NOVEMBER 24, 2023 – Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke yesterday with several service members representing each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces to wish them a Happy Thanksgiving.
During the calls, Secretary Austin expressed his gratitude to each service member and their families for their service and sacrifice in defense of the nation and in support of America’s allies and partners.
He highlighted the important contributions these service members are making to ensure our country is safe and secure as they carry out their duties with integrity and professionalism around the world.
Secretary Austin spoke with service members from the following units:
- U.S. Army’s Task Force Mountain, 10th Mountain Division. Soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division are working with allies in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve in Romania to present a credible combat force that deters aggression in the U.S. European Command area of operations.
- U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command, Kuwait. The Marine Corps Forces Central Command (MARCENT) Coordination Element Kuwait serves as the administrative and logistics hub for Marine Corps individual and unit deployments within the U.S. Central Command area of operations.
- U.S. Navy’s USS Thomas Hudner (DDG-116). Sailors aboard the USS Thomas Hudner are deployed with the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, which is currently operating in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.
- U.S. Air Force’s 20th Special Operations Squadron. Airmen from this unit are forward-deployed overseas to respond to contingencies across areas of operation around the world.
- U.S. Space Force’s 5th Space Warning Squadron, Detachment 3. Guardians from this unit provide theater missile warning to the U.S. and our international partners.
