Fort Stewart celebrates Thanksgiving with soldiers and families

FORT STEWART, Ga. (WTOC) - The 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart celebrated Thanksgiving with leadership and soldiers eating a delicious meal prepared by culinary specialists.

Command Sgt. Maj. Donald Edward Durgin Jr. said the dining facilities offered many options for the celebration.

“They laid out every piece of protein that you could probably think of,” Command Sgt. Maj. Durgin said. “I think I just went inside and saw a whole pig laid out. I’m pretty excited.”

The event brought together current soldiers and veterans who returned to Fort Stewart to celebrate the holiday. One attendee said he was grateful to share the holiday with his wife and daughter.

“I’m just grateful to be alive, really, you know, to be able to share this time with my family,” he said. “This is my daughter. This is my wife right here. And just thank God for being alive during this time of the season.”

Leadership serves meals in the dining facility competition

Division leaders served thousands of full plates as part of a dining facility competition between facilities. The facilities are being judged on the best decorated facility and the best Thanksgiving meal.

“It just shows genuine care, genuine solidarity, and a willingness to thank those that do all of the hard work on behalf of this division,” said Durgin.

A veteran who attended said she has supported the annual tradition for years, when her husband was a cook.

“When I was in the military, my husband was in the military too,” she said. “He was a cook, and I would come every year to support my husband, and he was so proud of everything that they did in here for the Thanksgiving Day meals.”

Regardless of which facility wins, everyone went home with a full stomach.

We also got an update on the soldiers deployed to Europe.

“3rd Infantry Division is no stranger to the UCOM rotation. We do it, and we do it often, and we do it willingly. And the soldiers really enjoy their time over there. Right now, I would say that they probably have some off time down there in the local communities, sharing in the good food that out there is to offer, and the recreation opportunities there are out there to offer. And so their leisure time is quite balanced with their training time,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Durgin.