Photo By Chuck Cannon | Col. Kendall J. Clarke, commander, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division,...... read more read more
FORT POLK, La. — The Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk, and the Guardian Inn Dining Facility made Thanksgiving Day a little brighter by serving a special meal, complete with turkey, dressing and all the trimmings.
But it wasn’t just the installation’s Soldiers, Family members, Department of the Army civilians, contractors and Retirees who took advantage of restaurant-quality fare as more than 200 members of the 25th Infantry Division from Schofield Barracks, Hawaii partook of the bounty before catching a plane for home following their recent JRTC rotation.
Brig. Gen. Patrick D. Frank, commander, JRTC and Fort Polk, said that because many of the installation’s Soldiers are in the barracks on Thanksgiving Day, he didn’t want the festive meal served as it so often is on the day before Thanksgiving.
“We wanted our Soldiers to have a Thanksgiving meal on Thanksgiving Day,” he said. “We also have the 25th Infantry Division here from Hawaii, and their last flight was heading out today, so those Soldiers are also here with us.”
Frank said his staff talked with the 25th Inf Div command sergeant major and expressed a desire to host the command’s Soldiers.
“They’ve been in the box (training area) with us for the last couple of weeks, and these were the last Soldiers headed home,” Frank said. “We wanted to make sure they had a great meal today from their partners at JRTC. I think all of the sergeants major were ready to hand out MREs, but we said no, we were going to feed them a good Thanksgiving meal.”
Frank said he was impressed with the work done by the Guardian Inn staff.
“I think (what our Soldiers have done today) is fantastic,” he said. “You see our leaders out here serving today. That’s always a traditional part of our Thanksgiving meal in Army dining facilities, whether in the U.S. or deployed. It’s a great thing to see leaders here, enjoying Thanksgiving with their Soldiers.”
Frank pointed out that it’s been a week-long Thanksgiving celebration on Fort Polk.
“This goes further than just today,” he said. “Yesterday we had Patriots football actions (3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division), Turkey Bowls happening across the installation building camaraderie and teamwork, then today here in the dining facility. It’s really how we’re trying to celebrate Thanksgiving. As long as I’m here, we’ll serve our Thanksgiving meal on Thanksgiving Day instead of the day before. It means a lot to Soldiers to have that meal on Thanksgiving Day.”
Lt. Col. Elizabeth Martin, Aviation Task Force Diamondhead commander from Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, which provided air support during the 25th Inf Div rotation, said the Thanksgiving meal was a nice way to end her unit’s rotation.
“It was an exceptional training opportunity,” she said. “Aggressive and tough training, with a big range in weather from nice to very cold and wet, so this (Thanksgiving meal) is wonderful. I think everyone is surprised we’re invited. We’re almost out the door, leaving this afternoon. We’re thankful JRTC and Fort Polk has invited us to dine with them.”
Master Sgt. Antonio Barrett, mess sergeant for the Guardian Inn, said it took a lot of long hours to prepare such a large meal.
“You get tired, but right now, when you see it all come together, it’s worth it,” he said. “We’re excited because we get to play a part in the holiday celebration.
“This is really our day. This team is awesome and exceeded my expectations.”
| Date Taken: | 11.30.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 12.03.2018 16:52 |
| Story ID: | 302077 |
| Location: | FORT POLK, LOUISIANA, US |
| Web Views: | 90 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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