View Full Version : Thanksgiving Dinner in Afghanistan
Team Sergeant
11-29-2011, 17:12
In case anyone missed me the last couple of weeks I was preparing/cooking Thanksgiving Dinner in Afghanistan. ;)
We were asked not to let the cat out of the bag until we returned.
I put together a concept to deploy five chef's to Afghanistan to prepare Thanksgiving Dinner for the Green Beret's. Special Forces Command liked the concept and asked the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force- Afghanistan (CJSOTF-A) if they would like us to visit. They said yes and now the rest is history.
Five Chef's went to Afghanistan to cook/assist in the Thanksgiving meal for the CJSOTF's around the country. Those five were Amy Sacco, Dennis Foy, Andrew Hunter, John Deflieze and Jeff Hinton.
We started by heading to Special Forces Command to receive briefings, shots, body armor etc. From Ft Bragg we left via chartered air to Turkey, refueled and went to Kyrgyzstan.
There we changed to military aircraft and flew to Afghanistan. Upon arriving in A-Stan we again received some briefings at CJSOTF headquarters and prepared to deploy all over Afghanistan to the CJSOTF FOB's.
We had chef's in the provinces of Herat, Balkh, Kandahar, Jalalabad, and Uruzgan . Of the five chef's three never served in the military, (those three are my heroes), the situation was harsh, they travelled and ate with the troops and also came under enemy fire, twice. They cooked for about 1500 troops, Special Forces, SEALS, 82nd ABN Div, etc and did an exceptional job!
Thank you Chef's and thank you to all the soldiers we met and all those serving downrange!
Jeff
The picture was taken at Special Forces Command, some of you might recognize the individual in uniform..... ;) From left to right, Dennis Foy, Andrew Hunter, John DeFlieze, Jeff Hinton, Brigadier General Duff and Amy Sacco.
Welcome home one and all...and THANKS!
Is this a great country or what!!!!! :lifter
Richard :munchin
Glad everyone made it home safely. What a fantastic idea. And what cojones for the civilian chefs. Mike
The Reaper
11-29-2011, 17:28
Well done, Chefs.
TR
ZonieDiver
11-29-2011, 17:34
Outstanding!
greenberetTFS
11-29-2011, 17:45
For our 5 Chefs.....:lifter :lifter :lifter
Big Teddy :munchin
Congrats guys - and gal.
Well done.
My congratulations and my thanks to TS, Chef Penn, Ms. Sacco, Mr. Hunter, and Mr. DeFlieze.
Excellent, Chefs! :lifter
(Did you happen to bring back any leftovers?)
Pat
Made my day. Thanks much for doing this. :D
Well hot damn!
If you need a dishwasher next year, I'm in. I can cook but I'm not a Chef.
Well done, TS and Chefs, well done!
Buffalobob
11-29-2011, 18:52
That was a great idea. I didn't realize the group would be splitting up and cooking separately.
I can't think of a better way to spend Thanksgiving or a better group of people to cook for. Awesome, chefs! :lifter
Susan
edited to add: I'm with Gypsy. If you need a dishwasher next year, I'm in!
mojaveman
11-29-2011, 18:56
Outstanding.
I thought TS went to France to study classical French cooking. Serving Thanksgiving dinner to troops in Afghanistan is certianly something I'd put on my resume.
Hats off to everyone involved.
Great Job!!! My Hat is off to you all!!!:lifter
Holly
Red Flag 1
11-29-2011, 19:34
Well done Chefs.
RF 1
Wow, what a wonderful Thanksgiving experience for both chefs and warriors alike.
Outstanding!
BoyScout
11-29-2011, 20:00
Amazing! Well done chefs!:lifter
CPTAUSRET
11-29-2011, 20:09
Waay cool!! I envy you the experience. Amy's cute as well!
Paragrouper
11-29-2011, 20:15
Excellent work!
OUTSTANDING !!!!!!
WTG Chefs !!!!!!
:lifter :lifter :lifter :lifter
Peregrino
11-29-2011, 20:32
It's been hard to watch this one from the sidelines and not spill the beans just for wanting to give credit where it's due. You guys (Ms Sacco earned the right to be "one of the guys" too [I'll be debriefing Chief Lein later!]) done good! Thanks for taking care of the family TS.
Paragrouper
11-29-2011, 20:35
Video of Andrew Hunter
Link (http://www.dvidshub.net/video/131162/guest-chef-prepares-thanksgiving-meal-servicemembers)
COurtesy of Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System
What a great thing. TS you are the man!
Awesome job, chefs. Haha you look exactly how I expected. I picked you out in the lineup without the caption.
Jeff Hinton doesn't roast the turkey, he glares at it until it's perfectly cooked and the skin is crispy. Then he scowls and oyster stuffing spills forth.
Team Sergeant
11-29-2011, 21:28
That was a great idea. I didn't realize the group would be splitting up and cooking separately.
Neither did we......... My concept of operations was changed.....
tom kelly
11-29-2011, 21:52
GREAT JOB by all, Wish I could have contributed . Regard's, Tom Kelly
Such great deeds are overwhelming. BZ, TS. God bless your prayers.
Bravo! :lifter Great you all could do this.
Ambush Master
11-29-2011, 23:08
It's been hard to watch this one from the sidelines and not spill the beans just for wanting to give credit where it's due. You guys (Ms Sacco earned the right to be "one of the guys" too [I'll be debriefing Chief Lein later!]) done good! Thanks for taking care of the family TS.
You Folks did not do just GOOD, BUT GREAT!!!
Thanks to you all!!
I remember "Holiday Visits" @ CCC in RVN, I'm sure that the Troops felt the same comforting feelings that we did,......that there are those that care!! Those Folks WILL remember this forever!!
THANKS TS...for bringing this together!!
Later
Martin
To everyone involved, that was totally awesome. If I wore a hat, it would be off to you all.
B36reconman
11-30-2011, 08:08
Kudos to all..what a great job.....
Badger52
11-30-2011, 09:08
What a CLASS thing to execute. Well done to ALL!
(nice vid of the J'bad effort)
TS: takes "Cooking with Claymores" to a whole 'nuther level. Wow.
:D AWESOME!!! Well done Chefs.:lifter:lifter:lifter
Mike Soetaert
QP TS,
I am sure some of your brothers will be talking about "the best damned Thanksgiving turkey they ever had" for years to come. :D Kudos to you all :lifter
In case anyone missed me the last couple of weeks I was preparing/cooking Thanksgiving Dinner in Afghanistan. ;)
TS -- great job! When do I get pics and menus/recipes to add some color to this cookbook?!
Best always.
JD, glad to be of assistance, amigo.. It's amazing how well things came together. Lien deserves a huge pat on the back for taking the lead.
I'd love to read your thoughts on how things went; if they went as expected, what we can do to improve the second go-around (if the chefs are interested, and if Obamajamma doesn't toss us out of A-stan prior to Turkey-Day 12), what went well, what needs improvement, etc. You know the deal.
It was great meeting the chefs.. I sincerely hope they enjoyed the trip. Needless to say, they'll be telling their grandkids about this one for many moons to come. I hope the troops enjoyed their company and their cooking.
The only thing that pisses me off is that you've been out for nearly as long as the war has been going on, and you have your overseas ribbon. I'm still driving that desk, sending the lads to combat, and I don't have squat.. :boohoo J/K.. I have my OS ribbon, from another era.
Welcome home - to you and your chefs.
Team Sergeant
11-30-2011, 20:30
JD, glad to be of assistance, amigo.. It's amazing how well things came together. Lien deserves a huge pat on the back for taking the lead.
I'd love to read your thoughts on how things went; if they went as expected, what we can do to improve the second go-around (if the chefs are interested, and if Obamajamma doesn't toss us out of A-stan prior to Turkey-Day 12), what went well, what needs improvement, etc. You know the deal.
It was great meeting the chefs.. I sincerely hope they enjoyed the trip. Needless to say, they'll be telling their grandkids about this one for many moons to come. I hope the troops enjoyed their company and their cooking.
The only thing that pisses me off is that you've been out for nearly as long as the war has been going on, and you have your overseas ribbon. I'm still driving that desk, sending the lads to combat, and I don't have squat.. :boohoo J/K.. I have my OS ribbon, from another era.
Welcome home - to you and your chefs.
Roger Boss, I'll get you an AAR ASAP. It was a great mission, best I've ever been on. Cooking for the Bearded Bastards (http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/afghanistan/story/2011-11-09/special-forces-key-in-afghanistan/51145690/1) was an honor. Chief was the best and should receive an award for all his effort.
DesertRat
11-30-2011, 20:37
What a cool thing to do. Thanks to all.
Snaquebite
11-30-2011, 20:40
Roger Boss, I'll get you an AAR ASAP. It was a great mission, best I've ever been on. Cooking for the Bearded Bastards (http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/afghanistan/story/2011-11-09/special-forces-key-in-afghanistan/51145690/1) was an honor. Chief was the best and should receive an award for all his effort.
Last I knew a civilian could write a recommendation....
Cowboy 1968
11-30-2011, 21:32
Congrats to the Chefs and their service to our troops! Beats C-rations any day.
Cooking for all the bearded bastards!
Stay safe.
If you need sous chefs next year, I am sure there are numerous people on this sight that would love to help. Pick Me, Pick Me, Pick Me!!!!!!:D
ZonieDiver
12-01-2011, 18:09
If you need sous chefs next year, I am sure there are numerous people on this sight that would love to help. Pick Me, Pick Me, Pick Me!!!!!!:D
"Sous chef"??? Hell, I'll go do KP... "Pots and Pans" man. There are at least two of us here with lots of experience!:D
I'll volunteer for KP. Did it before...........
Hell, I'll go do KP... "Pots and Pans" man. There are at least two of us here with lots of experience!:D
:D
Pat
Hell, I'll go do KP... "Pots and Pans" man. There are at least two of us here with lots of experience!:D
I'll volunteer for KP. Did it before...........
Ok that makes 3 of us.
I was originally going to offer to buss tables but then remembered TS & Co didn't feed the Air Force, so offered dish washing services. :D
Great job by all involved and I'm sure it was appreciated. Nothing used to beat Thanksgiving in the mess hall. And add one more to the KP volunteer roster, I too have done more than my fair share, way back when.
TS, Marc tells me you were in Language School when he was the 1SG and I was the CO. I'd say I recognized you from the picture, but I'd be lying. You probably had more hair back then.:D
In case you gents haven't seen TS's mug on the news...
http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_northeast_valley/scottsdale/valley-chefs-travel-to-afghanistan-to-feed-troops-at-thanksgiving
Great JOB at what a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner and experience for both chefs and warriors alike.
So did a Food Network film crew tag along as well.. LOL
greenberetTFS
12-03-2011, 06:44
"Sous chef"??? Hell, I'll go do KP... "Pots and Pans" man. There are at least two of us here with lots of experience!:D
ZD,
At Basic in FT,Lenardwood,I caught having to clean drain pipes which were loaded with grease,a real s**t job believe me,I was never the last man to report for KP again..............:rolleyes::eek:
Big Teddy :munchin
Team Sergeant
12-03-2011, 10:40
Great JOB at what a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner and experience for both chefs and warriors alike.
So did a Food Network film crew tag along as well.. LOL
No, but the military had PAO's that took pictures and did some interviews.
The Food Network had nothing to do with this trip.
Besides Special Forces Command, no one sponsored us although I'd liked to have told this board before we left and received some sponsorship from our "own". We were asked not to make this a public story before we left for many reasons.
GREAT JOB, TS! Thank you for taking care of our troops and your brothers, although I'm sure it was just as good for your soul, as their stomachs...... ;)
Team Sergeant
12-04-2011, 14:40
Great job by all involved and I'm sure it was appreciated. Nothing used to beat Thanksgiving in the mess hall. And add one more to the KP volunteer roster, I too have done more than my fair share, way back when.
TS, Marc tells me you were in Language School when he was the 1SG and I was the CO. I'd say I recognized you from the picture, but I'd be lying. You probably had more hair back then.:D
If it was the Thai language at Bragg he should remember me, bastard made me the class leader!;) I was the "only" SF (and SFC) guy in language school with about 100 "brand new" Green Berets.
I'll never forget the "Green Beret" revolt...... 1SGT said the leadership role would look good on my record, I think it was his idea to play more golf.
If it was the Thai language at Bragg he should remember me, bastard made me the class leader!;) I was the "only" SF (and SFC) guy in language school with about 100 "brand new" Green Berets.
I'll never forget the "Green Beret" revolt...... 1SGT said the leadership role would look good on my record, I think it was his idea to play more golf.
Back then I played all of the golf and Marc played with guns and the good looking instructors.