NATO troops stationed in Afghanistan celebrated Thanksgiving on Nov. 22, with a traditional turkey dinner.
At NATO’s main headquarters in Kabul, soldiers ate at long tables in the mess hall. The hall was decorated with turkey motifs, fairy lights, and tinsel.
Despite being far away from their loved ones, the army sergeants draw comfort in knowing that their families are safe at home.
“It’s hard. I haven’t had a Thanksgiving away from my family but again, they know that I’m gonna do whatever it takes to make sure that they’re safe,” says Vanessa Pitt, a U.S. Army sergeant.
The soldiers know their missions and they are fighting for the safety of their families.
“Absolutely, I’d love to see peace in Afghanistan. I don’t want to see it be a safe haven for terrorism and at the end of the day I want to know that my family is safe,” says Caylee Baker, another Army sergeant.
NATO ended its main combat operation in Afghanistan in 2014. Since then, NATO has been providing training and assistance to Afghan security forces.
39 countries contributed around 16,000 troops to the Resolute Support training and advisory mission led by NATO.
