Fort Hood feasts Posted On: Friday, Nov. 27 2009 05:28 AM By Victor O'Brien
Killeen Daily Herald

Fort Hood soldiers know sacrifice because they live it every day. Thanksgiving Day was no exception.

While most of Americans nestled with their families around the dining table Thursday, many Fort Hood soldiers celebrated alone, but in the presence of soldier families.

More than 600 diners were expected Thursday at the Operation Iraqi Freedom Memorial Dining Facility. The soldiers feasted on meals of ham, turkey, steamship round beef, corn bread, stuffing, shrimp, yams, mashed potatoes and collard greens. The feast was served by officers and dining staff who donated their Thanksgiving to serve soldiers.

"It means a lot because we have a lot of soldiers who don't have anywhere to go and it feels good to provide a home-cooked meal to make them feel right at home," Sgt. 1st Class Debra Bailey said. Bailey, with the 1st Cavalry Division, is the manager of the OIF dining facility.

Spc. Ryan Rehberg craved his mother's pumpkin pie and missed his family in Crivitz, Wis., Thursday. If not for the Thanksgiving meal, the Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division soldier, would have eaten a less satisfying and less healthy meal at Taco Bell, he said.

The presence of soldiers and officers with large families dining a few tables over filled Rehberg with warmth Thursday.

Like Rehberg, who opted to take his leave at Christmas to save for a plane ticket, Spc. Josh Hughey, also with the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, stayed home because of the ticket prices.

In past years, tickets cost around $200 to go home to Cleveland, Ohio, but Hughey scoffed at tickets costing $400.

After three years in the Army, Hughey is relieved to not have to sacrifice his holiday to deployment. He will leave the Army for college in a few weeks.

Hughey delights in knowing next year he'll be home for his mother's rice and sausage made her special way.

Many soldiers didn't have a choice whether or not to remain on post. Sgt. Steven Bryant, with Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, was assigned to 24-hour duty for Thanksgiving. His job was to keep calm and maintain order for his fellow soldiers.

Thanksgiving was a small sacrifice when compared to his recent blessing. He moved from Fort Bragg, N.C., to Fort Hood, just 2½ hours from his family in Dallas.

Even though he lives closer, Bryant is not immune to longing for his family.

"Where I'm from, we go from home to home and eat," Bryant said of his family's tradition of a traveling buffet among loved ones.

"I miss them."

Contact Victor O'Brien at vobrien@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7468.