Guest guest Posted July 22, 2002 Report Share Posted July 22, 2002 > > > > > > > >>Subject: FW: OUTBACK: Makes you so proud of our troops and good old American know-how. Louise in Alabama > >> > >>OUTBACK STEAKS > >>For troops in Kandahar, comfort is an Outback meal delivered on a C-17. > But > >>for those traveling to prepare the meal, it's a nerve-wracking mission. > >> > >>The rumor started about a month ago. It spread through the 101st Airborne > >>Division in Afghanistan like a dust storm in Kandahar. Nobody really > >>believed it, because it sounded too good to be true. The Outback > Steakhouse > >>people were coming. And they were bringing food. > >> > >>Members of the 101st Airborne, like all of the troops in Afghanistan, have > >>been eating meals such as T-rations, food that is sealed in large tin > >>containers. The entire container has to be boiled to heat the food. > Powdered > >>eggs the color of sand are a common T-ration breakfast entree. > >> > >>The possibility of ribeye steaks, grilled shrimp and, best of all, a > >>deep-fried Bloomin' Onion, had them understandably excited. > >> > >>About 3 a.m. on June 18, a C-17 landed at the Kandahar Airport. On board > >>were 15 men and women in white Outback T-Shirts. And a giant cooler. It > >>contained 6,700 steaks, 30,000 shrimp and 3,000 giant onions. > >> > >> " Enough to feed 6,700 troops, " said Dave Ellis, Outback's director of > >>research and development. > >> > >>They also unloaded 13,400 cans of O'Douls, a nonalcoholic beer. Ellis > wanted > >>to bring Budweiser, but alcohol is forbidden on the base. > >> > >>The idea of feeding the troops was born a few months ago, when Outback CEO > >>Sullivan was at a social event with U.S. Army Gen. Tommy s. > >> > >>Sullivan " thought it would be neat to serve the troops a steak dinner and > a > >>Bloomin' Onion, " Ellis said. s thought so, too. > >> > >>Ellis worked with Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base to figure out > >>how to transport the enormous dinner and get military clearance for 15 > >>people and cook in a war zone in the middle of the desert. The employees > >>came from Outbacks around the country; Ellis is based in the company's > >>headquarters in Tampa. > >> > >>Most of the food was donated to Outback by the restaurant's vendors; the > >>rest was paid for by Outback. It took nearly three days to fly to > Kandahar. > >>The > >>group stopped in Germany, then flew the eight hours to Afghanistan. Armed > >>troops greeted the plane. > >> > >> " Nerve wracking, " Ellis said. > >> > >>The Outback employees were in Kandahar for only three days. They were > >>preparing food almost the entire time. That posed some special challenges > in > >>the 115-degree heat. > >> > >>Ellis and the other employees wore water-filled backpacks called > >> " camelbacks " so they could constantly rehydrate. In between their tent and > >>the kitchen, they were told not to stray off the gravel path or risk being > >>killed by a land mine. And they were informed of the closest bunker to the > >>kitchen, in case they were bombed. > >> > >>Base officials also pointed out the area's infamous sights: where American > >>Taliban member Lindh was held. Where a firefight happened a > few > >>weeks ago. Where Osama Bin Laden's troops had trained nearby. > >> > >> " You could sense the evil, " Ellis said. Watching the troops in action and > >>seeing their Spartan lifestyle made Ellis realize the sacrifices they had > >>made for the United States. > >> > >> " It gave me a sense of pride, " he said. > >> > >>The sightseeing was limited. Almost immediately, the employees set to work > >>preparing the meal. They used the military's industrial-sized appliances. > >>They served the thousands of troops in 70 minutes, Ellis said. After > eating > >>the ribeye steak, broccoli, grilled shrimp, rolls and Bloomin' Onions, > they > >>ended the meal with cheesecake for dessert. > >> > >> " They were so appreciative, " Ellis said. " Comfort is very hard to come by > >>over there. " > >> > >>Since he has been back in the United States, Ellis has received dozens of > >>e-mails from soldiers and their families thanking them for the meal. > >> > >> " I just wanted to say thank you for supporting the soldiers over here, " > said > >>Sgt. 1st Class D. Field. " You have no idea how much it means to get > >>anything from the states, but to have someone ship both great food and > great > >>people to prepare the food is awesome. " > >> > >>One woman, a master corporal in the Canadian Forces who is serving in > >>Operation Enduring Freedom, said it was the best meal she had all year. > > > --- > Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). > Version: 6.0.282 / Virus Database: 150 - Release Date: 9/25/2001 > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 24, 2002 Report Share Posted July 24, 2002 What a wonderful and thoughtful act of caring. I know where my next steak dinner is coming from. Stacey in PA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.