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Video by Capt. Douglas Halleaux

Michigan Soldiers Share Latvian Meal

Michigan National Guard

Oct. 2, 2014 | 1:53

Michigan Army National Guard Soldiers got a taste of life in the Latvian army this week during preparations for operation silver arrow, a multinational training exercise led by the Latvian army in conjunction with United States Army-Europe and Operation Atlantic Resolve.
It has been years since cooking over open fires and peeling potatoes in the field have been seen within U.S. Army ranks, but staff Sergeant Dennis Donahue gets to relive his early soldiering days while helping the Latvian cooks prepare today’s meal.
<< Staff Sgt. Dennis Donahue // Michigan combat engineer >>
[question: how long has it been since you’ve been on KP duty in the army?] (laugher) (background: ‘Ronald Reagan was president!’) “too many years, too many years... But some things never change. It’s just like riding a bike- you don’t forget”
“the last time- that was, probably, 1989. That was in ft. Benning, Georgia. That was P.F.C. Donahue, that was when i was on active duty, the first stint in the army. I was peeling potatoes then.”
<< pvt. Janic // Latvia combat engineer >>
“Now i’m doing the onion gravy, it’s going to be for the potatoes, it’s going to come with sausages, pork sausages. So, potatoes with the onion gravy and sausages will be the second dish, first dish is going to be the soup, so hopefully, everyone will be happy”
For these soldiers from Michigan’s 177th military police brigade, such a meal is a welcome change from the packaged rations that are a mainstay of field living. Although the preparation time is quite a bit longer, the wait is worth it.
“some of the best food we’ve probably had. Especially in the field. I guarantee you that.”
For the Michigan Army National Guard, I’m captain Doug Halleaux.