By Tech. Sgt. Michael Voss
376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
MANAS AIR BASE - Members of the 376th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron made Thanksgiving Day a reality for deployed service members in neighboring Turkmenistan.
The opportunity to help out started Nov. 18 when Tech. Sgt. Peter Tavares, the Manas Air Base A'La Too Dining Facility manager, received an e-mail request from a deployed captain looking for help. He was in desperate search of Thanksgiving dinner supplies for those under his command.
With limited communications at his disposal, Capt. Steven Brown, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Operating Location Alpha Detachment commander, managed to get the word out that his small unit was at a remote location in Turkmenistan where supplies don't come often. He went on to say that without support from Manas, his troops would not have even a turkey to enjoy, much less cranberries with which to celebrate the season.
Through a twist of fate and some persistence, Brown managed to contact Tavares via a satellite phone. Brown did not ask for an entire Thanksgiving meal set up; he was willing to take whatever he could get.
Tavares, recognizing that Thanksgiving for this unit hinged on the response of the 376th EFSS, quickly sprung into action. Despite having to pull the meal supplies from those used for the "Liberando" Airmen, he knew this situation was no different from his everyday responsibility of taking care of the daily dining needs of warriors transiting in and out of Afghanistan through Manas.
After receiving approval from Maj. Paul Kopecki, 376th EFSS commander, the staff of the A'La Too DFAC worked with the 376th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron to arrange transportation of the supplies to the 455th AEW-OLA Detachment.
"We sent them the whole shebang: turkeys, sweet potatoes, stuffing, even cranberries," said Tavares. "It is an honor to be able to help them celebrate Thanksgiving."
In the end, the men and women of the A'La Too DFAC put together a package of meal supplies – frozen and shipped on ice – that held more than twice the amount necessary to feed the service members commanded by Brown.
"I can tell you that no one in the United States will mail a turkey," said Brown. "We were not expecting all the support we received, but we appreciate it. The food will bring us a little closer to home for Thanksgiving. Again – thank you."