FORT KNOX, Ky. — As the federal government shutdown stretches on, a local food truck at Fort Knox is stepping up to help soldiers feeling the strain — one bowl of pho at a time.

Van Tran, owner of General Pho Vietnamese Kitchen, is offering free meals to service members on post affected by the shutdown — but they must use a military-style code phrase to receive them. “Battle buddy, cover me while I move.”

Tran, an Army veteran who served more than 20 years, knows firsthand the stress that shutdowns can bring.

"I remember vividly, late 2018, early 2019, I was still in [service] as a family with four kids, six of us, he said. Even at my rank at that time, I still had some worry because there's uncertainty when something like this happened. We don't know the uncertainty of when it will end

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