Where did you spend your first Thanksgiving in the military and what were you doing?

1SG Nick Baker — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 20:33:23 -0500

I was guarding a motor pool in Honefels, Germany in 1978.

Response by SSG Ed Mikus made Nov 26 at 2015 8:57 PM

SSG Ed Mikus — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 20:57:02 -0500

AIT, Ft Gordon

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 26 at 2015 9:16 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 21:16:24 -0500

A really nice dinner at my PSG house. He came thru barracks mid morning and anyone that wanted to was invited to his house. Hell of a spread. His wife was German, and pulled out all the stops on good food.

Germany 1988

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Nov 26 at 2015 9:19 PM

SGT Jerrold Pesz — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 21:19:54 -0500

I actually don't remember so it must not have been anything exciting.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 26 at 2015 9:21 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 21:21:13 -0500

Ft. Sill, Oklahoma I don't remember what I was doing on Thanksgiving but it was on post.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 26 at 2015 9:33 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 21:33:33 -0500

Lackland AFB in basic training. Completed training on Friday and left on the following Monday.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 26 at 2015 9:35 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 21:35:06 -0500

I was at MCRD San Diego in 1968, on Mess Duty, prior to starting Field Radio Operator school.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Nov 26 at 2015 9:40 PM

Capt Seid Waddell — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 21:40:53 -0500

Medina AFB, going through OCS.

Response by Sgt Matt Koeneman made Nov 26 at 2015 9:58 PM

Sgt Matt Koeneman — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 21:58:54 -0500

My first military thanksgiving was 2003. I was at Marine Combat Training (MCT)

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Nov 26 at 2015 10:26 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 22:26:26 -0500

Serving Thanksgiving at 11th ACR's DFAC, Fort Irwin CA 1994.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 26 at 2015 10:42 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 22:42:01 -0500

I was in AIT at Fort Sam Houston, TX. There were kind families from the community who came on base at Thanksgiving and took servicemen to their homes and fed them on that day. My battle buddy and I went to a kind family's home, in addition to two Airmen. We ate very well, and had a wonderful time trading AIT stories as well as basic training stories (for that was the extent of our military experience). Both the wife and the husband were prior service, and we enjoyed hearing them tell of their experiences. May God bless those veterans for their kindness to young military people. May God grant me the opportunity to do the same for young people one day. Amen.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Nov 26 at 2015 10:44 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 22:44:45 -0500

1SG Nick Baker, I was at BCT on 27NOV69 at Fort Jackson (Tank Hill), SC. We were billeted in the old WWII white wooden "temporary" barracks and the mess halls were company sized mess halls in similar buildings. I was feeling really sorry for myself because many trainees' parents attended, but not mine! Obviously, I got over it!
I was in D-3-1, and the barracks of 1st Platoon appears at the base of the black ink line on infamous Tank Hill. The long one story buildings to the left of and parallel to the barracks were the company sized mess halls.

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Nov 27 at 2015 12:02 AM

MSgt Curtis Ellis — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 00:02:08 -0500

17 years old and just assigned to Nellis AFB, NV. Didn't have the funding to go home, so I spent it in the dorms and my first T-Day meal in the military was at the DFAC. Good Times!!! :D

Response by Cpl James Waycasie made Nov 27 at 2015 1:45 AM

Cpl James Waycasie — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 01:45:58 -0500

MCAS El Toro California and I was drinking a lot of beer I'm sure.

Response by SSG Sandra Sutherland made Nov 27 at 2015 8:34 AM

SSG Sandra Sutherland — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 08:34:04 -0500

I was stationed at Fort Ord, CA for AIT and we had an earthquake; my first ever. I went to chiw after the barracks not shaking. I Missed my family in VA, I knew that they were thinking of me as I was them.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 27 at 2015 2:43 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 14:43:26 -0500

My first military Thanksgiving was spent on the USS MIDWAY. Our Mess Deck crew outdid themselves, as far as I was concerned. In fact, I'd like to commend, in the highest terms possible, every cook and food specialist or whatever they were or are now called, in all the branches of the military. Those folks ALWAYS busted their butts cooking as great a meal with whatever they had available at the time. Sure, battlefield conditions were an exception. I know it was often a box of food many times, many places. But on bases and ships at sea, those cooks humped all day to allow each of us to walk away from the table with a very satisfied stomach..................and full heart!!! I sure did.

Response by SP5 Joel O'Brien made Nov 27 at 2015 4:52 PM

SP5 Joel O'Brien — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 16:52:41 -0500

A more detailed answer has been posted elsewhere but to briefly summarize...I was at AIT at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indianapolis, IN.

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Nov 27 at 2015 6:01 PM

CMSgt James Nolan — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 18:01:58 -0500

MCAS Yuma, AZ, 1985. Ate in the chow hall, which was good. And was working a post on the flightline, but one of our Sgts who was married, brought in Turkey sandwiches from the house for the guys who were posted. Probably the best turkey sandwich I had eaten. That was a good NCO (and Mrs NCO!).

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 27 at 2015 6:14 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 18:14:29 -0500

It was 1992 and I was at Schofield Barracks, HI. A bunch of us went to our squad leader's house for dinner and SuperNES.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Nov 27 at 2015 8:06 PM

PO1 John Miller — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 20:06:42 -0500

I was in Boot Camp. Great Lakes IL 1992.

Response by MAJ Alvin B. made Nov 27 at 2015 10:48 PM

MAJ Alvin B. — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 22:48:50 -0500

Thanksgiving Day 1975: Charge of Quaters (CQ) for the holiday. I was attending AIT at the US Army Security Agency Training Center and School.

Response by SSG Richard A. made Dec 4 at 2015 1:19 AM

SSG Richard A. — Fri, 04 Dec 2015 01:19:18 -0500

1984 - I was at Camp Page, South Korea but don't remember what I was doing. I think I had the day off and the chow hall prepared an excellent Thanksgiving dinner.