465,000 pounds worth the Pentagon announced today in anticipation of the Thanksgiving holiday.

The Defense Logistics Agency is shipping that much turkey so that the 180,000 troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan can experience the holiday.  In addition, the agency is sending 63,000 pounds of potatoes; 8,700 cans of cranberry sauce; 61,000 pounds of stuffing and 67,000 pies and cakes, Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said Tuesday.

Having spent several Thanksgivings in either Iraq or Afghanistan, I can tell you the DoD also goes to great efforts to send thousands of decorations, some more, well, interesting than others. My personal favorite was a life-sized mermaid (in a mermaid ever came to life) cut out of butter in a chow hall in Tikrit, Iraq in 2007.

In addition, third-country nationals who serve the troops will don Thanksgiving-themed hats. Here is one of my favorite pieces about the modem military effort to bring Thanksgiving to the troops.

Alas, Happy Thanksgiving everyone, particularly to those serving overseas now. I know many of our readers, as they sit down Thursday for a meal with family and friends, will count your service to country among the many things they are thankful for this year.