let's head back to afghanistan, lester at camp eggers. please give the troops all our best wishes. >> reporter: you bet i will, al. happy thanksgiving to you. thank you. 95,000 u.s. troops are currently serving in afghanistan. with insurgent attacks up this year, this has been the bloodiest year yet. with me is lieutenant general david rodriguez, the commander of forces in afghanistan. happy thanksgiving to you. you've been a wonderful host to us and we appreciate all you've done. we heard a lot about 2014 the last couple of months, nato leaders decided that was the end of u.s. combat operations. what does it mean to these folks. a lot have stood in these lines before. this isn't their first time. >> no, it's not. 2014 is a light at the end of the tunnel for many. that transition will be conditions-based and work with the afghan community and afghan forces to assume that goal. >> was that a political decision or military one? were you angen ral petraeus consulted and said, give us a realistic debate? >> yes. we've been in communication go

soldiers at camp eggers in kabul, afghanistan. the military tried to give troops a small taste of home even though they are thousands of miles away. >> reporter: well, the lines have been long all afternoon here at camp eggers where they are being treated to a full thanksgiving meal. turkey, roast beef, corn on the cob, you name it. all of the trimmings. great pies here. i asked the manager of the dining hall here, how many people are you going to have? he said i don't know, maybe a thousand. camp eggers is an important base here in kabul. it basically handles the training command for nato, trying to train afghan forces to get up to speed. you'll find troops from marines, navy, air force, army as well as nato troops. here are the guys and ladies all chowing down. how's the food? >> today was great. really enjoyed it. >> who's watching back home? >> well, my wife michelle is with my mother in pittsburgh visiting. my two daughters. >> there they are. >> and katie, she's become a little chef at home. she made some brownies which was

is spending part of this holiday with the troops on the front lines and has our report from camp eggers in kabul. lester, good evening. >> reporter: carl, long lines for the thanksgiving meal here at camp edgars between afghanistan and iraq, nearly 150,000 americans are spending this holiday in harm's way, some have been able to enjoy the traditions of the holiday. others, however, have had to continue with the business of war. duty called on this thanksgiving as it does every day in the war zone. you guys all set? for these soldiers in kabul, the holiday takes a back seat. >> going out every day is pretty much the normal thing for us. >> hi, mommy.

. >> frank egger. my permanent address is number 13 meadow lane, fairfax, california. i'm representing the ager family who have resided on bernal hill since 1909. my grandfather built the home there. as a kid i played on bernal hill in the 40s and 50s. i'm very familiar with the area. the city and county of san francisco has the opportunity this evening to correct inequity and a wrong that has been perpetrated on the people of bernal hill since the late '50s and early '60s. just because those antennas were put up prior to the california environmental quality act going into effect is no reason to exempt them today. the applicant wants to bifurcate this project. the planning commission erred. i urge you to grant the appeal, to reject the project and uphold the neighborhood. this is a vital interest to us all. i first hiked there in the 40s. i hiked there today and please correct this inequity. thank you very much. >> my name is charles kalish. i live on bernal hill. i didn't know anything about this. i came here for a different purpose. i'd like to ask you to make sure t

is spending part of this holiday with the troops on the front lines and has our report from camp eggersn kabul. lester, good evening. >> reporter: carl, long lines for the thanksgiving meal here at camp edgars between afghanistan and iraq, nearly 150,000 americans are spending this holiday in harm's way, some have been able to enjoy the traditions of the holiday. others, however, have had to continue with the business of war. duty called on this thanksgiving as it does every day in the war zone. you guys all set? for these soldiers in kabul, the holiday takes a back seat. >> going out every day is pretty much the normal thing for us. >> hi, mommy. >> hi, landon. >> reporter: when this war started in 2001, there was no skype. >> what are you doing? >> reporter: now video chats help close the distance with home, providing virtual family get-togethers. >> love you. >> i've been gone for seven months, and so i think right now he thinks i live in the computer. >> reporter: mail from home helps a lot and the holiday volume is already picking up. >> makes me feel good because i'm a superstar a

service members along with their nato counterparts gathered at camp eggers to reflect on veterans day mind the fallen in foreign wars. >> reporter: for the chaplain, an added personal significance. >> four generations of my family have served in the united states military, and so first it's a personal thing, and second, i don't think that veterans get the respect that they should sometimes. >> reporter: since 2001, nearly 1,400 american lives have been lost in afghanistan. with 2010 proven to be the deadliest year so far. >> we pray that we work ourselves out of a job. >> reporter: many service members here have served on more than one deployment. they want the people back home to see past the bullets and bombs and concentrate instead on their accomplishments. >> we're making a lot of progress with this transition command. >> reporter: at the u.s. embassy, war veteran and former prisoner of war senator john mccain led a congressional delegation to salute those in uniform. >> it's an honor for all of us to spend this veterans day in afghanistan among what i believe to be the greatest g

service members along with their nato counterparts gathered at camp eggers to reflect on veterans day>> this day calls to mind the fallen in foreign wars. >> reporter: for the chaplain, veterans day has an added personal significance. >> four generations of my family have served in the united states military. and so first it's a personal thing, and second, i don't think that veterans get the respect that they should sometimes. >> reporter: since 2001, nearly 1,400 american lives have been lost in afghanistan. with 2010 proving to be the deadliest year so far. >> we pray that we work ourselves out of a job. >> reporter: many service members here have served on more than one deployment. they want the people back home to see past the bullets and bombs and concentrate instead on their accomplishments. >> we're making a lot of progress with this transition command. >> reporter: at the u.s. embassy, war veteran and former prisoner of war senator john mccain led a congressional delegation to salute those in uniform. >> it's an honor for all of us to spend this veterans day in afghanistan amo