A U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet launches from the deck the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson in the Persian Gulf to conduct a mission in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. For the ship's flight deck crew, Thanksgiving Day consisted of a normal day of flight operations in support of the ongoing airstrikes against Islamic militants in Iraq and Syria. (Hendrick Simoes/Stars and Stripes)
ABOARD THE USS CARL VINSON IN THE PERSIAN GULF — Below decks on the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, culinary specialists were hard at work preparing a traditional Thanksgiving dinner including 112 turkeys and all the common fixings. Above decks it was business as usual for flight deck personnel on a ship focused on the mission of patrolling the skies over Iraq and Syria as part of Operation Inherent Resolve.
In the Gulf to support the ongoing airstrikes, the Vinson's crew didn't let a holiday get in the way of the mission. Pilots boarded their aircraft and flew, just like any other day, and, as usual, leaders were on deck to supervise the frenzy of activity that accompanies flight operations aboard ship.
The ship is in the midst of a 10-month scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific and the Middle East. Since its arrival in the Persian Gulf in mid-October, the ship’s warplanes have flown more than 500 sorties in support of the ongoing airstrikes against Islamic militants in Iraq and Syria.
A U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet launches from the deck the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson in the Persian Gulf to conduct a mission in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. For the ship's flight deck crew, Thanksgiving Day consisted of a normal day of flight operations in support of the ongoing airstrikes against Islamic militants in Iraq and Syria. (Hendrick Simoes/Stars and Stripes)
Master Chief Petty Officer James Thompson shows off his Thanksgiving Day pride on the deck of the USS Carl Vinson, which is in the Persian Gulf conducting missions in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. (Hendrick Simoes/Stars and Stripes)
Seaman Jose Ortiz, a culinary specialist, works on putting the final touches on the hams for a Thanksgiving Day meal aboard the USS Carl Vinson. The Vinson is deployed to Persian Gulf in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. (Hendrick Simoes/Stars and Stripes)
Seaman Jose Ortiz, a culinary specialist, prepares hams for a Thanksgiving Day meal aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. The Vinson is deployed to Persian Gulf in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. (Hendrick Simoes/Stars and Stripes)
A U.S. Navy F/A-18 Hornet launches from the deck of the USS Carl Vinson, in the Persian Gulf, to conduct a mission for Operation Inherent Resolve. The Vinson is in the midst of a 10-month scheduled deployment to the western Pacific and the Middle East. (Hendrick Simoes/Stars and Stripes)
Personnel squat low to the deck as a U.S. Navy F/A-18 Hornet launches and leaves a trail of hot exhaust aboard the USS Carl Vinson in the Persian Gulf on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27, 2014. (Hendrick Simoes/Stars and Stripes)
For the the USS Vinson's flight deck crew, Thanksgiving in 2014 consisted of a normal day of flight operations in support of the ongoing airstrikes against Islamic militants in Iraq and Syria. (Hendrick Simoes/Stars and Stripes)
An aircraft handler, known as a yellow shirt, directs a U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet on the flight deck after its return from a mission in support of ongoing airstrikes against Islamic militants in Iraq and Syria. (Hendrick Simoes/Stars and Stripes)
Petty Officer 2nd Class Albert Gambon, a culinary specialist aboard the USS Carl Vinson, creates food decorations for the Thanksgiving dinner on the ship, Nov. 27, 2014. (Hendrick Simoes/Stars and Stripes)
Culinary specialists aboard the USS Carl Vinson roasted 112 turkeys to feed the 4,900 sailors aboard the ship for Thanksgiving in 2014. (Hendrick Simoes/Stars and Stripes)
As culinary specialists below decks put the final touches on Thanksgiving dinner Nov. 27, 2014, flight operations continue on the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. (Hendrick Simoes/Stars and Stripes)
The crew of this U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet returned to ship just in time for Thanksgiving dinner aboard the USS Carl Vinson on Nov. 27, 2014. (Hendrick Simoes/Stars and Stripes)
Petty Officer 2nd Class Angelica Yanders meets Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert, who spent Thanksgiving 2014 with the sailors on the USS Carl Vinson. (Hendrick Simoes/Stars and Stripes)
Turkey is served! Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Cosek brings out another turkey for Capt. Matt Leahey, the air wing commander, to carve and serve to sailors aboard the USS Carl Vinson, Nov. 27, 2014. (Hendrick Simoes/Stars and Stripes)
Sailors pack the mess decks on the USS Carl Vinson on Nov. 27, 2014, to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving dinner that included all the common fixings. The entire meal took more than 14 hours of preparation. (Hendrick Simoes/Stars and Stripes)
Is that hat regulation? Seaman Christopher Guzelli tops off his Thanksgiving experience with appropriate headwear aboard the USS Carl Vinson in the Persian Gulf, Nov. 27, 2014. (Hendrick Simoes/Stars and Stripes)
After Thanksgiving dinner on the USS Carl Vinson, some crewmembers attend movie night in the hangar bay, Nov. 27, 2014. (Hendrick Simoes/Stars and Stripes)
For many sailors it was straight back to work after Thanksgiving dinner on the USS Carl Vinson, where flight operations continued into the night in support of Operation Inherent Resolve on Nov. 27, 2014. (Hendrick Simoes/Stars and Stripes)
