NAWA, Afghanistan — A Marine infantry platoon with Echo Co. 2nd Battalion 7th Marines was pleasantly surprised today after they were greeted with an amazing Thanksgiving feast upon returning from a 12-hour combat patrol.

The platoon, which had just left another Thanksgiving celebration Taliban fighters gave them, complete with rockets and automatic rifle fire, wasn't expecting much left upon their return to the forward operating base.

"It's really just been an amazing day full of gifts to be thankful for," said 1st Lt. Andrew Smith, the platoon commander for 1st Platoon. "We had a meeting with village elders which gave us a ton of intelligence on things relevant to operations 3 years ago, then the Taliban threw us a spectacular fireworks show."

"Not to mention the meal the DFAC cooks prepared especially for us on this day," he added.