Miss USA visits Fort Drum

FORT DRUM — It seemed fitting that an appearance by Miss USA would draw a crowd nearly as diverse as the nation to celebrate a holiday recognizing America's immigrant roots.

Among those mingling and lining up for autographs Thursday afternoon in the United Service Organizations building were military moms toting children, single soldiers, Santa and Mrs. Claus, teenagers from a youth group representing Jewish, Protestant and Catholic churches, and a surprisingly large contingent of Mormons from Utah.

Kristen Dalton, a 22-year-old pageant beauty with the Miss Universe Organization, signed autographs, smiled for snapshots and handed out gift bags to the crowd.

Pvt. Justin R. Danowit, 24, and Pfc. Gary J. Gromacki and Pfc. Mark K. Alcantara, both 19, were among a handful of young men who came to pose for pictures with Ms. Dalton.

The three were too far from home to spend Thanksgiving with their families, they said. Ms. Dalton was more beautiful in person than in photos, they agreed. Other surprises?

"She was actually real down-to-earth," Pvt. Danowit said. And, he added, "She smelled good."

Waiting in line was Cory L. McCray, with her children: Mia, Hannah and Nicholas McCray, 4, 5, and 7 respectively, and Adam Lawson, 10.

Adam was interested in some of the technical aspects of life as a beauty queen.

"I know what keeps her crown up," he said confidently. "Her hair clips, and a rubber band and paper clips."

The family had already enjoyed a Thanksgiving meal before coming to the USO, but it had been pretty low-key, Ms. McCray said.

"I'm trying to keep it as normal as possible," she said. "I took pictures of everything, so I can send everything to dad."

The real celebration will come when David J. McCray returns home from Afghanistan. The first group of soldiers from his unit, the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, landed at Fort Drum earlier this month after a yearlong deployment. The rest are due home in the coming weeks.

Ms. McCray said she plans several belated celebrations when her husband returns, including a second Thanksgiving, with turkey and all, and a birthday party, his 30th.

"Hopefully, he'll be here in time for Christmas so we can roll it all into one," she said.

In the meantime, events like Miss USA's appearance on post help the family stay busy through its first deployment, Ms. McCray said.

During a break from signing autographs, Ms. Dalton said showing support for the military was important to her. She'd skipped an appearance in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade to come to Fort Drum, and the trip was proving eye-opening, she said.

In the base's training simulators, she had hung upside-down from her seatbelt in a Humvee rollover, and fired a weapon that made her shake.

"You have to be very focused in a moment that's full of adrenaline," she said.

Other impressions that would stick with her were the stories of soldiers' wives who were managing households and raising kids while their husbands were deployed, and her conversations with Spc. Scott B. Baier, 23, a soldier and USO volunteer charged with driving Ms. Dalton around post. He had spoken candidly about his injuries in Iraq, she said: hearing loss, traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Spc. Baier, helping to hand out gift bags at the autograph table, said he had fun with Ms. Dalton, too. He had one more activity planned for Thanksgiving, though:

"I'm gonna try to get her to chase the turkeys on post!" he joked.