Service members enjoy a Thanksgiving feast, dining facility celebrates the holidays and its last day open

362nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
Story by Spc. Anthony Zane

Date: 11.24.2011
Posted: 11.24.2011 02:28
News ID: 80522
Service members enjoy a Thanksgiving feast, dining facility celebrates the holidays and its last day open

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq – The holidays are fast approaching and while many service members have redeployed home, those who are still in country enjoy one holiday event to give them a taste of home.

The main dining facility on Contingency Operating Base Adder hosted a Thanksgiving feast as the last meal for service members before closing its doors for good Nov. 20.

The DFAC was adorned with festive holiday decorations throughout, as well as a large traditional Thanksgiving display across from the serving line, including tipis, turkey and cornucopia carvings, ice sculptures, cakes and fresh fruit.

The turnout was impressive as the line extended out the DFAC doors as service members patiently waited for their turkey dinner.

“The turkey was great,” said Spc. Dorothy Gray, information technologies specialist, Company B, 3rd Brigade, Special Troops Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, from Las Vegas, Nev. “A lot of times turkey can turn out dry, but it was really moist.”

“It was nice to have this as the last meal here before the DFAC closed and we all go home,” said Gray.

The menu included the traditional turkey, steamship round, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, vegetables, and a variety of pies for dessert.

To add to the festivities, the 25th Infantry Division Band played holiday music while troops enjoyed their last cooked meal in the DFAC.

“We’ve supported a lot of ceremonies,” said Sgt. Christina Kolodziej, Army band member, 25th ID, from Hamilton, N.J. “We’ve played in a lot of chow halls. Usually, wherever there are troops to play for, we’ll go and put on a show.”

The band has traveled all over central Iraq, providing music on numerous bases throughout for various ceremonies and celebrations on behalf of troops.

“Today, we’re here to help celebrate Thanksgiving and the last day of the DFAC being open here on Camp Adder,” said Kolodziej.

The holiday music the band played as part of their program in the DFAC included well-known Christmas songs to enhance the festive holiday mood.

“There’s really not a lot of Thanksgiving music, so we decided to start bringing in the holiday cheer a little early,” said Kolodziej. “I’m just proud to serve through music and inspire the hearts and minds of America and our troops.”

Once the COB Adder DFAC is closed, service members will have Meals Ready to Eat for the remainder of their deployment, but this Thanksgiving meal gave them a taste of home before they are finally reunited with their families.