FT. CAMPBELL, Ky. — At Fort Campbell, a soldier's day is usually already scheduled down to the minute.
But in the kitchen ahead of the U.S. Army's 5th Special Forces Group Thanksgiving Dinner, time is even more important, as they prep the meal with military precision
Specialist Trenton Johnson is one of the soldiers who took part in the dinner this year. Trenton says he'd usually be spending with his family in Orlando.
After two deployments to Iraq, he says outside of his loved ones at home, he's come to know a different kind of family to spend the holiday with.
"The Army is definitely your family, when we enlist and move away from home, we know we're leaving family and going on own, but I think in a sense we don't know we're gonna find a new family," Trenton said.
A new family that Trenton says he doesn't have to look very far to be thankful for.
There are still so many families in East Tennessee hurting following the floods from Hurricane Helene in September. That made this year's running of the Santa Train extra special for many families in the northeast part of the state. This special Santa Express has been making an annual run in part of Appalachia for over 80 years.
-Lelan Statom
