Nov. 27 (Bloomberg) -- President George W. Bush made 11 Thanksgiving Day telephone calls to U.S. military personnel around the world today to express gratitude for their service, the White House said.

“I’m very proud of your service to our country. Thanks for stepping up and honoring your country,” Bush told soldiers in personal calls early today, according to an e-mail from spokeswoman Dana Perino. The president said he was “proud to be your commander-in-chief.”

The 11 soldiers, representing all branches of the armed forces, were based in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Bahrain and domestic military bases, the White House said in a separate statement.

The calls came as Iraq’s parliament approved a security accord with the U.S. that provides for the withdrawal of American forces by the end of 2011.

Bush made the calls from Camp David, the presidential retreat in the Maryland mountains, where he’s spending the U.S. holiday. He is scheduled to return to the White House on Nov. 29.

To contact the reporter on this story: Roger Runningen in Washington rrunningen@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: November 27, 2008 12:00 EST