt. F. C. Kerr/NARA
Surrounded by family members, Specialist Elijah Cooley and his unit returned home on Thanksgiving after a 12 month deployment to Iraq. Image: NARA
