As U.S. troops at Bagram airbase in Afghanistan celebrate Thanksgiving, one serviceman gets into the spirit of the occasion by wearing a turkey-carcass hat.<br/> With their tours of duty set to continue, many soldiers at the base will not see their families for some time.<br/> (SOUNDBITE) (English) FEMALE U.S. SOLDIER HEATHER SURGEON SAYING:<br/> "I would like to tell my family that I miss them very much and I am thinking of them every day, and I wish I could spend this holiday with them but I know that they are having a good Thanksgiving, and I love them all and wish them the best for the holiday season."<br/> For troops serving in Iraq, this year's celebration is particularly special since they are just weeks away from an anticipated U.S. pullout from the country.<br/> (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SOLDIER STACY WALLACE SAYING:<br/> "I've been here about, I would say two and half, almost three months, I should be going home soon and I am kinda excited about it, I didn't expect to spend the holidays with my family, so I will have the opportunity. Everything is ending. It has been an awesome ride, a great experience of my career, and I look forward to the things that we will do in the future."<br/> Many soldiers are looking forward to going home.<br/> (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SOLDIER BRYAN C. YOUMY SAYING:<br/> "This is awesome to be here for Thanksgiving with all the troops. We just finished serving pretty much half the whole base out there for a Thanksgiving meal, and it has a been great mission, it has been a great tour but it is time to go home."<br/> Thanksgiving is a harvest festival celebrated in the U.S. on the fourth Thursday in November.<br/> Nick Rowlands, Reuters.
