Another Navy Thanksgiving memory

[Anti M]

I was stationed in Yokosuka, Japan at the Communications Station. Many of us in the ET shop were very good friends, along with some of the radiomen from tech control and even one of the young ensigns. Yes, she wasn't supposed to "fraternize" with us enlisted pukes, but hey, young men and women like to hang out with each other!

Most of the married sailors either had tiny Japanese apartments or were flying home for Turkey Day, so inviting us all was a problem. We all wanted to be together instead of splitting up to different homes. The Ensign had friends who lived in a big beach house out in Zushi. They had an American style kitchen and invited us all for dinner. The problem? Not a one of us knew how to cook a big turkey day dinner! We all wrote down our favorite family dishes and began to plan the menu. Somehow I got drafted into cooking the turkey, dressing, and gravy. I also volunteered to do the candied yams. I'm very, very particular about my sweet potatoes; I hate them whipped and with marshmallows. Ick! I like them California-style, candied with pineapple and ginger. Ambitious for me!

We got everything bought a few days ahead of time at the commissary, and the guys who had the house thawed the turkey. I'd never done one myself, but I had read the cooking magazines! This is the days before the internet, no going online for advice. I cleaned the bird, and oiled it with olive oil, seasoned it with sage and butter and stuffed a chopped onion and apple into it. I even did the tin foil tents. The oven was teeny-tiny and the bird barely fit, but fit it did. I worked on the yams and the stuffing; I like baked dressing and don't put it in the bird. It had to go in the oven later, only one thing in at a time! I even made gravy from scratch, with only a little boost from a mix, LOL. My first turkey, and it was perfect and glorious and I've never done a better one since then. Okay, maybe it was the company, but I was very proud of my new-found cooking skills.

My friend Greg wanted creamed pearl onions, but we couldn't find any pearl onions at all. The best we could do was creamed peas with pearl onions, frozen. The others, who had cooked at their apartments or been out shopping off base, started showing up with food in hand, some of them brought prepared food, some ingredients for favorite dishes. Nothing much which could go in the oven, but there were green beans and mashed potatoes and the dreaded whipped marshmallowed-sweet potatoes and buns and frozen pies and pizza and sushi and sake ... okay, it was a little strange, but yummy. The ensign had baked a cake, but didn't know she had to sift the cake flour. Her chocolate cake had tiny white lumps all through it. We ate it anyway and it was terrific!

Later we had a bonfire on the beach, with firecrackers and bottle rockets we shot into the ocean, drank beer and hot drinks, told stories and jokes and danced to a boombox. The sand was cold, but we didn't mind. Someone had a guitar, that was nice. We all crashed on the floor in the beach house, tired but very happy.

[Anti M]

Thanks!

[BunkerQB]

I am a Californian. I have never heard of candied yam with pineapple and GINGER? Nope, Nope. I am sticking with my tried and true recipe -made w BUTTER and BROWN SUGAR, along with the marshmellows.

[Anti M]

LOL, Bea. Yes, butter and brown sugar and pineapple and ginger ... Maybe I'm one of those weird Californians? But no marshmallows, thanks! I do nummy sweet potatoes with rum and pecans too. I love how everyone has so many ways to make good food.

[TexasDocMom]

Oh, my gosh...our first Turkeys!! but at least you took the giblets out...you did, didn't you?? what a great story, anti-m!!

Our retired Marine and his young Navy bride due in tonight, he was in Japan for 3 years until his retirement last year, at age 24....so I'm eager to hear his stories! He's my son's oldest friend and my sweetie of a Cub Scout, very proud of him!

[wisconsinmom]

Thanks for the story! My sailor has been in since Aug. Your memories help me know that even when he isn't with us, his family, for holidays and special times he will have his Navy family to get together and celebrate with and make the day special.

[Anti M]

While nothing replaces your own family, a Navy family holds a very special place in our hearts. I even consider the young sailors I read about here as part of my Navy family. You'll find this is true for many sailors, past and present.

[abbyblue]

Thank you