Watertown Native's Cooking Earns Honor from Marine Corps

Every day Watertown native Daniel Russo cooks a meal that makes a Thanksgiving feast seem tiny. The Marine Corps corporal cooks two meals for 40 marines and sailors in Afghanistan.  

His work in the kitchen with the Security Forces Assistance Advisor Team at Forward Operating Base Nolay has earned such rave reviews that Russo earned the Cook of the Year for the Marine Corps Reserves, according to a report on DVIDShub.net. His unit, the 25th Marine Regiment, submitted him for the award following his superior performance during the unit’s two-week field exercise last year at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif.

“It’s nice to know that there’s an award out there for cooks to help them strive to do better, because they know they aren’t being overlooked,” Russo said, according to DVIDhub.net. “But just because I received the award doesn’t mean I think I’m any better than anyone else. And honestly it’s just kind of added stress because these guys expect a lot from me. I want to live up to their expectations.”

Read more about Russo and his award by clicking here.