Dec 13, 2004 By Staff Sgt. Edgar Shaffer 4 min read

Happy Late Thanksgiving! I was going to write earlier but I wanted to let you know how a Thanksgiving is in Iraq. The day started as usual, up at around 6:30 a.m., then off to breakfast. This morning’s meal was the worst yet. Usually breakfast is the best meal of the day out here. There are always eggs anyway you can imagine them, bacon, ham or sausage along with biscuits and gravy and hash browns. Every now and then there will be a bar set up with little waffles and French toast, which is always a good change of pace. This morning, however, the selection of food was very limited and most people left unsatisfied. Marines in their natural state constantly complain and moan so the grumbles of Happy Thanksgiving were forced but the moaning about chow fell easily off our tongues. The day continued as normal, going to work, making sure the guys are taken care of and the work is getting done. Lunchtime came and the usual crew met once again at the mess hall. Another bad meal. The only things offered were grilled cheese sandwiches and a couple kinds of soup. The complaining continued along with a humorous threat that the cooks better make up for this at dinnertime.

The afternoon routine went on and I took to the barracks to spread the word about a special event that was taking place that evening. In my spare time, I am responsible for the morale, welfare and recreation of the Marines in the company, so spreading good news and advertising events is part of my duties.

That evening when the chow hall doors opened, there was a total mood shift. The place had been decorated with paper turkeys and banners. Fresh, colorful tablecloths were laid out and there were more tables set up full of pies and other things we don’t get everyday. The chow line has been reborn. There were ham, shrimp, steak and turkey loaf – the real turkeys had gotten blown up last week when the truck got hit with an explosive – and all the other normal side dishes that come with this time of year. This was the best meal we had seen in months and everyone took advantage. We sat for nearly an hour eating, joking, talking and finally meaning it when the words Happy Thanksgiving were spoken. Even our executive officer (whom none of us can stand) ate with us and all had a good time.

Leaving the chow hall fat, bloated and in good spirits it was near time for the evening’s special event. The contractors here had planned what they called An Evening of Thanks for us. The chaplain spoke, a funny slideshow of things to be thankful for was shown, and seven Marines who entered the Thanksgiving writing contest read their submissions. The icing on the cake came when the Royal Tongan Marines sang some Tongan Christmas songs. They were absolutely awesome. Of course, none of us could understand a word, but they did really well.

So, that was my holiday. There was time to reflect on things I am thankful for like all of you back home and my health and all the standard things people are thankful for. This year I am most thankful for my boys. By boys I mean all those around me who wake and sleep in the same mundane misery as I. The boys who laugh at the worst situation just to make it through. The kid who got a Purple Heart yesterday. He got hit in the leg by a piece of a mortar round that landed behind our barracks last week. The boys who I will sit around with back in the states, drinking beer and telling stories with. These are the ones that I will be thankful for, not only yesterday, but 50 years from now when I sit toothless and tell stories of how things were.

I hope all of your Thanksgivings were just as memorable.

—

Edgar W. Shaffer is a staff sergeant in the U.S. Marines Corp. Headquarters Battalion and lives in Ohio. His mother Donna Shaffer of Farmington said her son wanted to share a glimpse of a holiday in Iraq.