Thanksgiving for the troops

U.S. soldiers enjoy an early Thanksgiving dinner at the Camp Victory complex in Baghdad, on Nov. 20, 2011. The official Thanksgiving holiday in the United States is later this week, but the last "dining facility," or DFAC, at the sprawling Victory Base Complex on Baghdad's outskirts was preparing to close, as U.S. forces prepare to depart. President Barack Obama announced on Oct. 21 that U.S. forces would leave by the end of this year, bringing to a close an almost nine-year war that has left thousands of American soldiers and tens of thousands of Iraqis dead, and cost hundreds of billions of dollars.

U.S. soldiers queue in the canteen as they wait to be served an early Thanksgiving dinner at the Camp Victory complex in Baghdad, on Nov. 20, 2011. The official Thanksgiving holiday in the United States is later this week, but the last "dining facility," or DFAC, at the sprawling Victory Base Complex on Baghdad's outskirts was preparing to close as U.S. forces prepare to depart. President Barack Obama announced on Oct. 21 that U.S. forces would leave by the end of this year, bringing to a close an almost nine-year war that has left thousands of American soldiers and tens of thousands of Iraqis dead, and cost hundreds of billions of dollars.

U.S. soldiers queue in the canteen as they wait to be served an early Thanksgiving dinner at the Camp Victory complex in Baghdad, on Nov. 20, 2011. The official Thanksgiving holiday in the United States is later this week, but the last "dining facility," or DFAC, at the sprawling Victory Base Complex on Baghdad's outskirts was preparing to close, as U.S. forces prepare to depart.

U.S. soldiers queue in the canteen as they wait to be served an early Thanksgiving dinner at the Camp Victory complex in Baghdad, on Nov. 20, 2011.

A cook serves U.S. soldiers an early Thanksgiving dinner at the Camp Victory complex in Baghdad, on Nov. 20, 2011.

U.S. soldiers enjoy an early Thanksgiving dinner at the Camp Victory complex in Baghdad, on Nov. 20, 2011. The official Thanksgiving holiday in the United States is later this week, but the last "dining facility," or DFAC, at the sprawling Victory Base Complex on Baghdad's outskirts was preparing to close, as U.S. forces prepare to depart.

U.S. soldiers enjoy an early Thanksgiving dinner at the Camp Victory complex in Baghdad on Nov. 20, 2011.

U.S. soldiers enjoy an early Thanksgiving dinner at the Camp Victory complex in Baghdad, on Nov. 20, 2011. The official Thanksgiving holiday in the United States is later this week, but the last "dining facility," or DFAC, at the sprawling Victory Base Complex on Baghdad's outskirts was preparing to close, as U.S. forces prepare to depart. President Barack Obama announced on Oct. 21 that U.S. forces would leave by the end of this year.

A U.S. soldier carries his tray of food during an early Thanksgiving dinner at the Camp Victory complex in Baghdad, on Nov. 20, 2011.

U.S. soldiers queue in the canteen as they wait to be served an early Thanksgiving dinner at the Camp Victory complex in Baghdad, on Nov. 20, 2011. The official Thanksgiving holiday in the United States is later this week, but the last "dining facility," or DFAC, at the sprawling Victory Base Complex on Baghdad's outskirts was preparing to close, as U.S. forces prepare to depart.

A U.S. soldier serves food to a fellow soldier for the last Thanksgiving meal at Camp Victory Complex in Baghdad, on Nov. 20, 2011, prior to the closure of the dining facility. The U.S. has promised to withdraw from Iraq by the end of the year as required by a 2008 security agreement between Washington and Baghdad. Some 39,000 U.S. troops are scheduled to clear out along with their equipment.

U.S. soldiers stand in a queue to get their final Thanksgiving meals at Camp Victory Complex in Baghdad, on Nov. 20, 2011. This is a special Thanksgiving dinner for people because the camp will be closing their dining facilities. The U.S. has promised to withdraw from Iraq by the end of the year as required by a 2008 security agreement between Washington and Baghdad. Some 39,000 U.S. troops are scheduled to clear out along with their equipment.