Sterling veteran remembers unique Thanksgiving dinner in Egypt

STERLING HEIGHTS — Over three decades after it happened, Manny Gonzales still remembers what he describes as “my best Thanksgiving ever.”

And for the 64-year-old Sterling Heights resident and veteran, that occasion wasn’t a time when he was surrounded by family, a feast or a football game. It was while on assignment overseas as a sergeant first class in the U.S. Army, and his meal options were far more limited.

At the time, around 31 years ago, Gonzales had been stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia, but was deployed to a training exercise in Egypt.

“Thanksgiving came, and we were supposed to have turkey, but we were waiting on a helicopter that was bringing in the fresh meat, stuffing and all the fixings,” Gonzales said. “But the helicopter had mechanical issues.”

He said this logistical snag greatly disappointed the troops, who had been looking forward to good grub instead of MREs – meals ready to eat. As dinner time approached, they learned that the helicopter that was supposed to deliver supplies still hadn’t come and was likely going to be too late for Thanksgiving.

Gonzales said the mess sergeant on-site did the best with what he could do, but for the most part, supplies were scarce, and it was “chow time, but no chow.” So Gonzales went back to his tent, where he at least had a personal stash of snacks.

But at around 10 p.m. that night, Gonzales heard a helicopter, and shortly after, he heard a knock on his tent. A chaplain came in and announced that he was delivering some food.

“Me and my lieutenant were in the tent, and I was already in my sleeping bag,” Gonzales explained.

“(The chaplain) brings over a little package of roast beef, enough for a sandwich. So when he brought that package of meat and he gave us two slices of Kraft individual sliced cheese that the helicopter brought in, we had, for us, the freshest piece of meat that we’ve had in a while.

“And we were so grateful to have this food, and it was still Thanksgiving night.”

Gonzales said he still remembers the lesson that taught him about gratitude, and he encourages people to think about and pray for the members of the armed forces who are currently serving overseas.

“It was nice that somebody thought of us,” he said.

Gonzales’ wife of 43 years, Maria, said that when she first heard the story of her husband’s Thanksgiving in Egypt, she was happy that it ended well, though she was sad that he had to wait so long for his meal.

Maria explained that when Manny was on active duty, the couple would frequently invite soldiers from Manny’s company to their home on Thanksgiving if they were unable to spend the holiday with their own families.

According to Maria, this too resulted in some memorable stories.

“My first Thanksgiving with the single soldiers, I made a pumpkin pie,” she said. “And I didn’t know at that time that you don’t put a crust on (top of) a pumpkin pie.”