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Aircraft carrier crew celebrates Thanksgiving at sea
In this story: November 27, 1997
Web posted at: 8:19 p.m. EST (0119 GMT)ABOARD THE USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Thursday was another day at the office for the 5,500 members of the USS George Washington's crew, but it was also Thanksgiving, with most -- if not all -- the trimmings.
The only logistics that concern most Americans on Thanksgiving is how to get everyone around the dining room table.
It's a different story on the George Washington, a 4.5-acre aircraft carrier where feeding the entire crew is an enormous enterprise.
CNN's Gayle Young reports
On a day on which pilots used 120,000 gallons of aviation fuel flying missions over Iraq, the carrier's crew ate an average of nine slices of roast turkey each.
But that was just the beginning.
"For today's meal," said supply officer Charles Wharton, "we're looking at 2,800 pounds of turkey, 2,500 pounds of ribs, 600 pounds of ham, 3,500 pounds of potatoes -- mashed -- and 160 gallons of gravy."
'Cooks don't get holidays'
The ship's cooks also baked 700 loaves of bread and nearly 10,000 pieces of pie.
"Cooks don't get holidays," said one of them. "We're always working."
The carrier kitchen was also stocked with comparable amounts of soup, candied yams, green beans and cranberry sauce.
The United States hurried the George Washington to the Persian Gulf last week as part of the buildup over a dispute with Iraq on U.N. weapons inspections. On Wednesday, the carrier was in the Gulf about 100 miles southeast of Iraq.
Food is shipped to the George Washington every few days and costs $1.3 million a month. The mail -- 3,000 pounds of it -- arrives at the ship daily, and is expected to double during the holiday season.
There are also religious services aboard the ship, but even there logistics are a consideration. The ship has 11 different religions and denominations, and the chaplain must schedule time for all of them.
Scattered throughout the 97,000-ton carrier were paper turkeys bearing the wish, "Happy Thanksgiving." Although most of the crew did not have the day off, they were grateful for the meal.
"It was really good," said one serviceman. "Almost as good as home."
Sailors e-mail, phone home
A number of sailors were sending holiday greetings via e-mail, and there were long lines at pay phones, where a $20 phone card buys a 20-minute call home.
It didn't seem like a holiday without friends and family, to Wharton, 32, of Norfolk, Virginia.
"I miss my family very much," he said. "It kind of hurts that ... I will not be there to be with them."
Correspondent Gayle Young contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Second U.S. aircraft carrier in Gulf on standby - November 24, 1997
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