Military Families on Thanksgiving

On Thanksgiving day, Americans look forward to platefuls of turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and pecan pie. They also look forward to catching up with family members, relatives and friends.

This Thanksgiving finds 130,000 American troops deployed in Iraq. That means that 130,000 American families will celebrate Thanksgiving without a father, son, brother or sister, as more reservists pack their bags to leave.

Hear the stories of four military families who will talk about how they will celebrate this Thanksgiving, and how the war in Iraq has changed their lives.

Guests:

Treina Miller whose husband, Wendell, left for Fort Campbell, KY on Feb. 14, 2003 and for Iraq last May. They have been married since 1991, and have a 6-year-old son and take care of a 7-year-old niece. Wendell works on water purification in Iraq.

Tricia Thompson, who is leaving for the Middle East on Dec. 12, 2003. She will be transporting supplies in Iraq. In New Hampshire, she is a corrections sergeant and a part-time police officer. She will be leaving behind her 13-year-old step-daughter.

Kelley Bradley, who married her husband Shane on Jan. 30, 2003, just a few days before his unit was mobilized at Fort McCoy, WI. He left for Iraq on March 21, 2003. Shane is based in Kuwait and flies black hawk helicopters. He was supposed to return in September, and then December. Now Kelley hopes he will be back in March, 2004.

Pat Taylor whose son, Bill Taylor, left for Kuwait on Nov. 6, 2003. He is captain of a 48-person unit that flies 10 Black Hawk helicopters. Bill will be going to Tikrit, Iraq on Dec. 3, 2003. He celebrated Thanksgiving with his mother on Oct. 23, 2003.