This holiday season, the Pentagon Defense Logistics Agency has once again delivered Christmas feasts across the globe, despite COVID-19 travel restrictions and transportation limitations.
All in all, DLA shipped 9,000 whole turkeys, 51,000 pounds of roasted turkeys, 74,000 pounds of beef, 21,000 pounds of ham, 67,000 pounds of shrimp, 16,000 pounds of sweet potatoes, 19,000 pounds of pies and cakes, 7,000 gallons of eggnog, and many other holiday treats.
"There are two things service members can count on during the holiday season – Santa Claus and the Defense Logistics Agency," a statement from the agency read.
For more than 50 years, DLA Troop Support has provided traditional Christmas food to field kitchens, dining facilities and galleys to locations in the United States as well as the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Korea and other locations around the world.
“This year, despite the additional complexities that COVID-19 put in front of us, the DLA Troop Support Subsistence team went above and beyond to make sure our service men and women around the world will have a wonderful Christmas dinner,” said DLA Troop Support Commander Army Brig. Gen. Gavin Lawrence. “Giving our men and women in uniform a taste of home during the holidays, especially in this extraordinarily difficult year, is extremely important. I hope this meal brings comfort and joy to everyone serving around the world.”
Beyond the holiday season, DLA Troop Support supplies America’s armed forces with $19 billion annually of food, uniforms, protective equipment, medicine and medical supplies, repair parts, and construction and equipment.