Captain de-I of the 95th Minsk? You Are Recalled to Duty

The origins of the 95th Minsk Feeding Regiment go back to the time of the late Romanoff dynasty of Czars at the turn of the 19th to 20th century. It wasn't a good time to be 'different'. If you were not an Orthodox Christian your loyalty to the state was questioned. And it was a time when the Czars were fighting lots of wars and in need of lots of cannon fodder.

Around Minsk (in present day Belorussia) were old, old communities of Jews and newer communities of Mennonites who had come from Germany during the 18th century. Neither fit the Orthodox criteria. A mixed group of Jews and Mennonites were put together in a single regiment that was involved in the logistics of feeding the Czarist army. They were very good at what they did.

As the conditions worsened leading up to WWI and the Russian Revolution, many of these Jews and Mennonites emigrated to the United States - Jews mostly to New York City and the Mennonites to farm communities in Minnesota, South Dakota, and Iowa. Over the years they carried on the memories and the traditions of the proud 95th Minsk Feeding Regiment. Many of them found there way into the U.S. fighting forces during WWI, WWII, the Korean War, Viet Nam, the Gulf War, etc. They had knowledge of the old ways and used them carrying on the knowledge and tradition from generation to generation.

When Wife and I formed our mixed heritage marriage, little did we know that we carried these traditions with us. We first brushed off this tradition and heritage when Styling with Renee Michelle and I began collaborating on the feeding plans for the Wife's family reunion. We quickly found we had these common organizational methodologies for planning and feeding the multiples. Hence we formed our on little branch of the 95th Minsk Feeding Regiment.

In just 15 days the entire de-I clan - 3 daughters, 3 sons-in-law, 4 granddaughters, and 2 grandsons descend upon Albuquerque and the de-I Tower for a the Christmas holiday/family reunion/Wine Inventory Reduction event. Feeding this gastronomically driven crowd is not for amateurs. Hence out come the spreadsheets and organizational plans.

The 95th Minsk Feeding Regiment is back in business.