Editor’s note: PGA TOUR veterans Frank Lickliter II, Corey Pavin, Jerry Kelly, Donnie Hammond and Howard Twitty are spending Thanksgiving week in Iraq paying tribute to the soldiers stationed there as part of the USO’s “Operation Links Handshake Tour.” While he is there, Lickliter will be writing a blog for PGATOUR.com. This is his second installment.

SOMEWHERE IN IRAQ -- Today was pretty amazing. We went out on the flight line to get on the Black Hawk helicopters that would take us to our next stop. One of the gunners, who is also one of the crew chiefs, gave us instructions on how to get in and out, how to use the seat belts and what-not. They gave us the key phrase for the day, too -- “mount up” -- and that was particularly appropriate because we were going to a place called FOB Warhorse. FOB stands for Forward Operating Base and the Warhorse part is because that’s where the First Calvary is stationed. So we had a great lunch with the soldiers. There were about 400 or 500 of them. We all sat at different tables so we could reach more of the troops. It was really special to get to spend some time with them, particularly on a day like Thanksgiving. After all, that’s what we’re here for -- to tell them how much we appreciate everything they do to keep us all safe. We miss our own families on this holiday, of course, and send our love to them. But having the chance to visit the military men and women in Iraq this week is something I’ll never forget.

While we were at FOB Warhorse, we met the Iraqi governor of that province and spent about 15 minutes with him. His cousin was assassinated two days ago, and he lives with danger every day. Listening to him speak, though, was quite inspiring. His name is Ra’ad and he is very dedicated to re-building a free Iraq. He told us that 98 percent of the Iraqi people are extremely happy that the Americans are here. The other two percent are the psychopaths and insurgents. One thing he told us really hit home. He said, “The tree of freedom will not grow without the blood of sacrifice.”

Our next stop was FOB Brassfield-Mora, which is named after two soldiers who were killed in separate mortar attacks here in October 2003. That’s where we spent the night. While we were there we met two soldiers named Paxton and Gillem. They are two great guys. They’re both from Minnesota. We had Thanksgiving dinner with them, and then they went off on a mission overnight. They came back and stayed up the rest of the night so they could have breakfast with us Friday morning. Just before I wrote this, I said good-bye to them.

Today we’re headed out again in the Blackhawk helicopters. When we fly we always have two escorts with us. Even though we’ve left Baghdad now, I feel totally safe. I talked with my father on Thanksgiving night. He was worried because he saw on TV that there had been a lot of fighting over here but I assured him that everything is fine with us. This whole experience has been amazing. I really had no idea what it would be like but it has totally exceeded my expectations. I am totally fired up about it. This is the chance of a lifetime. It’s a great opportunity to see the guys who put their butts on the line for us every day.