U.S. service members overseas continue Thanksgiving traditions amid patrols, pandemic

(KION-TV) -- While many are celebrating Thanksgiving at home, U.S. service members overseas are continuing operations as troops have little time to spend taking in festivities abroad.

Sergeant William Mills from the 82nd Airborne is one of these troops, patrolling towns and villages in Syra.

To Sgt. Mills, however, it's the little things he's grateful for, like moments with local children.

"It kind of takes your mind elsewhere," says Sgt. Mills. "You kind of forget the situation you're in. It's nice to kinda just relax and hang out."

There's also a pandemic to be concerned about as troops in Iraq enjoy slices of turkey and pie while maintaining social distance.

Chief Medical Officer Chris Call thought his primary concern would be combat injuries, instead he's set up quarantine wards at a base in northern Iraq for the more than 100 soldiers infected with the coronavirus.

"COVID has really united us as a humanity on this base, as opposed to all of our individual units," he says. "It's really, in a lot of ways, brought us together in a way that I never could have imagined."

But the spirit of the season isn't lost on Specialist Sherif Tijaniabimbola. The apache mechanic immigrated from Nigeria four years ago.

"I'm feeling grateful that I'm on a path to make a better life for my family. To make a better future for my child," says Tijaniabimbola.

The U.S. is expected to withdraw about 500 of the 3,000 troops currently based in Iraq. About a thousand are still serving in Syria.