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VA Military Memories Competition

SP4 Joseph De Frank, U.S. Army (1966-1968)

SP4 Joseph De Frank, U.S. Army (1966-1968)

Where did you enjoy the best chow during your military service and what was the best meal you remember? Where did you experience your worst chow?:

In 1966, during Basic Training at Ft. Hood, TX, we had a fantastic Thanksgiving Dinner, including shrimp cocktail with hot sauce and crackers, roast turkey with bread stuffing and giblet gravy and cranberry sauce, candied sweet potatoes and mashed potatoes, buttered mixed vegetables, assorted relish tray, hot Parker House rolls with butter, fruit cake, mincemeat pie, pumpkin pie w/whipped cream, assorted fresh fruit, nuts, and candy, milk, tea and coffee. I still have a copy of the menu.

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AZ1 Charles Jimerson, U.S. Navy (1987-2007)

AZ1 Charles Jimerson, U.S. Navy (1987-2007)

Where did you enjoy the best chow during your military service and what was the best meal you remember? Where did you experience your worst chow?:

Ate some of the best chow at Naval Air Station Fallon – lunch and dinners were good – breakfast was over the top great! Don’t know that I could pick a particular ‘best’ breakfast meal – I didn’t eat the same thing every morning, because they had good options. Be it eggs made to order – like scrambled eggs with ham and cheese. Or an omelet with just what ingredients I picked. Shit on a shingle (creamed chipped beef on toast for those not familiar with the term) was another favorite.

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SGT Robert Pryor, U.S. Army (1967-1969)

SGT Robert Pryor, U.S. Army (1967-1969)

Where did you enjoy the best chow during your military service and what was the best meal you remember? Where did you experience your worst chow?:

The best chow I had in the Army was also the best of my entire life. It was at Travis AFB, California, in August 1969. I was medevacked back to the States from Viet Nam via USAF C-141. At Travis, a young lady was assigned to be my guardian angel. I have no recollection of her physical characteristics, rank, or job title. I remember she was unbelievably beautiful on the inside. She met me while I was still on the aircraft, keeping pace as my stretcher was moved to an awaiting ambulance. She stayed at my side for the next 72 hours. Everything we needed was requested over the phone and brought to our room.

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LTC David Gauntlett, U.S. Army (1966-1994)

LTC David Gauntlett, U.S. Army (1966-1994)

Where did you enjoy the best chow during your military service and what was the best meal you remember? Where did you experience your worst chow?:

In 1968, I was an 18-year old Air Force buck sergeant, assigned to the 5th Tactical Control Group, Clark Airbase, Philippines. 5th TAC had detachments all over Southeast Asia and I was given the distinction of receiving a 45-day TDY to Hue- Phu Bai, where we had a radio relay site.
Our antennas were near the perimeter and we bunked with a Marine platoon who were responsible for a portion of the perimeter defenses. The Marines were most definitely not pleased that they had Air Force with them. To prove that they were absolutely correct, one night we came under the first airburst artillery attack (from NVA) I ever experienced. I was outside enjoying the show overhead clueless when a Marine came out and threw me into a bunker, noting that I was a Stupid Air Force sh*t.
The Marine platoon used the services of a nearby Seebee mess hall for their meals, so we four Air Force guys were also assigned that mess tent. The day after I arrived, I got in line and the cook asked me How do you want your eggs? My mouth dropped in disbelief and I said Over easy please. And that s what I was served. It was awesome.
That night we were back for dinner. I was asked How would you like your steak? Now THAT was the mess hall of my dreams. I prefer medium well. I ve had worse steaks at Texas Roadhouse.

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GySgt William Koch, U.S. Marine Corps (1976-1996)

GySgt William Koch, U.S. Marine Corps (1976-1996)

Where did you enjoy the best chow during your military service and what was the best meal you remember? Where did you experience your worst chow?:

During my military service, I experienced a wide spectrum of culinary delights and horrors, each leaving a lasting impression on me.
It was the summer of 1981 when I found myself stationed at Lowry Air Force Base in Colorado. As a young Sergeant attending inter-service training, I had yet to hear about the Air Force’s legendary dining facilities. Stepping into the chow hall for the first time, I was pleasantly surprised. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon welcomed me, and rows of neatly set tables with actual plates and cutlery awaited. It was a stark departure from the mess halls I knew during my time with 2nd Battalion 8th Marines where your plate was a steel tray sectioned off.

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MUCS James Richards, Jr., U.S. Navy (1971-1995)

MUCS James Richards, Jr., U.S. Navy (1971-1995)

Where did you enjoy the best chow during your military service and what was the best meal you remember? Where did you experience your worst chow?:

The very best chow I ever had in a mess hall was at the Naval Communication Station, Nea Makri, Greece. I was attached to Commander Task Force 60.1 staff as a Navy Musician on board the USS Forrestal, CVA 59. As part of the band, we had quite a few duties that took us to the beach to either play concerts for the public or events at the Athens USO and other needs of the Admiral. Many times when we were available, the COMSTA at Nea Makri would send a bus to the fleet landing and we (our band was not a typical 18-piece band, but a 7-piece rock band called “Third Wire”) would board the bus for the ride to the Communication Station. The men and women of the base really enjoyed it when we played for them. Many times, upon our arrival, we would be ushered into the chow hall for a really great meal. It seems that this COMSTA had maybe less than 500 officers and enlisted people stationed there. In fact, as I recall, the officers and the enlisted used the same dining facility. Well, this one time, the Forrestal was in port, and it was a Friday night and the Chief tells us we are going to Nea Makri for the weekend. Well into the liberty launches, we put ourselves and our gear for the 20-minute boat ride to the fleet landing. Then onto the bus over “hill and dale” to the COMSTA Nea Makri. When we arrived, our contact told us we were just in time for evening chow. We thought it can’t be any worse than the chow on board the ship, and we piled into their chow hall. We got in line and as we approached the steam table…. one of the cooks said to us, how do you like it and how many…. which was a puzzling question for us standing in a chow line. So I remember asking, how DO I like WHAT and how many of WHAT do I want? He replied…”Steaks”…. how do you like yours cooked and how many do you want? That is when my jaw dropped. I said medium rare and one will do, thanks. Moving down the line there were baked potatoes and vegetables and even rolls and butter…. a commodity that was rare aboard the Forrestal in 1973. Well, that had to be the best meal I ever had in any Navy Mess although waking up on Christmas morning on the ship, and coming up one flight to the mess deck to find the LARGEST collection of fresh fruit I have ever seen in one place is a very close second…. but that is a story for another time…..

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SGT Robert Pryor, U.S. Army (1967-1969)

SGT Robert Pryor, U.S. Army (1967-1969)

Has Together We Served helped you find and reconnect with someone you served with? If so, please describe how this happened and what this meant to you. Please add any specific memories of this person and a photo if available.:

In the early morning hours of 20 June 1969, my life was drawing to a close. Part of my skull had been shot away, with brain matter protruding from the void. My outer right forearm was torn free and dangling from the wrist. Because I had been shot in both knees, I found myself unable to walk or crawl. My rifle had been destroyed, along with my radio. I was quite disheartened. The only people aware of my location were those intent on killing me. With death knocking at my door, I heard the din of a Cessna O-1 Bird Dog heading my way in the darkness. With no way to communicate, I believed the Forward Air Control (FAC) aircraft pilot wasted his time trying to come to my aid. Yet it gave me a little satisfaction to know, somehow or other, the US Air Force might exact retribution on those who killed me.

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ET2 Alvaro Urioste, U.S. Navy (1996-2004)

ET2 Alvaro Urioste, U.S. Navy (1996-2004)

Has Together We Served helped you find and reconnect with someone you served with? If so, please describe how this happened and what this meant to you. Please add any specific memories of this person and a photo if available.:

My buddy Louie and I served together from 2000-2002 aboard the USS Supply (AOE 6). After I got out in 2004, he lost my number, and we didn’t speak for a couple of years. In 2006, I created my profile on TogetherWeServed.com, hoping to reconnect with some old friends, but I didn’t find anyone I knew. One day, Louie found my profile and, through my bio, discovered that I had moved back home to New Jersey. He couldn’t find my number, so he started looking for people in New Jersey with the same last name as me. After some online searching, he came across the contact number for someone named Claudia. He cold-called this person and asked for me. “Al who?” the woman answered.

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Capt Richard Gerry, U.S. Air Force (1964-1970)

Capt Richard Gerry, U.S. Air Force (1964-1970)

Has Together We Served helped you find and reconnect with someone you served with? If so, please describe how this happened and what this meant to you. Please add any specific memories of this person and a photo if available.:

This is my response to my friend Robert Pryor’s post.

Friday, June 20th, 1969, is a day I’ll never forget! In two weeks, I would be on that Freedom Bird heading home.

I was Air Force Captain Dick Gerry, the Air Liaison Officer (ALO) and Forward Air Controller (FAC) at Song Be, Phuoc Long Province, assigned to MACV Advisory Team 67. I flew the O-1 Bird Dog, and my call sign was Rod 11. Approaching the end of my tour, I had more than five hundred combat missions under my belt.

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PFC Jr. Eugene Broyls, U.S. Marine Corps (1988-1990)

PFC Jr. Eugene Broyls, U.S. Marine Corps (1988-1990)

Has Together We Served helped you find and reconnect with someone you served with? If so, please describe how this happened and what this meant to you. Please add any specific memories of this person and a photo if available.:

Recently, I reconnected with Lance Corporal Darren Foster, with whom I served in the US Marine Corps in Kaneohe Bay, HI. While in the Marines, we were together every day like Frick and Frack. There were days we’d take the military excursion bus (provided by the base) to Waikiki every night after “work.” After partying in Waikiki every night, we’d get back on the base bus and barely make it to formation in time. And, we’d be in formation “leaning,” meaning we’d be so hungover we’d be unable to stand up straight correctly due to a headache, stomachs boiling in the hot Hawaii sun, and “reeking” of alcohol. Our Staff Sergeant would just laugh and say, “Broyls, Foster, you’ll ‘tied one on” again last night?” And we’d reply, “Yes, Staff Seargent.” And at times, he’d come over yelling in our ear, knowing we’d have a headache, and sometimes call for our daily PT right after formation, knowing we’d be struggling!

To reconnect with Darren means we’ve found a wonderful “best friend” with whom we can share photos of our wives, kids, and grandkids now and reminisce on our crazy Marine days. When we 1st reconnected, Darren asked, ” You finally found someone just as crazy as you to marry your crazy a**?”

LoL…Good times.

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PFC Daniel Brookes, U.S. Army (1966-1969)

PFC Daniel Brookes, U.S. Army (1966-1969)

Has Together We Served helped you find and reconnect with someone you served with? If so, please describe how this happened and what this meant to you. Please add any specific memories of this person and a photo if available.:

In 2010, because of TWS, I was able to locate one of my best friends from Vietnam, Bob Hillerby. We served together in the 69th Signal Battalion Combat Photography Unit. As a result of our reconnecting, I was able to write and publish two books on the role of military combat photographers in Vietnam.

Bob was my co-author of the first book, “Shooting Vietnam,” and between Bob and I, we were able to share hundreds of photos taken by us and a third writer, Tony Swindell, along with our first-person accounts of our experiences.

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Cpl Edward Bonny, U.S. Marine Corps (1960-1964)

Cpl Edward Bonny, U.S. Marine Corps (1960-1964)

Has Together We Served helped you find and reconnect with someone you served with? If so, please describe how this happened and what this meant to you. Please add any specific memories of this person and a photo if available.:

After I joined TWS, I was contacted by a Marine I went to MCES Electrician’s School with at Court House Bay, Camp Lejeune, Jacksonville, NC. His name was Ronald Barnes, and he was from Louisville, KY.

Ronnie used to travel with me to NYC, my hometown, on weekends, and we shared a lot of memorable adventures. We went overseas together and wound up in different outfits. I left the Corps after 4 years. Ronnie stayed in over thirty years and retired as a Sergent Major. My wife and I went to visit him and his wife in Florida, and it was a memorable reunion, which would never have happened except for TWS. The attached picture is of Red Beach at Camp Garcia, Puerto Rico, about a mile from our power plant.

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