Mission: Turkey! Thanksgiving Dinner by Air
Stressed out for getting ready for Thanksgiving? Imagine being a mess sergeant tasked with cooking and bringing the meal to Special Forces troops in the field.
“November 22, 1966
TRADITIONAL THANKSGIVING DAY TURKEY ENJOYED BY SPECIAL FORCES IN VIETNAM
(Official U.S. Army film released by the Department of Defense)
A Thanksgiving Day dinner including the traditional turkey and all the trimmings was enjoyed by members of A Detachment, 5th Special Forces located at Xom Cat, thanks to Sergeant First Class Lonnie Mitchell (Supply, North Carolina).
Sergeant Mitchell prepared the tasty repast at the 5th Special Forces Headquarters at Bien Hoa, and the meal was delivered in hot steaming containers by helicopter to the 12 men of A Detachment at Xom Cat in the War Zone D area.
The team at Xom Cat is composed of three officers and nine enlisted men. Their only means of resupply is by air.
Sergeant Mitchell is Mess Sergeant of Detachment C-3, 5th Special Forces.”
Learn more about the mission of providing Thanksgiving dinner in the U.S. military, using examples from 111-DD, Filmed News Releases of the Department of Defense, recently digitized by our Motion Picture Preservation Lab and now on the U.S. National Archives’ YouTube Channel!
How my father came home from the Vietnam War, a Thanksgiving story (super abridged version):
- Dad is on duty on Thanksgiving Day, doing “Radar stuff” in the camp office.
- He is not feeling well. His buddies bring him some turkey from the mess hall, but it’s not hunger pains.
- Wakes up the next morning feeling worse, goes to see the medic.
- Diagnosis appendicitis
- Travels to regional hospital. Surgeon’s diagnosis: it’s going to burst, let’s operate NOW.
- Prepped for surgery, gives all possessions to staff. Wedding ring and watch are promptly stolen (later told they never made it to the safe).
- Surgery done. Doc wants to send dad to regional army vacation spot to recuperate. Dad’s tour is almost done, so he tells them “why don’t you just send me home?”
- Dad is loaded onto a big transport helicopter in his hospital gown, robe, and slippers
- Comes back stateside via Alaska to Fort Riley, KS
- His buddies pack up the contents of his footlocker and ship them overseas. This includes a large oscillating fan and the family turntable (both still currently in use).
- Recuperates. Allowed to go home for Christmas on leave
- On final medical exam before he is discharged, his blood pressure is too high so they keep him in the army a few more days (can’t be responsible for discharging someone in ill health; also, delaying your discharge is excellent for keeping your blood pressure down.)
- finally discharged at the courtesy of the US Army.