My First Military Thanksgiving

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I was 19 years old. I had decided since I was an only child I would let others take leave and go home to spend the holiday with their families. I was stationed at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington D.C. The WACS had our barracks out at Forest Glenn Annex. This was 1971 and we had rooms where there were 2 to 3 in a room. Downstairs of the barracks was this beautiful diningroom that no one used. It had a gorgeous large table and about 8 chairs. Then there was a full kitchen. I remember going around and finding out who would not be going home and said I would make turkey and dressing for Thanksgiving. I was off the Wednesday before Thanksgiving day. So not thinking about our C.O. and NCO that was still in the barracks I started early that morning making the turkey. By noon here come SGT Garbrick asking me what I was doing. I laughed and said Making a turkey! She said well that is sure obvious since the smell was going throughout 3 stories of barracks! Since I had to work Thanksgiving on the Neurology Ward, the girls that were there and our Company Commander and NCO all had turkey and dressing whether they got it Wednesday or on Thanksgiving. It was my first turkey I ever baked on my own and here it is 40 years later and I am making my 40th bird. What a wonderful memory of how I got started making thanksgiving and giving to others and sharing. Happy Thanksgiving to anyone that reads this!