3-82 Soldiers enjoy 'welcome home' meal

By Sgt. Justin Naylor, 2nd BCT PAO, 1st Cav. Div.March 13, 2012

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1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT HOOD, Texas--Lt. Col. Nathan Cook (left), the commander of 3rd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, presents an award to All American Beef Battalion founder Bill Broadie during an event on Fort... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT HOOD, Texas--Spc. David Sarkady, a Mountain Home, Ark., native and a training room Soldier, and his wife, Dinia, a Yelleill, Ark., native, eat dinner together at a steak dinner function provided by the All American Beef Battalion on Fort Hood, T... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT HOOD, Texas--The All American Beef Battalion founder Bill Broadie serves steak to Sgt. Tyler Lape, a Peoria, Ariz., native and a gunner with 3rd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, during a st... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT HOOD, Texas -- Nothing says welcome home quite like a hot meal.

For Soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, "Red Dragons," 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, who recently returned from a tour to Iraq and Kuwait, their welcome home meal came in the form of Texas-size steaks and sides provided by the All American Beef Battalion during a gathering on Fort Hood, Texas, Feb. 4.

The All American Beef Battalion is a non-profit organization based out of Kansas and founded by Bill Broadie. Organizational volunteers travel from Kansas around the country to provide steak dinners to service members.

"It's all people who really care a lot for the military," said Broadie of his volunteers.

The meal with Red Dragons was the All American Beef Battalion's third weekend in a row serving meals to troops.

"We just hit our 100,000 (service members) fed mark the other day," said Broadie.

"I think it's really awesome that they can come all the way here to support us," said Spc. David Sarkady, a Mountain Home, Ark., native and a training room Soldier with Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 3rd Bn., 82nd FA Regt. "The people here are really helping out."

Sarkady brought his wife and four children to the event with him.

"They liked it…their plates are empty," said Sarkady. "This is the first unit function we've been to since we have been back."

"I like these events," said Sarkady's wife, Dinia. "Everyone gets together, and all the kids can run around and play together. It's a good chance to get to meet a lot of the unit, not only the Soldiers he works with, but their wives."

Dinia said she really enjoyed the food and was impressed that the volunteers drove all the way from Kansas.

"It's awesome," she said.

With their welcome home meal finished, the Red Dragons can continue their transition into garrison life and start preparing to train for whatever missions the future might hold for them.