IRAQ: For U.S. troops Thanksgiving begins in Philadelphia

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Thanksgiving dinner for U.S. troops deployed overseas begins with a push by the Philadelphia employees of the federal government’s Defense Supply Center to make sure the traditional food makes it to far-flung locations.

This year that means 120,000 pounds of whole turkeys and more than 179,000 pies sent to troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Dubai and Djibouti.

Also 95,826 pounds of ham, 16,874 containers of stuffing mix, 56,104 cans of sweet potatoes, 131,359 pounds of shrimp and, of course, 10,994 cans of cranberry sauce, and lots more. Total tab: more than $6.5 million.

-- Tony Perry in San Diego