Reporter’s Notebook: Eatin’ Good in Afghanistan

Reporter’s Notebook: American Forces Press Service ^ | Fred W. Baker III

[SandRat]

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GARDEZ, Afghanistan, March 2, 2009 – I’ve eaten more lobster since I arrived here than I have in the past decade in the states.

Army Spc. Kiana Mealey serves up lobster tails and crab legs at an Army-run dining facility nicknamed “Olive Gardez,” Feb. 21, 2009, at Forward Operating Base Gardez, Afghanistan. DoD photo by Fred W. Baker III  
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Don’t tell my wife. She thinks I’m suffering.

One of the few Army-run chow halls I have come across in my travels is located here. The base was too small when it opened to justify a contractor’s service, so the Army took over the operations.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Vashon Rogers, who runs the consolidated facility nicknamed “Olive Gardez,” said as many as 800 people -- including soldiers, civilians and local Afghans who work here -- eat at the facility for any given meal.

Rogers’ staff is a mix of airmen and soldiers provided from units on the base and local Afghan employees. They serve more than 30 dozen eggs for breakfast every morning, washed down with 300 cups of coffee, and they go through 40 gallons of ice cream a day.

Every night has a theme, with Monday being Italian, Tuesday Mexican, and so on.

Saturday night is seafood night.

The lobsters and crab legs are shipped from the United States and driven down on a refrigerated truck from Bagram.

On seafood night, the crew serves up 400 of the tasty tails, 130 pounds of Alaskan King crab legs, and 135 pounds each of shrimp and scallops.

Don’t expect cold beers or fancy bibs, but Rogers’ crew heaps the tails and legs on troops’ plates as they go through the line. They’ll also throw on a steak if you want it.

Because of the growth of the forward operating base, another dining facility, contractor-run, has now opened. Rogers and his crew will be relieved of their duties this month, when this chow hall is taken over by contractors.

Rogers has served food in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and said the troops here appreciate the fact that fellow servicemembers are serving up their food.

“We put a little more love and flavoring in our food,” he said.

Related Sites:
Special Report: On Location in Afghanistan

[SandRat]

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[mrs tiggywinkle]

***I’ve eaten more lobster since I arrived here than I have in the past decade in the states***

As well he should! Our military deserve the best. :o)

But don’t tell Michelle Obama - she’ll start showing up. We know how she loves her lobster (and champagne and Iranian caviar).

[padre35]

A Army marches on it’s stomach...pity a private contractor will run the place..

[Recon Dad]

I've got a picture in my mind of Ms Obama laying on her back like an otter gnawing away at some legs. Not an appealing thought.

The chances of Michele showing up at any military installation is slim to zip.

[posterchild]

First good use of my tax dollar I’ve heard all year.

[frankenMonkey]

The grunts getting any of that food??

[elcid1970]

I was deployed to our former base in Uzbekistan, 2003-04. The DFAC was run by Kellog Brown & Root and was the most fabulous chow I had known from when I joined up in 1970. Omelettes to order every morning; every Friday was king crab and lobster tail, with grilled steak on Saturday. We Army types owed this to the majority presence of Air Force.

My deployment lasted for exactly thirty eight Fridays.

But I’ll have to say the messhall food in Vietnam was pretty good, too. Good chow was important to us real helicopter pilots’ morale, and we carried marmite cans of hot chow AND ice cream to long range patrols out in the boonies.

[MSF BU]

You got in prior to the day care center army. Must have been nice not to have to deal with it.

[elcid1970]

Well, yeah, sort of.

I saw what Golden Triangle heroin did to our troops while I was in Vietnam.

I remember the end of the draft ad campaign “Today’s Army Wants to Join You” in the 70’s.

I watched pregnant female `soldiers’ in Germany in early 1980’s who would have been worse than useless if the Soviets attacked.

I had a break in service and when I came back in, in 1995, things were vastly different.

I’m grateful to be part of the Total Force at this late date (warrant officers can serve till we’re older than dirt) when the public supports us and the soldiers are the very finest.

And in my last two years I will watch as the current POTUS tries to top Jimmah Carter in destroying our military effectiveness. For the children, of course.