Culinary Soldiers reflect on first Thanksgiving in Army

Photo By Kimberly Hackbarth | Sgt. Brenda Geiger (left) and Spc. Margarita Bate, both with 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, place a decoration on a table Nov. 24 in the Patriot Inn Dining Facility on Fort Hood, Texas. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Kimberly Lessmeister/ 69th ADA Bde. Public Affairs Office)  

FORT HOOD, TX, UNITED STATES

11.24.2015

Story by Staff Sgt. Kimberly Hackbarth 

69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade

FORT HOOD, Texas – Last year on Thanksgiving, Pvt. Michael Gray was celebrating the holiday with his family in East Chicago, Indiana.

This year, the culinary specialist with 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade spent his first Thanksgiving in the Army serving the Soldiers of the brigade their Thanksgiving meals and spending time with his fellow culinary specialists.

“Seeing that they are my brothers and sisters in arms, I feel like I’m still with family on Thanksgiving,” Gray said.

He knew his family in Indiana would be calling him for the holiday, he said.

“I know some of them are taking it harder than others, but I do have family that was prior military, so they understand what I’m going through,” he explained.

Another culinary specialist spending his first Thanksgiving in the military was Pvt. Steven McGee, with 1st Battalion, 44th ADA Regiment, 69th ADA Bde., who joined the Army in April.

“I made the choice to join the Army and I already know what comes with it,” said McGee, a Dallas native.

McGee said that by decorating the dining facility and providing a Thanksgiving meal, he and the other dining facility staff members are giving Soldiers a “home feeling.”

“We’re giving them something to look forward to,” he explained.
Gray also said that the Thanksgiving meal was a big deal for Soldiers who also were not going home for the holiday.

“This is the closest thing that they have to a home-cooked meal, so I feel like we should put love in our food like we always do,” Gray said.

The team spent nearly a month preparing for the holiday and began food preparations the day prior to the Thanksgiving meal.

During the preparations, McGee said the culinary team tried to keep their spirits high and cheer each other up.

“I get along with everybody here, so I feel like it’ll be alright,” he said.

For Gray, his first Thanksgiving in the Army was a milestone.

“Having a formal military Thanksgiving is an experience I can write down in my book, so when I’m having hot cocoa with my grandkids, I’ll tell them about the experience that adds to another story in my record book,” he said.

• Date Taken: 11.24.2015
• Date Posted: 02.11.2016 15:29
• Story ID: 188632
• Location: FORT HOOD, TX, US
• Hometown: EAST CHICAGO, IN, US