Forward Operating Base YaYah Khel YahYa Khel Soldiers receive surprise steak, ice cream lunch

Photo By Spc. Christina Sinders | As part of the Steak and Ice Cream Express mission to boost morale for soldiers at remote bases, U.S. Army Lt. Col. David Preston, commander of the 801st Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, serves steak, coleslaw, potato salad and ice cream Oct. 20 to the soldiers of Company A, 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th BCT, 101st Airborne Div., deployed to Forward Operating Base YahYa Khel here.  

PAKTIKA PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

10.20.2010

Story by Sgt. Grant Matthes 

Combined Joint Task Force 101

By U.S. Army Spc. Christina Sinders
Task Force Currahee Public Affairs

PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Soldiers deployed to Forward Operating Base YahYa Khel here received a surprise steak and ice cream lunch Oct. 20 delivered by U.S. Army Lt. Col. David Preston, commander of the 801st Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division.

Preston, along with U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Amanda Milstead and U.S. Army Pvt. Chyanne Easter, two members of the food service team from the 801st BSB, hand delivered cases of food, drinks and a chest of ice cream bars to the soldiers of Company A, 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team as part of an ongoing mission to boost morale called the Steak and Ice Cream Express.

"This is really all about the soldiers," said Preston. "They are out here at some of the more remote FOBs working hard in rough conditions. So we wanted to give them a treat.”

The morale team grilled steaks and brought potato salad, coleslaw, corn-on-the-cob and ice cream for the soldiers.

“The food was delicious,” said U.S. Army Spc. Derick Escobar, an infantryman with Company A, 1-506th Inf. Reg., 4th BCT, and native of San Bernardino, Calif. “It was such a great morale boost for us. We run a lot of missions, so to get the hot meal and cold drinks really made it all worth it.”

The Steak and Ice Cream Express, spearheaded by Preston, visits a different FOB or combat outpost every month.

• Date Taken: 10.20.2010
• Date Posted: 10.25.2010 07:55
• Story ID: 58733
• Location: PAKTIKA PROVINCE, AF