thedrifter
09-29-03, 06:11 AM
Cooks, mess personnel provide...
Motivating meals for Marines in Korea
Submitted by: MCB Camp Butler
Story Identification Number: 200392422958
Story by Cpl. Matthew Barkalow
CAMP MU JUK, Republic of Korea (Sept. 25, 2003) -- Being deployed in a foreign land during inclement weather conditions can be a challenge.
That was not the case for the Marines and Sailors of III Marine Expeditionary Force, 3rd Marine Division, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, and 3rd Force Service Support Group assigned to exercise Ulchi Focus Lens 2003.
UFL is a joint computer-simulated driven command post exercise that is conducted annually between the Republic of Korea and U.S. Armed Forces.
One of the luxuries the Marines and Sailors flocked to was the Camp Mu Juk Mess Hall.
According to Gunnery Sgt. Henry Calhoun III, mess chief, the mess hall supported all military personnel during the exercise with two hot meals a day and Meals Ready-to-Eat supplements for lunch.
Calhoun, a Kansas City, Kan., native, said 55 Marines, 23 cooks and 32 mess personnel, began their daily tasks at 3 a.m. and finished at 8:30 p.m.
According to Sgt. Collis Corbin, chief cook, it took three hours to prepare a meal and get it to the serving line. He said the mess hall Marines had to break down modules, light up burners and put the food products together.
"Some of the main courses we served here are chili mac, t-bone steaks, shrimp Creole, pork chops and lots more," Calhoun said. "We also had various types of vegetables, a full salad bar, fruit, juice and milk. We had all the milk and juice you can drink."
According to Lance Cpl. Maurice J. Tucker, mess verifier and a Camden, S.C. native, an average of 600 servicemembers came into the mess hall for each meal.
Of those servicemembers, almost all of them could attest to the motivational effort expressed by one of the mess Marines.
The Marines and Sailors at Camp Mu Juk knew Lance Cpl. Shannon L. McGee, line server, for her motivational phrases and upbeat spirit.
The Middleton, N.J. native said she does not know exactly how she gets the motivation or where it comes from, but acknowledged the fun working environment on the serving line and the smiling faces of the servicemembers as contributing factors.
Servicemembers said they appreciated the services the mess Marines provided and the time they put into getting them fed.
"I appreciated the hard work and effort they put forth to give us hot meals twice a day," said Lance Cpl. Joe D. Lockinger, legal services specialist, 3rd FSSG, and Harrisonburg, Va. native. "The motivation they showed us on a daily basis is also appreciated."
Most of the mess hall Marines said that even though they worked long hours, seeing the smiles on servicemembers' faces and their appreciation made it all worthwhile.
"The compliments the Marines and Sailors gave us all the time were very rewarding," Tucker said.
Despite living in the field, the Marines and Sailors were motivated by the mess hall Marines, not only for the hot chow, but also for staying Gung Ho.
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2003924222959/$file/chowhall01.gif
The messmen serving meals during exercise Ulchi Focus Lens served not only U.S. Marines but Republic of Korea Marines as well. The messmen were said to have served some chow with a little motivation on the side.
Photo by: Cpl. Matthew Barkalow
Sempers,
Roger
:marine:
Motivating meals for Marines in Korea
Submitted by: MCB Camp Butler
Story Identification Number: 200392422958
Story by Cpl. Matthew Barkalow
CAMP MU JUK, Republic of Korea (Sept. 25, 2003) -- Being deployed in a foreign land during inclement weather conditions can be a challenge.
That was not the case for the Marines and Sailors of III Marine Expeditionary Force, 3rd Marine Division, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, and 3rd Force Service Support Group assigned to exercise Ulchi Focus Lens 2003.
UFL is a joint computer-simulated driven command post exercise that is conducted annually between the Republic of Korea and U.S. Armed Forces.
One of the luxuries the Marines and Sailors flocked to was the Camp Mu Juk Mess Hall.
According to Gunnery Sgt. Henry Calhoun III, mess chief, the mess hall supported all military personnel during the exercise with two hot meals a day and Meals Ready-to-Eat supplements for lunch.
Calhoun, a Kansas City, Kan., native, said 55 Marines, 23 cooks and 32 mess personnel, began their daily tasks at 3 a.m. and finished at 8:30 p.m.
According to Sgt. Collis Corbin, chief cook, it took three hours to prepare a meal and get it to the serving line. He said the mess hall Marines had to break down modules, light up burners and put the food products together.
"Some of the main courses we served here are chili mac, t-bone steaks, shrimp Creole, pork chops and lots more," Calhoun said. "We also had various types of vegetables, a full salad bar, fruit, juice and milk. We had all the milk and juice you can drink."
According to Lance Cpl. Maurice J. Tucker, mess verifier and a Camden, S.C. native, an average of 600 servicemembers came into the mess hall for each meal.
Of those servicemembers, almost all of them could attest to the motivational effort expressed by one of the mess Marines.
The Marines and Sailors at Camp Mu Juk knew Lance Cpl. Shannon L. McGee, line server, for her motivational phrases and upbeat spirit.
The Middleton, N.J. native said she does not know exactly how she gets the motivation or where it comes from, but acknowledged the fun working environment on the serving line and the smiling faces of the servicemembers as contributing factors.
Servicemembers said they appreciated the services the mess Marines provided and the time they put into getting them fed.
"I appreciated the hard work and effort they put forth to give us hot meals twice a day," said Lance Cpl. Joe D. Lockinger, legal services specialist, 3rd FSSG, and Harrisonburg, Va. native. "The motivation they showed us on a daily basis is also appreciated."
Most of the mess hall Marines said that even though they worked long hours, seeing the smiles on servicemembers' faces and their appreciation made it all worthwhile.
"The compliments the Marines and Sailors gave us all the time were very rewarding," Tucker said.
Despite living in the field, the Marines and Sailors were motivated by the mess hall Marines, not only for the hot chow, but also for staying Gung Ho.
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2003924222959/$file/chowhall01.gif
The messmen serving meals during exercise Ulchi Focus Lens served not only U.S. Marines but Republic of Korea Marines as well. The messmen were said to have served some chow with a little motivation on the side.
Photo by: Cpl. Matthew Barkalow
Sempers,
Roger
:marine: