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Command Sgt. Maj. Joshua C. Holthus, 1st Infantry Division Forward command sergeant major, serves Thanksgiving dinner to soldiers during a visit to Torun, Poland, on Nov. 27, 2019. Holthus and Col. Phil Brooks, 1st Infantry Division forward commander, were at Torun to visit the 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team and bring a little holiday cheer to the deployed soldiers.

Command Sgt. Maj. Joshua C. Holthus, 1st Infantry Division Forward command sergeant major, serves Thanksgiving dinner to soldiers during a visit to Torun, Poland, on Nov. 27, 2019. Holthus and Col. Phil Brooks, 1st Infantry Division forward commander, were at Torun to visit the 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team and bring a little holiday cheer to the deployed soldiers. (Maurice Smith/U.S. Army)

Command Sgt. Maj. Joshua C. Holthus, 1st Infantry Division Forward command sergeant major, serves Thanksgiving dinner to soldiers during a visit to Torun, Poland, on Nov. 27, 2019. Holthus and Col. Phil Brooks, 1st Infantry Division forward commander, were at Torun to visit the 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team and bring a little holiday cheer to the deployed soldiers.

Command Sgt. Maj. Joshua C. Holthus, 1st Infantry Division Forward command sergeant major, serves Thanksgiving dinner to soldiers during a visit to Torun, Poland, on Nov. 27, 2019. Holthus and Col. Phil Brooks, 1st Infantry Division forward commander, were at Torun to visit the 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team and bring a little holiday cheer to the deployed soldiers. (Maurice Smith/U.S. Army)

Col. Phil Brooks, 1st Infantry Division forward commander, visits with soldiers during a visit to Torun, Poland, on Nov. 27, 2019.  Brooks and Command Sgt. Maj. Joshua C. Holthus were at Torun to bring some Thanksgiving cheer to the 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team.

Col. Phil Brooks, 1st Infantry Division forward commander, visits with soldiers during a visit to Torun, Poland, on Nov. 27, 2019. Brooks and Command Sgt. Maj. Joshua C. Holthus were at Torun to bring some Thanksgiving cheer to the 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team. (Maurice Smith/U.S. Army)

Col. Phil Brooks, 1st Infantry Division forward commander, visits with a soldiers during a Thanksgiving visit to Torun, Poland, on Nov. 27, 2019.

Col. Phil Brooks, 1st Infantry Division forward commander, visits with a soldiers during a Thanksgiving visit to Torun, Poland, on Nov. 27, 2019. (Maurice Smith/U.S. Army)

Col. Phil Brooks, 1st Infantry Division forward commander, visits with soldiers during a Thanksgiving visit to Torun, Poland, on Nov. 27, 2019.  Brooks and Command Sgt. Maj. Joshua C. Holthus, 1st Infantry Division Forward Command Sgt. Major, wanted to bring a little Thanksgiving cheer to the deployed soldiers.

Col. Phil Brooks, 1st Infantry Division forward commander, visits with soldiers during a Thanksgiving visit to Torun, Poland, on Nov. 27, 2019. Brooks and Command Sgt. Maj. Joshua C. Holthus, 1st Infantry Division Forward Command Sgt. Major, wanted to bring a little Thanksgiving cheer to the deployed soldiers. (Scott D. Longstreet/U.S. Army)

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany — U.S. soldiers living in Europe celebrated Thanksgiving far from home Thursday — but that didn’t stop them from eating turkey.

Bases across Europe hosted holiday dinners at USO locations, giving single soldiers living in barracks with small kitchens a chance to eat a big buffet with mashed potatoes, cranberries and desserts.

Some soldiers deployed across central and Eastern Europe continued training on the holiday to support Operation Atlantic Resolve, America’s mission to deter Russian aggression.

Unit leaders showed their support by serving a traditional holiday feast to soldiers deployed to Torun, Poland, on Thanksgiving eve.

The 1st Infantry Division’s forward commander and sergeant major, based in Poznan, Poland, served a traditional Thanksgiving feast to soldiers in Torun, Poland, on Wednesday.

“During this special time of year, the (1st Infantry Division’s forward) commander and I want to demonstrate our support and appreciation to the soldiers supporting operation Atlantic Resolve by serving a Thanksgiving meal to those who cannot be with their families and loved ones,” said Sgt. Maj. Joshua Holthus, sergeant major for the 1st Infantry Division.

“We would like the families back at home to know their loved ones are being taken care of here in theater,” Holthus said.

egnash.martin@stripes.com Twitter: @Marty_Stripes

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