Fort Drum soldiers treated to early Thanksgiving feasts
FORT DRUM, New York (WWNY) - Members of the 10th Mountain Division celebrated an early Thanksgiving with a series of feasts across Fort Drum on Tuesday.
7 News stopped by the 1st Brigade Combat Team’s dining hall where the meal sported a casino flair.
The line stretched far outside the doors of the dining facility or “DFAC”. Soldiers were eager to get their hands on some Thanksgiving staples.
“For food service representation it’s the Super Bowl of the Army,” said CW3 Eric Mills, division food advisor.
Kitchen staff worked around the clock to make the meal a reality, spending 16 hours preparing pastries, churning stuffing and roasting turkeys.
“We’re trying to be the best dining facility on Fort Drum. Hopefully, we bring home that prize today,” said WO1 Dwayne Donegan, 1st Brigade food service advisor.
But food preparation was only half the work. Soldiers spent months perfecting the event’s casino theme with ice sculptures, live music and a red carpet.
“Mostly it’s adults here so we’re trying to have a little fun with it. Do something a little more mature compared to the Disney themes we typically do,” said Donegan.
The 1st BCT’s dining hall is just one of many facilities rocking their own unique themes for the holiday and eventually competing against one another.
“Things like the cornucopia, the displays, the unit cohesion. Things of that nature. It’s a very competitive environment to see and observe,” said Mills.
“I think we have the chance, the opportunity to win so I’m very much excited about that,” said Donegan.
The 1st Brigade’s ace in the whole was an entire roasted pig, a culinary experience unique to its dining facility.
“We try to make this our signature because a lot of other dining facilities don’t do it. We try to make this our own because we do it the best,” said Mills.
Above all else the meal is the military’s way of giving an authentic Thanksgiving experience to soldiers who are a long way from home, like Specialist David House from California.
“My family back home. My mom. They’re probably out at my grandparents’ house having Thanksgiving. I’m here having it with some of my boys so it’s fun,” he said.
Copyright 2023 WWNY. All rights reserved.
