Thanksgiving with the Troops
Pete Hegseth and his wife, Jennifer, spent Thanksgiving with sailors and Marines stationed at sea. The Secretary of the Army took a moment to express gratitude from the cockpit of the USS Gerald R. Ford.
“Happy Thanksgiving from me, the Secretary of the Army. Happy Thanksgiving from the president of the United States. Happy Thanksgiving from a grateful nation,” he addressed to the thousands of service members aboard the carrier.
Hegseth then highlighted troubling news about an attack on two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., just a day prior.
“They remind us of the courage and selflessness of Americans like you who risk everything for the American people at pivotal moments in their lives. Whether it is in our nation’s capital, on foot patrol, or at sea, stopping cartels and protecting the American people, we thank you.”
This incident weighed heavily on minds, especially as news broke late Thursday that 20-year-old West Virginia National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom had succumbed to her injuries.
Andrew Wolf, 24, remained critical after being shot while on duty near the Farragut West subway station.
Before arriving at the aircraft carrier and USS Winston S. Churchill, Hegseth and Jennifer shared a message on social media about wanting to celebrate Thanksgiving with the troops, mindful of the recent attack.
These vessels are involved in Operation Southern Spear, which targets narco-terrorist networks throughout Latin America. Hegseth expressed concern for the families of the soldiers unable to be with their loved ones.
“We know that family is the backbone of your service,” Jennifer remarked. “We’re really grateful for that and wish you blessings wherever you are.”
Hegseth shared his own experiences, saying, “Having been deployed three times, I often think of my family hoping they’re gathering around food and football. They won’t be this time, so we’re here to bring them turkey and a bit of cheer.”
The couple served Thanksgiving meals to the sailors onboard.
The Army chief noted he was ensuring “mandatory” holiday meals for the crew, emphasizing that “Turkey is a must,” as he prepared generous portions.
In a light moment, he joked, “Dads and moms out there, your kids are going to eat turkey whether they want to or not.”
