SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego-based crew of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz were served a Thanksgiving meal by a surprise visitor --- Army Gen. David Petraeus, who heads military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The four-star general visited the estimated 4,000 sailors and Marines aboard the USS Nimitz in the Gulf of Oman. The aircraft carrier, homeported at Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado, is at the midpoint of an eight- month Western Pacific deployment to support operations in Afghanistan, Navy officials said.

The aircraft carrier left San Diego July 31.

"I'm so thankful to be out here with over 4,000 great Americans who are engaged in important missions and working together to accomplish them," said Petraeus. "There's no greater source of energy than the 4,000 plus members of the crew and air wing that are on one of these great ships."

During his visit, the general toured the ship, presented awards and observed flight operations aboard the carrier.

"It's a unique American holiday," Petraeus said. "And to spend it on a unique piece of American turf -- a ship that no other can match -- really makes it an enjoyable and memorable experience."

Petraeus also carved a turkey for the Nimitz crew, Navy officials said. About 1,000 pounds of traditional Thanksgiving turkeys were served to the crew by the Nimitz food service team. Cooks also served 600 pounds of ham, 15 roasted pigs, roast-steamship rounds of beef, broiled lobster and 150 gallons of cranberry sauce.

"We brought the turkeys on board prior to leaving San Diego," said Culinary Specialist 1st Class Kristopher Freyberg. "We wanted to make sure that was the first thing we had since we would be planning for the holidays. We loaded the entire pig outside of Hawaii, and aside from that, we've been taking it on during replenishment-at-sea little by little."