371st SB celebrates Thanksgiving while deployed to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Kimberly Hill | Sgt. Maj. Randy S. Hinkle, the operations sergeant with the 371st Sustainment Brigade and a Heath, Ohio native serves a piece of pumpkin pie to Staff Sgt. Jacob A. Fadley, a public affairs sergeant with the 371st Sus. Bde. and a Hilliard, Ohio native during a Thanksgiving meal at the Zone 6 Dining Facility at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait on Nov. 28, 2013.  

CAMP ARIFJAN, KUWAIT

12.04.2013

Story by Staff Sgt. Kimberly Hill 

371st Sustainment Brigade

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - Soldiers of the 371st Sustainment Brigade celebrated Thanksgiving Day while deployed to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom with traditional meals served at the Camp Arifjan Dining Facility, the Saudi Arabian Chevron Corporation compound and the Kuwait City Hilton on Nov. 28-30.

A traditional turkey dinner, complete with stuffing, an assortment of pies and sparkling grape juice was served to members of the 371st SB by their leadership at the Zone 6 Dining Facility.

Col. Gregory W. Robinette, the commander of the 371st SB, and Col. Tomas Haidet, the deputy commander of the 371st SB passed out hearty portions of turkey and yams at the main line to service members, while Command Sgt. Maj. Scott M. Barga, the brigade command sergeant major, dished out pie with dollops of whipped cream on top.

“If I can’t be at home with my family, this is the next best thing,” said Barga.

Soldiers with the 371st SB were also invited to attend a Thanksgiving dinner provided by the U.S. Embassy and the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) at the Hilton Hotel in Kuwait City.

“It was nice to be that close to the Arabian Sea and actually be able to see it,” said Spc. Holly Tomasheski, an intelligence analyst with the 371st SB and a Medina, Ohio native.

On November 30, approximately 25 guardsmen from the 371st SB were given a warm welcome at the Saudi Arabian Chevron Corporation compound, where employees of the company live with their families.

Soldiers were invited to share traditional American hospitality and a meal with an American family employed by the Chevron Corporation.

“A real Thanksgiving meal on the beach, it can’t get much better than that,” said Spc. Leesha Bolton, a combat medic with the 371st SB and a Sydney, Ohio native.

American families working for the company have been inviting service members into their homes on Thanksgiving weekend for over 20 years, said Mrs. Tonya Goold, who lives in the compound with her family and hosted service members this year.

We helped out a family hosting last year and we loved it so much we just had to do it this year; if my kids were deployed I’d want someone to do the same for them,” she said.

• Date Taken: 12.04.2013
• Date Posted: 12.07.2013 07:47
• Story ID: 117872
• Location: CAMP ARIFJAN, KW