DeCA Vision Spring 2008 Vol. 17, No. 3 - Commissaries.com

deca decavision vision
Patrons, workforce and stakeholders working together to create ‘raving fans.’
Sales giant on a roll:
FORT BELVOIR
FORT BELVOIR
Sky’s no limit as staff aims
for more tumbling sales records
www.commissaries.com
SPRING 2008

9SUPER BOWL, SUPER SALES: Football-themed displays like
this one at Vilseck Commissary, Germany, helped create
excitement for shoppers, leading up to DeCA’s biggest sales
day in its history on “Super Bowl Saturday,” Feb. 2. Worldwide sales
topped $28.6 million that day, Pages 9-12. DeCA photo: Terry Ford
SUPERSTARS: Yongsan Commissary, South
Korea, achieves a “three-peat” in the annual produce
13PRODUCE
merchandising competition, Pages 13-15.
AWARENESS MONTH: As this year’s contest
gets underway, last year’s winners share photos of the
18COMMISSARY
hoots and hoopla from May 2007, Pages 18-19.
NO.
259: A new store
21COMMISSARY
at Naval Air Station
Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth,
Texas, delights customers far and
wide, Pages 21-23.
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
Making history ............................ 25
Get smart .................................... 28
Heart of the benefit ..................... 33
You’ve got mail ............................. 36
Front & center ............................... 51
COVER STORY: Fort Belvoir Commissary,
Va., achieved two historic milestones so far
this fiscal year — December’s $9.1 million in
sales beat agency records, as did one-day
sales of $502,549 on Feb. 2, Super Bowl
Saturday. Troy Collins, store director, and
Robin Schmidt, Zone 24 manager, forecast
more great achievements for the store in
the year ahead. See story, Pages 4-7. DeCA
photo: Rick Brink
decavision
Spring 2008
Vol. 17, No. 3
decavision is an authorized publication for
members of the Defense Commissary Agency.
It is published by Corporate Communications,
Headquarters, Defense Commissary Agency,
Fort Lee, Va. Contents are not necessarily
the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S.
government, the Department of Defense or
the Defense Commissary Agency. Printing
is by offset method; printed circulation:
10,000. Readers may submit articles and
photos. Suggestions and criticisms are
welcomed. All pictures are DeCA photos
unless otherwise identified.
Contact us at: decavision magazine,
HQ DeCA Corporate Communications,
1300 E Ave., Fort Lee VA 23801-1800
Tel (804) 734-8768; Fax (804) 734-8248
E-mail: cherie.huntington@deca.mil
Philip E. Sakowitz Jr., director
Corporate communications
James “Jay” Hudson ................................ director
Sallie Cauthers ........................... chief, marketing
Ron Kelly ................................. chief, public affairs
Janice Pavlock ................................ Web manager
Staff contributers
Rick Brink ............................................ DeCA East
Cherie Huntington .................. editor, decavision
Nancy O’Nell .................................... DeCA West
Kevin Robinson ............................. media relations
Dr. Pete Skirbunt ........................... DeCA historian
Lynda Valentine .......................................... writer
Carrie Williams ........................................ marketing
Gerri Young ....................................... DeCA Europe
Surf VISION online @ http://www.commissaries.com/press_room/vision/vision.cfm

Richard “Rick” Page
Chief operating officer
What exciting times for Team
DeCA and the incredible mission
entrusted to our care!
Our new director, Philip E.
Sakowitz Jr., officially came on board
June 8, and I know you will join me in
welcoming him to this noble endeavor carried
out by a worldwide team of such amazing
people. I appreciate the outstanding support
you have afforded me these past seven months
and trust you will show him the same.
The good news keeps coming:
• Sales so far through April are at least $121
million ahead of last year at this same time.
• Our target savings figure remains at 30
percent, but actual savings hold at 31.9 percent
– great news for customers,
especially in this time of rising
fuel costs.
• We earned our sixth
straight “clean” audit, keeping
us in a select group with only
three other Department of
Defense agencies that have
achieved this level of financial
success.
• Once again, we earned
the top score for our fiscal
2007 Statement of Assurance for internal
controls.
!
fromthetop
No limit to what we can achieve
• The American Customer
Satisfaction Index shows us
with a score of 77 for three
years running, one point higher
than the national average for
commercial supermarkets, and
second only to Publix Super
Markets Inc.
• Shoppers continue to
be satisfied with the delivery
of the benefit, according to
opinions expressed in the 2007
Commissary Customer Service
Survey. They rated the commissary Rick Page
at 4.60 (on a scale of 1 to 5) – the
second highest score in the agency’s history.
• With sales of $28.6 million on “Super Bowl
Saturday,” Feb. 2 became the highest sales day
in our history (see story and photos, Pages
9-12).
Can things get any better than
this? When I consider all you do
and how well you do it, and when
I know how proud and honored I
am to show our new director what
a stellar organization this is, I
know the answer to that question.
The answer rests in our mission:
For the customers we serve and
how they put their lives on the line
every day to protect our freedom,
there’s no limit to what we can achieve together
for them.�
Page honored for acting director service
Richard “Rick” Page,
DeCA’s chief operating
officer who also served
as acting director from
October 2007 to June 2008,
received a Special Act Award
and the Secretary of Defense
Exceptional Civilian Service Award
in an April 9 Pentagon ceremony.
The honors recognized his
groundbreaking effort to “export”
the commissary benefit to Guard
and Reserve members.
Presented by Dr. David S.C.
Chu, undersecretary of defense
‘ Sales so far
through April
are at least
$121 million
ahead of last
year ...
for personnel and readiness, the
awards also recognized Page’s
initiative to extend the agencywide
priority placement hiring program
to military family members,
a model used successfully in
commissaries in Europe.
In accepting the award, Page
credited the agency’s 18,000
employees worldwide for their
outstanding support. “As a
team,” said Page, “we remain
passionately committed to
delivering a premier benefit to
our men and women in uniform,
retirees, and their families.”
In May 2007, Page became
the agency’s chief operating
officer after completing five years
as the director of DeCA West. A
member of the Senior Executive
Service, Page has more than 40
years of quality retail experience
involving every facet of grocery
marketing, both civilian and
military.�
3

4 decavision!Spring 2008

!
salescoverstory
White-hot $ales
Agency’s flagship
commissary at Fort Belvoir,
Va., continues achieving
unheard-of sales records
Left, the management staff at Fort Belvoir, Va.
attributes its sales success to teamwork. The staff
includes (front row): Debbie Hernandez, contract deli
manager; and Rai Stanfi eld, assistant customer service
manager. Second row: Sandra Vaughn, management
intern; Elizabeth Herms, store administrator; Sharon
Hoffl er, customer service manager; Cathy Riddick,
assistant store manager; and Troy Collins, store
director. Third row: Arvester Brooks, grocery manager;
Raymond Lane, store manager; Stanley Robinson,
meat manager; and Grover Murchinson, contract
seafood manager. Not pictured is Keith Burks, night
merchandiser. DeCA photo: Rick Brink
Rick Brink
DeCA East public affairs officer
Longtime DeCA sales leader Fort
Belvoir Commissary, Va., put
another couple of notches in the
record books so far this fiscal
year: in December, becoming
the first-ever commissary to top
$9 million in monthly sales, and another
first on the Saturday before Super Bowl,
Feb. 2, achieving one-day sales surpassing
$502,000.
If Store Director Troy Collins is right,
the store is poised to set more sales records
later this year.
Stellar December
The commissary staff with help from its industry
partners put on an all-out blitz during December
to set the monthly sales record, Collins said. It had
surpassed $8 million in monthly sales in previous
years – falling about $300,000 shy of $9 million in
December 2006 – and in 2007 had a few $8 millionplus
sales months leading up to December, which
is the best month to set a sales record because it’s
normally the highest sales month.
“All indicators were that we could do it, but this
goal couldn’t have been accomplished without a team
effort, and that’s what we had,” Collins said. “Our
team includes our employees, our industry partners,
contractors, baggers and, of course, our customers
who continued to show their appreciation for the
commissary benefit by shopping here and making us
DeCA’s top-selling store.”
“The sales record is quite an accomplishment and
it comes at a time when sales agency-wide are up for �
Left, recipient Carissa Smith, 7, and her mother,
Kimberly Smith, enjoy meeting a Milk-Bone
“spokesdog” after an assistance dog presentation
ceremony at Fort Belvoir Commissary, Va., in
December. The commissary enjoys outstanding
customer support in sales promotions such as the
Milk-Bone program that awards service dogs to
selected individuals. DeCA photo: Rick Brink
5

DeCA’s top 15 sales days of the century
Date Net Sales Event
1 Feb. 2, 2008 $28,554,264 Super Bowl
2 Nov. 17, 2007 $26,860,564 Thanksgiving
3 Jan. 31, 2004 $26,032,612 Super Bowl
4 Feb. 3, 2007 $26,029,117 Super Bowl
5 Nov. 18, 2006 $25,255,742 Thanksgiving
6 Feb. 2, 2002 $24,835,464 Super Bowl
7 Nov. 19, 2005 $23,802,452 Thanksgiving
8 Nov. 17, 2001 $23,765,390 Thanksgiving
9 Feb. 4, 2006 $23,571,575 Super Bowl
10 Nov. 18, 2000 $23,342,931 Thanksgiving
11 March 3, 2001 $23,308,730 Payday
12 Aug. 31, 2007 $23,188,798 Labor Day
13 July 1, 2005 $23,169,867 July Fourth
14 Dec. 30, 2005 $23,125,009 New Year’s Eve
15 Sept. 2, 2006 $23,100,835 Labor Day
6 decavision!Spring 2008
!
Fort Belvoir Commissary, Va., promoted fresh, healthy
Super Bowl snacks in its produce department. DeCA
photo: Troy Collins
this fiscal year showing the value of the commissary
benefit to our military customers. I congratulate
everyone on the team who worked together to make it
all happen,” said Rick Page, chief operating officer
of the Defense Commissary Agency.
The historic moment arrived at 2:30 p.m., Dec.
31, when the store hit the $9 million mark as 22
checkouts were operating. Customers being checked
out at the time were given tickets that were placed in
a drawing to quickly determine who would win the
$1,000 shopping spree sponsored by Kraft, Overseas
Corp. and Sarvis.
“We were so excited and there was so much
going on at the time that we didn’t really get much
information about the winner, Jean Gray, other
than her name,” Collins said. “She received $1,000
worth of commissary gift certificates, while the other
21 customers in the drawing each received $25 gift
certificates. It was such a momentous occasion.”
The store used the slogan “Help us hit the mark
and win big $$” on a colorful banner, posters and
buttons to publicize their effort during December.
Efforts to keep the store appropriately stocked, staffed

and otherwise running efficiently – what Collins called
a team effort – ensured the goal was met.
One-day fireworks
“Super Bowl Saturday” provided the ideal
opportunity for Fort Belvoir to reach a daily sales
record, as it was the agency’s top sales day in history.
“We figured that was definitely our best chance,”
said Collins. “We had to achieve about an 11 percent
increase over our last year’s Super Bowl Saturday,
though, and we went right down to the wire, but we
made it!”
Once again, when the historic moment arrived,
customers checking out at that time were invited
to enter a drawing for a 42-inch high definition
television.
“Belvoir has always been a stellar performer.
Troy and his staff are taking it even farther, having
set clear goals that they intend to surpass,” said
Ed Jones, deputy director who was then acting
director of DeCA East, the region that oversees
the commissary. “Their dedication provides an
outstanding commissary benefit to the Belvoir
community.”
The Belvoir Commissary hit $95 million in sales
for fiscal 2007, a commissary record which, among
others, they intend to break this year.
“We’re on top and we intend to stay there,”
Collins said. “We want to be the first produce
!
Left, mass displays
of salty snacks
at Fort Belvoir
Commissary, Va.,
provided plenty of
hostess options for
Super Bowl Sunday.
DeCA photo:
Troy Collins
Below, Sharon
Hoffl er, customer
service manager,
Evelyn Comsti,
supervisory sales
store checker, and
Flordeliza Morales,
lead sales store
checker, incite
maximum “Super
Bowl Mania” at
Fort Belvoir
Commissary, Va., by
dressing for
serious football
action. DeCA photo:
Troy Collins
department to have $1 million in monthly sales, and
we want to be the first store to have $100 million in
annual sales.”
Sales figures give Collins reason to be optimistic.
The store’s $9.1 million in December was 4.8 percent
more than the previous December. Through April,
Fort Belvoir has $58.6 million in sales, a more than
6 percent increase over the previous fiscal year’s first
seven months, averaging $8.4 million in monthly
sales.�
7

!
Shopping cart smarts
Check it out:
new sales bands,
sales stats from
fiscal 2007
Average transaction
Fiscal 2007
$59.93
How do the top five stores
in sales stack up?
No. 1 Fort Belvoir, Va.,
$87.25
No. 2 NB Pearl Harbor,
Hawaii
$63.93
No. 3 NAS Oceana, Va.
$84.47
No. 4 Fort Meade, Md.
$73.98
No. 5 NB San Diego,
Calif.
$66.47
8 decavision!Spring 2008
New worldwide
sales bands
(effective January 2008)
14 $80,000,001 and over
13 $70,000,001 - $80,000,000
12 $60,000,001 - $70,000,000
11 $55,000,001 - $60,000,000
10 $47,000,001 - $55,000,000
9 $40,000,001 - $47,000,000
8 $31,000,001 - $40,000,000
7 $25,000,001 - $31,000,000
6 $19,000,001 - $25,000,000
5 $13,000,001 - $19,000,000
4 $ 8,000,001 - $13,000,000
3 $ 5,000,001 - $ 8,000,000
2 $ 2,000,001 - $ 5,000,000
1 $ 2,000,000 and under
Note: Stores grouped by band
based on prior year’s actual
annual sales.
‘Million Transactions Club’
Only six stores hit more than 1 million
customer transactions in fiscal 2007:
1 – NB Pearl Harbor, Hawaii 1,328,694
2 – Fort Belvoir, Va. 1,096,567
3 – Ramstein AB, Germany 1,063,005
4 – NB San Diego, Calif. 1,057,251
5 – Fort Lewis, Wash. 1,026,753
6 – Fort Campbell, Ky. 1,025,778
Chart above reprinted from last issue; figures were shown in dollars in error�

!
Eye-popping mass displays such as this helped Little Creek Commissary, Va., land on top
10 sales lists for both Super Bowl Saturday and the weekend. DeCA photo: John Blythe Jr.
Super Bowl means more than just super football, it ignites ...
Super sales
In this year’s Super Bowl, the
New York Giants may have
ended the New England
Patriots’ season-long
winning streak, but commissaries
continued theirs, achieving the
century’s top sales day on “Super
Bowl Saturday,” Feb. 2.
With sales of $28.6 million,
DeCA stores not only topped the
sales record, they blew it away.
“Super Bowl Saturday sales
smashed the previous single-day
record by almost $1.7 million,
or 6.3 percent,” said Robert
Miller, previously operations �
A wall of salty snacks at Taegu
Commissary, South Korea,
provided “one-stop snacking” for
any Super Bowl party. DeCA photo
9

This Super Bowl display at Randolph Commissary,
Texas, highlighted healthy snack possibilities for the
big game. DeCA photo: Carolyn Mitchell
research analyst at DeCA headquarters, now retired.
“Commissaries achieved five of the top 10 sales days
of the century on Super Bowl Saturdays.”
Last year’s Super Bowl Saturday was the best sales
day since the 2004 game, but that record was erased
by 2007’s “Thanksgiving Saturday” sales, making
these two new sales records DeCA’s best since 2004
(see chart, Page 6.)
“I’m so proud of the stores for a job exceptionally
well done,” said Rick Page, DeCA chief operating
officer. “To beat the old record was an amazing
accomplishment, but to smash it by $1.7 million is off
the charts! Keep up the great work, for our customers
deserve our best, each and every day.”�
10 decavision!Spring 2008
!
2008 Super Bowl Saturday sales leaders
1. Fort Belvoir, Va. $502,549
2. NB Pearl Harbor, Hawaii 416,800
3. NAS Oceana, Va. 414,763
4. Fort Meade, Md. 372,004
5. NB San Diego, Calif. 369,292
6. Fort Lewis, Wash. 347,523
7. Fort Bragg South, N.C. 338,320
8. MCB Quantico, Va. 335,997
9. MCAS Miramar, Calif. 322,276
10. NAB Little Creek, Va. 320,695
11. Langley AFB, Va. 313,243
12. McChord AFB, Wash. 306,270
2008 Super Bowl weekend sales leaders
(Friday through Sunday)
1. Fort Belvoir $1,138,905
2. NAS Oceana, Va. 1,023,142
3. NB Pearl Harbor, Hawaii 1,011,290
4. NB San Diego, Calif. 912,924
5. Fort Lewis, Wash. 884,268
6. Fort Bragg South, N.C. 868,163
7. Fort Meade, Md. 836,267
8. NAB Little Creek, Va. 800,514
9. MCB Quantico, Va. 792,102
10. Fort Campbell, Ky. 782,551

Mountain Home Commissary, Idaho, created a Super
Bowl snack shop with a variety of Kraft products.
DeCA photo: Michael Howell
Left, customers succumed to Super Bowl fever in this
huge display fi lled with a variety of game day snacks
and beverages at Fort Jackson Commissary, S.C. DeCA
photo: Glennie Scott
See list of stores setting
sales records on Super Bowl
Saturday, next page �
11

Super Bowl success
These stores set all-time record sales on ‘Super Bowl Saturday’
12 decavision!Spring 2008
!
1. Fort Belvoir, Va. $502,549
2. NB Pearl Harbor, Hawaii $416,800
3. NAS Oceana, Va. $414,763
4. Fort Meade, Md. $372,004
5. MCB Quantico, Va. $335,997
6. MCAS Miramar, Calif. $322,276
7. NAB Little Creek, Va. $320,695
8. MCB Camp Pendleton, Calif. $291,156
9. Peterson AFB, Colo. $371,062
10. Schofield Barracks, Hawaii $266,741
11. Fort Bliss, Texas $254,721
12. NB Norfolk, Va. $250,663
13. Fort Eustis, Va. $243,046
14. Fort Jackson, S.C. $232,583
15. Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. $227,171
16. Fort Gordon, Ga. $206,086
17. Kirtland AFB, N.M. $195,362
18. NAS Whidbey Island, Wash. $163,294
19. Fort Riley, Kan. $155,943
20. NBK Bangor, Wash. $148,951
21. MCB Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii $144,669
22. Port Hueneme, Calif. $127,666
23. NWS Charleston, S.C. $126,471
24. NNSY Portsmouth, Va. $124,302
25. NSB New London, Conn. $118,736
26. NBK Bremerton, Wash. $ 98,683
27. NAS North Island, Calif. $ 93,550
28. NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii $ 82,010
29. NCBC Gulfport, Miss. $ 76,951
30. Camp Casey, South Korea $ 61,738
31. Camp Humphreys, South Korea $ 49,090
32. NAS Key West, Fla. $ 44,348
33. MCLB Albany, Ga. $ 39,845
34. Camp Carroll, South Korea $ 18,316
(Other Super Bowl sales records, see Pages 16-17�

Five commissaries took top
honors among the 239 that
participated in the Defense
Commissary Agency’s 8 th
Annual Produce Merchandising
Contest with a “Fruits and Veggies
– More Matters” theme. Winning
produce teams by store category
are:
Superstore – Luke Air Force
Base, Ariz.
Large U.S. Store – Sheppard
Air Force Base, Texas
Large Overseas Store –
Yongsan, South Korea
Small U.S. Store – Naval
Support Activity South
Potomac Dahlgren, Va.
Small Overseas Store – Camp
Humphreys, South Korea
!
Annual merchandising contest
Produce superstars
“This competition recognizes
‘best of the best’ team
performance when it comes
to creative displays, customer
education programs emphasizing
the healthy benefits of fresh fruits
and vegetables, and increased
produce sales,” said Rick Page,
DeCA’s chief operating officer.
“We’re proud to serve what are
likely the world’s most healthconscious,
discerning customers
when it comes to produce. Our
produce department people love
the challenges of exceeding all
customer expectations in quality,
variety, presentation and personal
service.”
Page said the annual contest
complements the partnership
between DeCA and TRICARE
for the “It’s Your Choice, Make
Earning its third
consecutive win as
DeCA’s “Best Large
Overseas Store” in the
8 th Annual Produce
Merchandising Contest,
Yongsan Commissary,
South Korea, enjoyed
great vendor support.
Donations included
dozens of shopping sprees
and fruit baskets as prizes
in various educational
contests for customers.
DeCA photo: Sun Tae Kim
it Healthy” nutritional education
campaign, now entering its fourth
year, as well as DeCA’s growing
role as nutritional leader for the
Department of Defense.
“Creativity and innovation
in merchandising fruit and
vegetables have a major impact
on customers’ buying decisions,
so this carries the most weight
in competition,” said Randy
Chandler, DeCA’s sales director,
“then it’s usually a store’s
outreach activities and customer
education programs that put them
over the top to earn a spot in the
winner’s circle.”
The competition period
covered a minimum of any two
weeks from June through August
�
13

This fruit
“pyramid” at Luke
Commissary, Ariz.,
features fi nished
display areas on all
four sides. Though
commissaries
typically offer
around 200 line
items in produce,
Luke displayed
more than 340 for
the competition.
DeCA photo:
Chris Thomas
2007. Commissaries submitted digital portfolios
to DeCA’s sales directorate for judging.
Ten commissaries at the following locations
earned honorable mention:
Superstore – Lackland Air Force Base,
Texas; McGuire Air Force Base, N.J.
Large U.S. Store – Davis-Monthan Air
Force Base, Ariz.; Fort Rucker, Ala.
Large Overseas Store – Heidelberg,
Germany; Yokota Air Base, Japan
Small U.S. Store – Altus Air Force Base,
Okla.; Naval Station Everett-Smokey
Point, Wash.
Small Overseas Store – Camp Stanley,
South Korea; Darmstadt, Germany
In regional competition for participation, two
of the agency’s three regions, DeCA East and
DeCA West, tied with 100 percent participation.
The two regions encompass 211 commissaries
from the East Coast to the Far East.�
In addition to giant
produce displays,
Sheppard Commissary,
Texas, hosted the
Kellogg’s “Get Active
Challenge” as well
as tours, a cooking
demonstration and a
farmers market produce
sale. DeCA photo:
Mike Howell
14 decavision!Spring 2008
!
Yongsan Commissary, South Korea, provides a popular
“Grab ‘N’ Go” produce section for its busy, health-conscious
customers. DeCA photo: Sun Tae Kim

Camp Humphreys Commissary, South Korea, creates colorful displays to draw
customers to its produce department. DeCA photo: Charles Cho
Left, Dahlgren Commissary, Va.,
enlists participation from every
department in the store to create
colorful displays, host children’s
tours and offer health screenings
provided by the base clinic. DeCA
photo: Roberto Cruz
15

Alconbury, England Nov All-time record sales day $41,639
Andrews AFB, Md. Dec Record sales $5,626,702
Ankara, Turkey Dec Record sales $182,000
Aviano, Italy Dec Record sales $1,736,000
Jan Bistro record sales day $1,858
Feb Deli record sales $70,723
Bangor ANGB, Maine Nov Record sales day $148,820
NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii Dec Monthly case lot record sales $71,818
Bitburg, Germany Nov Record sales day $84,341
NAS Brunswick, Maine Nov Record sales $1,033,075
Feb Record sales day $65,856*
Camp Humphreys, South Korea Dec Record sales $685,901
Camp Lejeune, N.C. Feb Record sales day $238,689*
Camp Pendleton, Calif. Dec Record sales $5 million
NWS Charleston, S.C. Dec Record sales $2,066,832
Feb Meat record sales $13,750*
MCAS Cherry Point, N.C. Feb Saturday record sales $114,943*
Columbus AFB, Miss Dec Grocery record sales $831,090
Davis Monthan AFB, Ariz Dec Record sales $4,550,000
Fairchild AFB, Wash. Jan Record sales day $91,000
Fort Belvoir, Va Dec All-time record sales $9,141,076
Fort Bragg South, N.C. Dec Deli/bakery record sales week $51,380
Dec All-time record sales $6,001,074
Super Bowl Friday, Saturday, Sunday record sales $282,396*, $338,320*, $247,447*
Super Bowl 3-day weekend record sales $868,163*
Fort Bragg North, N.C. Feb Super Bowl Saturday record sales $243,616*
Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico Dec All-time record sales $4,114,766
Fort Eustis, Va. Dec All-time record sales $4,013,700
Feb Grocery all-time record sales day $204,032*
Fort Lee, Va. Dec All-time record sales $3,165,584
Fort Knox, Ky. Feb Non-case lot, grocery record sales day $203,488*, $172,088*
Fort Monmouth, N.J. Feb Record sales day since 2005 BRAC $73,000
Fort Rucker, Ala. Nov Record sales day, produce record sales day $140,000, $11,384
Fort Wainwright, Alaska Feb Record sales day $11,100*
Garmisch, Germany Nov Record sales day $20,510
Goodfellow AFB, Texas Nov Produce record sales day $3,136
NCBC Gulfport, Miss. Dec Record sales $1,136,085
Hanscom AFB, Mass. Feb Record sales day $160,290*
Keesler AFB, Miss. Dec Post-Katrina record sales $1,645,342
NAS Key West, Fla. Jan Produce record sales day $3,500
NSB Kings Bay, Ga. Dec Record sales $1,260,588
Grocery record sales $1,062,938
NAES Lakehurst, N.J. Nov Grocery record sales day $16,000
Produce record sales $2,000
Lakenheath, England Nov Record sales $144,683
Produce, meat record sales day $10,725, $19,926
Dec All-time record sales $3,294,473
16 decavision!Spring 2008
!
HOT STORE-LEVEL RECORDS

!
* indicates Super Bowl related record
(Lakenheath, England) Non-case lot record sales day $155,328
Jan Meat record sales day $21,695
Feb Feb record sales day $161,382*
Feb Saturday produce record sales day $13,275*
Super Bowl weekend record sales $442,011
NAB Little Creek, Va. Dec Record sales $5,501,030
Feb Meat, produce record sales day $30,414*, $27,521*
Little Rock AFB, Ark. Feb Record sales day $175,000*
McClellan, Calif. Nov Record sales day $208,046
Dec Record sales day $201,895
MCAS Miramar, Calif. Dec Meat all-time record sales $475,000
Naples, Italy Dec Record sales $1,916,263
Record sales day $93,400
NSB New London, Conn. Dec Meat all-time record sales day $9,987
Feb Meat, produce record sales day $9,045*, $8,343*
NS Newport, R.I. Feb Meat record sales day $7,596*
MCRD Parris Island, S.C. Nov Meat record sales $102,243
Dec Record sales $1,250,340
Feb Saturday record sales $86,899*
NB Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Feb Record sales $7.1 million
NAS Oceana, Va. Dec Record sales $6,714,307
Feb Produce record sales day $36,633*
Offutt AFB, Neb. Nov Record sales day $230,000
NAS Pensacola, Fla. Dec Record sales $4,318,764
Feb Record Super Bowl weekend $548,203*
Record non-case lot Saturday $217,000*
MCB Quantico, Va. Dec Record sales $5,816,383
Robins AFB, Ga. Nov All-time record sales day $149,308
Grocery, produce all-time record sales day $128,829, $11,658
Feb Meat, produce all-time record sales day $16,470*, $9,787*
NB San Diego, Calif. Dec Record sales $7,082,951
Scott AFB, Ill. Dec Record sales $5,038,900
Schweinfurt, Germany Jan All-time record sales $1,240,466
Feb All-time record sales day $72,436*
NSU Scotia, N.Y. Feb Record sales day $31,552*
Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C. Feb Meat, produce, grocery record sales day $10,885*, $9,406*, $101,246*
Shaw AFB, S.C. Nov Record sales day $109,430
NIOC Sugar Grove, W. Va. Jan Record sales $41,233
Twentynine Palms, Calif. Jan Produce record sales day $7,146
Tyndall AFB, Fla. Nov Record sales day $98,279
Dec Record sales $2,385,704
Vogelweh, Germany Dec Record sales day $166,687
Produce record sales day $14,892
USMA West Point, N.Y. Dec Record sales day $93,000
NAS Whiting Field, Fla. 1st Qtr All-time record sales Ave. $507,000 monthly
NFA Yokosuka, Japan Dec Record sales day $128,728
Yuma PG, Ariz. Jan Record sales day $10,108�
17

Ain’t we got fun?
Caroline Williams
Corporate communications
Each May, the Defense Commissary Agency and
a coalition of industry partners, who are part of
the American Logistics Association’s Consumer
Awareness Team, hold a competition among
installation single service member programs to see
who can get the most service members into their
respective commissaries for educational tours.
“Commissary Awareness Month is a really fun
way for us to connect with young service members
and teach them about the commissary benefit,” said
Rick Page, DeCA’s chief operating officer, “Program
coordinators work with commissary store directors to
offer tours that include food-eating challenges, and
games like turkey bowling and shopping cart races.”
All programs registered to participate earn
commissary gift certificates. They go on to compete
for “bonus bucks” in first, second and third prizes
within four categories: Army’s Better Opportunities
for Single Soldiers; Single Marine; Air Force’s First
Term Airmen; and Navy Liberty. First Term Airmen
centers participate through sponsorship of their
respective family support centers.
During 2007, the Fort Polk, La., Better
Opportunities for Single Soldiers program won
first place for Army with a whopping 1,214 service
members touring the commissary, while Fort
Eustis, Va., took second and Fort Jackson, S.C.,
third.
For the Single Marine program, Marine
Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., won
first place. Second place went to the program
at Marine Corps Air Station New River,
N.C., and third place to Marine Corps Base
Quantico, Va.
One First Term Airmen and two Navy
Liberty programs participated in Commissary
Awareness Month. The Naval Station Great
Lakes, Ill., Liberty program took first place and
This Marine at New River Commissary, N.C.,
encourages colleagues chipping potatoes instead
of golf balls to either hit him or achieve a “basketin-one.”
Winning second place in last year’s
Commissary Awareness Month contest, hundreds
of members of the Single Marine Program at
New River participated in early-morning aerobics
followed by store tours and games such as toilet
paper tossing and hamburger cooking. DeCA photo
18 decavision!Spring 2008
!
outreachpros
Commissary Awareness Month
informs, rewards military members
Sheppard Commissary, Texas, storeworker Goldie
Kocher, wearing a blue vest, ensures members of the
First Term Airmen Program know the answer to the
en route quiz in the “Great Commissary Race” during
Commissary Awareness Month. DeCA photo: Mike Cox
Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash., took
second. Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, earned
first place, posting more than 1,500 single airmen
commissary tours.
The BOSS programs at Fort Huachuca, Ariz.,
and Fort Myer, Va., earned honorable mention for
their efforts.
All cash prizes and commissary gift certificates
are provided by the Consumer Awareness Team,
whose members also judge the entries based on
originality, presentation and number of service
member tours.�

!
Far left, a blindfolded
member of the Navy Liberty
Program at Great Lakes
Commissary, Mich., tries to
identify produce items by
only touch and smell during
a Commissary Awareness
Month event. DeCA photo:
Teresa Newland
Left, a Marine attacks a
competition apple pie,
likely stuffing as much up
his nose as in his mouth,
at Quantico Commissary,
Va., during Commissary
Awareness Month. The
Single Marine Corps
Program there won third
place, with contests such
in cereal eating, sit-ups and
potato curling. DeCA photo
Below, shopping cart racers get psyched up at Marine Corps Base
Miramar, Calif., in last year’s Commissary Awareness Month events.
The Single Marine Program there won first place. DeCA photo
19

�ART BY
YOUR CART:
Redstone Arsenal
Commissary, Ala.,
always celebrates
Black History
Month in grand
style and this year
was no exception.
Store Director
Amber Bray and
customer John
McGowen admire
some of the local
artwork McGowen
arranged to display
for commissary
shoppers. U.S.
Army photo:
Skip Vaughn�
20 decavision!Spring 2008
!
Honoring rich tradition
Black History Month events inspire customers
�DRIVE-UP HISTORY LESSON:
Quantico Commissary, Va., informs
customers about signifi cant contributors
to African American music, theater,
art and politics via an extensive Black
History Month display. Marcus Lashley,
DeCA’s director of Equal Employment
Opportunity, was highly impressed
with the quality of the exhibit during
his Feb. 27 visit and many shoppers
expressed compliments. The store
received more than 100 letters of
appreciation from customers who
enjoyed the exhibit. DeCA photo:
Linda McDaniel
�REGAL REGALIA: Fort Jackson
Commissary, S.C., continues its tradition
of modeling ethnic fi nery for Black
History Month. Standing from left are:
Myrtle Keyes, sales store checker;
Beverly Davis, customer service
manager; Shirley Prophet, sales store
checker; Kum Cha Browning, teller; Juliet
Chisolm, sales store checker; and Natitia
Hill, teller. Seated is Violet Jackson,
storeworker. Each Friday in February,
employees dressed in African attire. On
the last Friday, a store luncheon included
nearly 25 items. DeCA photo: Linden Bell

!
futurenow
Fort Worth Commissary grand opening
We’re back!
The grocer’s adage, “Stack it high and watch it fl y,” holds true as
customers at the new Fort Worth Commissary, Texas, stock up on fresh,
top quality, name brand goods sold at cost. DeCA photos:
Kevin Robinson
Kevin L. Robinson
Corporate communications
Sam Tresenriter has
come home.
Although he’s served
in Germany, Turkey and
Japan, Tresenriter has a thing for
the Lone Star State: He was raised
in Dallas, saw his son graduate
from Texas Tech in Lubbock, and
during his career he has worked at
commissaries at Brooks, Lackland
and Goodfellow Air Force bases.
And, on March 25, he was front
and center on DeCA’s own return
to North Texas, when the agency
restored commissary operations
at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve
Base Fort Worth.
“We have brought the benefit
back to the Dallas, Fort Worth
area – and they are going to love
it,” said Tresenriter, former store
director at Offutt Air Force Base
Commissary, Neb. “The customer
base population (estimated at
150,000 to 200,000) has not had
a commissary in the local area for
many years.”
That population turned
out in droves to welcome the
return of their benefit. During
its first week in operation, nearly
12,000 customers shopped at the
commissary, generating almost
$900,000 in sales.
A 15-year absence
Since 1993, the Army and
Air Force Exchange Service has
operated a BXMart that sold
groceries at Fort Worth after
the commissary closed in July
of that year. It was then that
the installation, then known as
Carswell Air Force Base, closed
because of base realignment
actions. AAFES continued
operating a BXMart on the base,
which was established in October
1994 as NAS JRB Fort Worth. �
21

As the nation’s first joint reserve
base, Fort Worth has an on-base
population of 10,000 active-duty
military, Reserve and Guard
personnel, and civilians who
train various Navy, Marine Corps,
Air Force, Army and Texas Air
National Guard units.
The return to Fort Worth
brings a seven-day a week
commissary (a K-3 store) with
48,259 square feet of sales area
that offers nearly 15,000 line
items, 10 regular checkouts and
six self-service checkouts, a fullservice
deli and bakery with its
own checkout register, a Grab ‘N’
Go section, made-to-order sushi,
case-ready seafood, and organic
fruits and vegetables.
The road to a commissary
DeCA’s takeover of the
AAFES BXMart was approved
by the Office of the Secretary
of Defense in the fall of 2007.
That decision brought into
action a small cadre of DeCA
operators and planners from its
headquarters at Fort Lee, Va., and
DeCA West at McClellan, Calif., to
begin the facility’s transformation
from an exchange facility to a fullfledged
commissary, said Rick
Page, DeCA’s chief operating
officer.
“The transition of this facility
from a BXMart to a commissary
is typical of the outstanding
partnership between DeCA and
AAFES,” Page said. “With this
store, we are providing the very
best customer service possible to
the military and their families in
the North Texas area.”
From the word “go,” DeCA
headquarters’ performance
and policy team created a
performance plan to bring all the
related headquarters and region
players together to execute a
schedule of actions, culminating
Right, DeCA remodeled an
exchange facility to create the
new Fort Worth Commissary,
Texas.
22 decavision!Spring 2008
!
in the March 25 grand
opening.
For DeCA, taking
over the Fort Worth
grocery operation was
uncharted territory.
The agency had never
converted an exchange
facility into a fullfledged
commissary,
and an added challenge
involved taking over
a facility that was still
open up to a week
before it reopened
under DeCA. The
metamorphosis of
the Fort Worth store
meant new shelving,
new cash registers,
new interior signage in
keeping with DeCA’s
colorful décor and a
complete renovation
of the store, said Eric
Swayzee, chief of
DeCA’s operations
division. “This
conversion process
required open communication
among everyone involved,” he
said. “We poured over every
detail to remake this facility
into a commissary. A lot of
people worked hard and came
together as a team to enable this
store to open ready to serve our
customers.”
As early as September 2007,
DeCA began plugging in the
pieces for a commissary. About 50
A festive mood prevails at the grand opening of
the Fort Worth Commissary, Texas, as customers
celebrate the return of their benefi t. The Carswell Air
Force Base store closed along with the installation in
1993 following base realignment.
DeCA employees and contractors
took a number of actions to begin
the rebirth of the Fort Worth
commissary:
• The store’s size and layout
were determined
• Employee recruitment began
in November 2007
• A survey was conducted in
September 2007 to prepare
the store for installation of
the Commissary Advanced
Resale Transaction System,

the agency’s new state-ofthe-art
front-end system
• Store equipment needs were
assessed to include store
shelving, refrigeration and
lighting
• A store safety program was
established, and agreements
with the installation were
locked in for safety, fire
prevention and occupational
health
• The store’s computer
systems were set up to
interface with various
product ordering, pricing
and accountability programs
• The store’s product mix and
store set were established
• Vendor support and product
distribution contracts were
let
• All equipment and securityrelated
hardware and
systems were put in place
and tested
• The store underwent a
pre-operational review to
evaluate its compliance with
sanitary requirements for
selling, storing and handling
food
• DeCA retrofitted the facility
to improve its function for
customers as well as DeCA
team members
Echoes from the past
Before DeCA’s recent takeover
of the Fort Worth BXMart, the
store had been one of only two
such facilities in military resale
– the other being at the former
Homestead Air Force Base, Fla. In
1993, when BRAC announced the
closure of Carswell, it meant the
end for the commissary, too. Four
days later, the BXMart was then
authorized to sell groceries.
However, as time passed, the
base’s mission, now rejuvenated
as a joint reserve base, meant
that the growing customer
base needed a larger, full-time
commissary. Tens of thousands
of military personnel could see
an immediate lift in their quality
!
of life from a
commissary, said
Congresswoman
Kay Granger
(R-Fort Worth) in
a July 2007 news
release about the
need of the benefit
in North Texas.
“Commissaries
are an important
military
entitlement,
and our local
servicemen and
women and their
families will
benefit immensely
from this new store
opening,” she said.
From its
beginnings in
1942, military
operations at Fort
Worth have taken
on many names.
Once upon a time,
Carswell Air Force
Base had been
known as Army
Air Field Combat Crew School
Tarrant Field. It had also been
called Tarrant Field Airdrome, the
Fort Worth Army Airfield, Griffiss
Air Force Base (for two weeks in
January 1948), and later became
Carswell Air Force Base on Jan. 29,
1948.
Building 1231 was the site of
the first documented commissary
operated in 1948, according
to Dr. Pete Skirbunt, DeCA
historian. The building had been
built in 1942 as a warehouse,
was later modified for use as
a commissary in 1957, and
updated as a “true commissary”
in 1963. Its offices were located in
Building 1268, also built in 1942.
Modifications and improvements
were subsequently made in 1965,
1971, 1972 (a new prefabricated
warehouse), 1974 and 1976.
When DeCA was activated in
1991, commissary operations were
Customers young and old delight
in their new commissary at Naval
Air Station Joint Reserve Base
Fort Worth, Texas.
located in Building 1765, where it
had functioned since its opening
on Feb. 11, 1985, by the Air Force
Commissary Service. In 1991,
that store had 116,000 square
feet, 48,895 square feet of sales
area, 28 checkouts, and a deli and
bakery. In fiscal 1991, it rang up
$61.6 million in sales and $58.6
million in fiscal 1992. It closed
July 10, 1993.
Today, Tresenriter supervises
75 employees in a facility
that marks the return of the
commissary benefit to the Fort
Worth area. “All of DeCA helped
push this transformation – what
a great team of people America
has supporting our agency in this
historical change,” he said.�
23

�‘HOME RUN BALLS’:
One vendor presented
customers with DeCA
baseballs and miniature
bats to commemorate
the grand opening.
More than $5,000 in
giveaways and prizes
were offered.
24 decavision!Spring 2008
!
Grand opening ‘home run’:
Fort Detrick
�GRAND AND GLORIOUS SIGHT: Store Director Rob Cauffman, Fort Detrick Commissary,
Md., addresses an excited crowd on grand opening morning, April 8. The former commissary
was built in 1954 as a warehouse and was last renovated in 1992.
�NEW LEVEL OF SERVICE: The new Fort Detrick Commissary, Md., features nearly double the sales fl oor space
of the old store, a deli and bakery, more than 2,000 new line items, and convenient self-checkout stands. The
store director’s extensive baseball memorabilia collection created a winning décor. DeCA photos: Rick Brink�

Dr. Pete Skirbunt
DeCA historian
Fort Belvoir is located in northern Virginia,
about 12 miles south of Washington, D.C., not
far from Mount Vernon, the picturesque home
of George Washington. Many years ago it was
a quiet, almost rural location. Today, it is close to
Interstate 95 and is bisected by U.S. Route 1, the
main north-south routes along the Eastern Seaboard,
beset by the infamous daily traffic snarls of the
Washington area.
The local population has always included a
large number of military personnel – active-duty,
reservists, and retirees – and the post’s location has
enabled it to draw many of them to its military retail
outlets. Because the population around the nation’s
capital has steadily risen for the last 60 years, Fort
Belvoir Commissary has consistently been one
of the busiest in the world. In fact, it has been No. 1
in annual sales every year since DeCA’s inception in
October 1991.
Of course, sales figures alone never tell the whole
story. Get enough people inside any store and sales
!
makinghistory
Fort Belvoir
Commissary,
Va., 1982.
DeCA
historical fi le
photo
Fort Belvoir Commissary, Va.
With more than 70 years of
service, busy commissary
remains agency flagship
totals will increase, especially in times of inflation.
Belvoir Commissary’s real success story is its long
history of being able to handle an increasingly
large customer base while maintaining a level of
enthusiasm and customer service available at many
smaller stores. That ability keeps old customers
coming back, and attracts new ones.
The Belvoir store is able to do these things
because it is always expanding and modernizing. It
has plenty of room to reduce overcrowding and stock
plenty of products, old favorites and new market
entries alike. It also has sufficient checkouts to keep
long lines to a minimum and quickly move a large
number of customers out of the store. But no matter
how big and modern a store may be, it is only as
good as its staff, and the team at the Belvoir store has
traditionally been of high quality.
Increasing commissary sales is an indication they
are maximizing customer savings. Since commissary
shoppers save 30 percent or more over private-sector
supermarkets, they save a significant amount of
money – about $3,000 annually for a family of four.
Maximizing customer sales at all commissaries – but �
25

especially at a store the size of Belvoir – also means
sales figures increase.
Post history
Fort Belvoir was established in 1912 as a training
site for the Army Engineering School, located at that
time at nearby Fort McNair. World War I prompted
major changes, and in 1918, construction began on
what soon became known as Camp A.A. Humphreys,
named in honor of Andrew A. Humphreys, Civil War
commander and former chief of engineers. In 1922
it became a permanent post and “Home of the Corps
of Engineers” when the engineering school relocated
there from Fort McNair, and was accordingly
renamed Fort Humphreys.
In 1935, there were extensive archaeological
excavations on the remains of Belvoir Manor, the
historic home of Lord Thomas Fairfax, England’s
proprietor for the Virginia colony’s Northern Neck.
The home had stood on property now belonging
to the post until some overly enthusiastic Virginia
patriots destroyed it – after the Revolution had
already been won! There was some talk of rebuilding
the manor to serve as the commandant’s residence,
but in the end it was easier to simply rename the
entire post. The post was thus renamed
Fort Belvoir, supposedly at the suggestion
of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Store history
The identity, locations and dates of
initial operation for the original store, and
for any other stores at Belvoir before 1958,
are unknown. The first commissary on
record was mentioned by Quartermaster
Review magazine in 1934. In 1956,
construction of a new store began at the
corner of 16 th Street and Belvoir Avenue. It
held its grand opening in May 1958.
Like today’s new stores, it was large,
with a sales floor measuring 114 feet by 212
26 decavision!Spring 2008
!
feet – a total sales area of 24,168 square feet. That
was 1 1/3 times the size of the old store, making it
one of the biggest commissaries in the world. The
new facility also had 300 more line items than the old
one.
Other features included automatic glass doors, a
modern meat counter, a fresh produce section, three
times as much
A major renovation
in 1997 increased
its sales area to
58,000 square feet
and added seven
more checkouts.
meat refrigeration
area as the old
store, 8-foot-wide
aisles, 10 checkout
counters, and
the traditional
directional arrows
to “prevent
shoppers from
having to
backtrack.” This was, of course, a polite way of
saying, “One way only!”
The new store had at least two things modern
stores don’t have. First, there was a nursery with a
playground outdoors, so parents could bring their
kids along to the store where they would pay a
minimal amount for babysitting by members of the
Cashiers train at Fort Belvoir Commissary, Va., in 1982. DeCA
historical fi le photo

store staff. This was, of course, at a time when most
stores did not allow kids under age 10 to be in the
store, unless they were riding in a grocery cart’s child
seat. Mercifully, the age limit was later lowered to 6.
The second difference was a ceiling that was
considerably lower than the ceilings of modern
stores. These older stores had the appearance of
being much smaller than they actually were, making
them seem cramped and dingy even when they were
brand new and perfectly clean.
The post quartermaster (in those days,
quartermasters were in charge of stores at Army
posts) hoped it would be “the best commissary on the
East Coast.” Its first paying customers were Master
Sgt. A. E. Sullivan and his wife, Elora, who were first
in line among the 150 people present at the grand
opening. The store had a staff of 50 employees and
was open 32 hours per week, but within six years it
had 106 employees and was open 54 hours per week.
The store was enlarged from 1963 to 1964, when
six months of renovation produced a store with
four more checkouts, a new exit, 60 new shopping
carts, air conditioning, and 40,000 square feet of
warehouse backup space. The store was able to
process 8,000 to 10,000 pounds of meat and 7,500
to 8,000 gallons of milk daily.
In 1982, the 1958 store was replaced by a
completely new commissary, built by the U.S. Army
Troop Support Agency. This was Building 2302, the
present facility. It originally had 45,014 square feet
of sales area, a delicatessen, a fish market, a mini-
!
Shopper at Fort Belvoir
Commissary, Va., in 1964.
DeCA historical fi le photo
Current Store Director Troy Collins, Fort Belvoir
Commissary, Va. DeCA photo: Rick Brink
commissary and 25 checkout lanes. But even that
wasn’t big or modern enough, and the store soon was
doing more than double the business for which it had
been designed. A major renovation in 1997 increased
its sales area to 58,000 square feet and added seven
more checkouts.
The quality of the present store, and the crew
that makes it work, have resulted in multiple awards.
The most prestigious of these were the regional “Best
Large Store” titles it won in 1992, 1998 and 2001.�
27

Stay on target with
DeCA’s strategic plan
by using this primer
on what’s hot
An important
companion
document to
DeCA’s strategic
plan hit the street in
February, representing an
outline for action as more
details emerge in ongoing
“think tanks.”
The Director’s Strategic
Planning Guidance, dated 2008 to
2015, can be requested from store
directors. The strategic plan can
be found at https://www.deca.
mil, under “The DeCA Mission.”
The agency publishes a new
strategic plan every two years,
supplemented this year by the
Strategic Planning Guidance,
provided to region, zone and
store leadership. This “snapshot”
document links objectives and
actions to the agency’s budget
via the Program Objective
Memorandum, referred to as the
28 decavision!Spring 2008
!
getsmart
Strategic
Plan 101
POM. In turn,
initiatives in the
Strategic Planning
Guidance must
remain flexible
as they depend
on availability and
allocation of funding,
which is a constantly
evolving process
dependent on developing
priorities.
Vision will look at the
three agency goals in the strategic
plan, starting in this issue with
Goal 1: Preserve and deliver
a premier quality-of-life
benefit. Take a look at agency
initiatives and how store-level
actions promote strategies for
success:
• Customize the benefit to
better serve our patrons.
The agency wants to obtain
special demographics and market
analysis. Knowledge of customer
demographics for the grocery
industry would help the agency
determine changing shopping
trends and future base structure;
rising fuel costs and changing
lifestyle choices; knowledge gaps
in customers’ expectations, now
and in the future; and reasons
authorized customers choose not
to use the commissary.
Immediate store actions
supporting this strategy:
Foster partnerships with
exchange systems. Many

commissaries offer ongoing joint
ventures:
Fort Stewart Commissary,
Ga., holds joint sidewalk sales
with the exchange in a covered
walkway between the two stores.
Fort Buchanan
Commissary, Puerto Rico, and
the exchange help each other
by cross-merchandising. For
example, the exchange provided
workout equipment for display
in the commissary. The exchange
also provides professional joint
signage.
Mannheim and
Spangdahlem commissaries,
Germany, took the lead in
Europe in holding joint sales with
exchanges.
Partnerships don’t have to be
limited to joint events, however.
Projects are under way to explore
all kinds of cooperative efforts
to generate efficiencies in the
military resale system, such as
synergies gained by moving joint
product via same distribution
lanes overseas.
DeCA Europe’s Chief of
Operations Terry Batenhorst
said meetings continue regarding
joint transportation efforts with
the Army and Air Force Exchange
Service. “Both sides agree on the
concept for us to help each other,
but we still have to work out the
details and formal agreements,”
he said. “We hope to make some
progress this year.”
Going back to the basic strategic
plan, customization can be as
detailed as catering stock
assortment to contain a
product mix unique
to a specific
location. For
example,
the
Right, Livorno Commissary, Italy, offers a
“taste of Italy” with its in-house deli where
Italian breads, prosciutto and parmigiano
are available. Ready-to-eat Italian fruit
salad, called “macedonia,” is offered in the
produce section. DeCA photo: Gerri Young
!
Customers such as this family at Sigonella Commissary, Italy, reap double
savings when the commissary and Navy Exchange host a joint event. The “Leap
Year Sidewalk Sale,” Feb. 29 to March 1, featured products displayed and sold
both inside and outside the commissary, producing a sales lift of more than
$9,000 for the two days on selected product. DeCA photo: Byron Floyd
deli at Livorno Commissary,
Italy, highlights fresh Italian
specialty items. Fort Buchanan
Commissary offers about 30
percent of its total produce sales as
indigenous to the island, including
a variety of tubers, such as taro
and malanga, melons, and gourds
such as calabasas.
Also in the basic plan,
initiatives include a focus on
�
29

the store perimeter to inform
and educate customers, and
continue service as nutritional
leader for the Department of
Defense. DeCA’s military dietitian,
Maj. Karen Fauber, helps
commissary shoppers lose weight,
get in shape and maintain good
health through a weekly column
and a discussion forum on http://
!
www.commissaries.com, as well
as through regular articles on
health and nutrition.
• Increase opportunity for
authorized patrons to use
the commissary benefit.
Support to the Guard and
Reserve will be developed for
consistent applications, with no
permanent facilities expected to
DeCA dietitian Maj. Karen Fauber,
left, represents DeCA at a number
of military forums, such as this
National Guard conference in
Anchorage, Alaska. DeCA photo
be funded by DeCA. A concept of
operations will evaluate mobile
facilities, expanded outreach
via pre-sold case lot and other
case lot sales initiatives, as well
as Internet solutions. Last year,
commissaries worked 21 onsite
sales at Guard and Reserve
locations; this year, more than
100 are scheduled.
Immediate store actions
supporting this strategy:
Increase pre-sold
truckloads to on-site
locations.
Many stores hold successful
on-site sales without using the
pre-sold method, or taking paid
orders in advance, so going
pre-sold promises even more
opportunity for stores such as:
Fort Jackson, S.C.: two-day,
on-site sale at reserve center,
Columbia, S.C., about $135,000
in sales
Fort Gillem, Ga.: threeday,
on-site sale at Dobbins Air
Reserve Base near Atlanta in
April, nearly $146,000 in sales
Even with rain on all four days of the first on-site case lot sale in Charlotte, N.C., in April, 2,265 customers
made purchases totaling $233,414, making the average transaction about $103. DeCA photo: L.B. Rice
30 decavision!Spring 2008

Pearl Harbor
Commissary, Hawaii, with
help from DeCA team members
throughout Zone 13: biannual,
three-day, on-site sale in Hilo,
providing customers with about
70 percent savings in that
expensive locale, last sale more
than $187,000
Naval Air Station
Jacksonville and Patrick Air
Force Base, Fla.: biannual,
Special
delivery
Neither rain nor snow
nor sleet nor hail stops
Fort Drum from taking
benefit on road
for customers
For a store such as Fort Drum
Commissary, N.Y., that has
done different types of onsite
sales, “pre-sold sales are the
way to go,” said Store Director
Bob Smith. “This way you know
exactly what the patron wants
and you are guaranteed to get
those dollars. We augment the
‘pre-book’ with excess product
from backrooms, perishable
product such as chicken, beef
and pork, and fresh produce.
We also take extra quantities of
!
three-day, on-site sale in Miami
for Southern Command, nearly
$200,000
Fort Bragg South, N.C., with
help from other stores in Zone 29:
four-day, on-site sale for the Air
National Guard in Charlotte, N.C.,
about $233,400, even with rain
every day; second sale generated
$248,000 in just three days
Expand DeCA’s Internet
presence. DeCA is developing an
pre-sold items so a customer just
hearing about the sale can take
advantage of those items as well.”
Smith said the store did a sale
at an Air National Guard base
after a focus group there indicated
the customers wanted about
$80,000 to $100,000 in product
for a weekend sale. Nothing was
pre-sold, and the sale generated
only a little more than $20,000
for the two days. Compare that
to the store’s next sale: a prebooked
event that did more
than $50,000, and the biannual
on-site for the Vermont National
Guard, with about $65,000 in
sales.
“The pre-booked case lot
sale significantly reduces costs
in every area, including people
Strategic
Plan 101
Internet concept for Guard and
Reserve support that includes
expansion of current Internet
items to offer more international �
Fort Drum Commissary, N.Y., achieved sales of $26,161 in its case
lot sale at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station in March, even with
blizzard conditions, 40 mph wind gusts and 16 inches of new snow.
DeCA photo: Robert Smith
required to support the sale,”
said Zone 21 Manager Richard
Cook. “It also reduces the cost
of hauling unsold product back
to stores and ending up with
excess inventories in back rooms.
When doing on-site sales at new
locations, it takes a couple of sales
to develop the customer base,
but after the initial groundwork
is complete, each succeeding sale
becomes easier.”
Cook said the key to success is
developing a customer data base,
primarily by an e-mail link to the
supporting store, but also with the
help of the host command.
Smith said his network of
e-mail “partners” grows with
every sale. “We have doubled in
e-mail partners since our first
sale,” he said.�
31

items. Another concept involves
taking the pre-sold, on-site sale to
a new level and providing online
ordering for the sale, for delivery
to the military unit, similar to
what Charleston Commissary,
S.C., provides for downrange
embassies and service members
in remote locations.
• Customize the benefit to
better serve customers and
optimize use of surcharge
dollars.
A revitalized store format and
modular interiors with easily
movable reefers and shelving
would allow for changes in market
forces and customer expectations.
DeCA is exploring a concept
of operations for new deli and
bakery services, as well as a
modular interior concept. Major
construction project designs are
incorporating many features
to allow for greater flexibilities
“within the box.”
That doesn’t mean stores
have to wait for this concept to
take off to customize services
now. For example, New River
Commissary, N.C., opened in
2002 without a deli; it presented a
new, full-service deli in March to
the delight of its customers.
• Optimize store and
support operations with
process improvements and
technological advances.
One strategic objective is
to solve the vendor stocking
issue, which needs a concept
of operations with funding
32 decavision!Spring 2008
!
implications and impacts, and an
implementation plan.
Another objective involves
transition to the Defense Enterprise
Business System, scheduled to be
fully operational by fiscal 2013.
A long-range objective
involves development of an
integrated store as a wireless,
digital facility, including a Webbased
facility and refrigeration
management system.
• Use Environmental
Management System to
increase effectiveness,
efficiency through
better management of
environmental issues.
Serving as a responsible
steward of natural resources,
DeCA continues researching,
developing and implementing
activities to meet not only
Defense Department mandates,
but also customer expectations.
Proactive projects launched
include reusable shopping bags,
with current sales of more than
a million bags; a “cash for trash”
program; and initiatives to reduce
energy use and solid waste.
Serving as the agency’s “poster
child” for energy efficiency,
Los Angeles Commissary,
Calif., became DeCA’s first “solar
commissary” in April, with
about 30 percent of the energy
used by the store’s refrigeration
systems powered by the sun. The
$840,000 project was funded
through the Department of
Defense Energy Conservation
Investment Program. DeCA plans
to seek more opportunities to
Strategic
Plan 101
use alternate sources of energy
at commissaries worldwide,
especially in areas with the
highest utility costs.
• Optimize the use of
surcharge dollars.
With surcharge buying power
declining, and construction and
fuel costs skyrocketing, strategies
for shifting to sustainment
projects rather than new
construction appear paramount.
Questions under study include:
What alternatives exist for
traditional brick-and-mortar
facilities, particularly for smaller
stores? Is a “50-year building”
strategy one we should continue?
Are there lessons we can learn
from Harrison Village
Commissary, Ind. — a facility
built by the community to keep
the commissary benefit in place
long after base closure — that
will help us reduce the cost of
building facilities?
This sweeping overview of
Goal 1 should provide you with
a summary of major initiatives
important to ensuring we
deliver a premier benefit to our
customers.�
Below, Los Angeles Commissary,
Calif. DeCA photo: Al Alferez

Azmi Benli
Bamberg Commissary, Germany
Describe your job as night shift
work leader.
I make sure my 13 night crew
workers perform the duties in
the areas assigned to them. I
ensure all products are properly
ordered, stocked and rotated.
What do you like best about your
job?
I enjoy working with everybody.
I run a tight shift, but we have
teamwork and fun while working.
My people are like my family.
I like my work; I like to satisfy
management; and I like keeping
the store fully stocked and ready
for customers the next day.
!
�ofthebenefit
Azmi Benli
How do you create raving fans?
By ensuring all items are ordered on time, the shelves
are fully packed, and end caps are well-built. My
team and I also work hard to make sure shelves are
kept clean.
‘As his assistant for the past 20
years, I can say that Benli is very
honest, fair and a dependable
supervisor. He ensures his people
are trained properly and will
continue to train them as long
as they need it. He cares about
his work and his employees. He
loved working as a night shift
supervisor ever since he started
with it 21 years ago. He has a
positive attitude; he is always
nice to his employees but strict
at the same time.’
Ulrike Pauer
Store worker leader
‘Heart of the Benefit’ celebrates the
accomplishments and winning work
philosophies of three outstanding
DeCA team members.
What’s your career history?
I started as a commissary bagger back in September
1980, and I worked hard to get to where I am now. I
am very proud of my job.
What are your professional goals?
Right now, I am very contented and enjoying my
job; but, of course, I would like to become a grocery
manager someday.
Who influenced your career most?
My father showed me that hard work pays off. He
served DeCA for 20 years, and I followed in his
footsteps. (Benli’s father, Ibrahim Benli, was a
warehouse worker at Bamberg Commissary when
Benli first went to work there.)�
33

Describe your job as store manager.
My main duty is to ensure the store is ready for
opening every morning for our patrons.
What do you like best about your job?
Creating exciting displays. I enjoy the thrill of
the challenge that takes me to the next level and
satisfying our customers.
How do you create raving fans?
By getting up every morning with an infectious
positive attitude to deliver the benefit to our patrons.
I try to foster an atmosphere of teamwork and
winners in our store.
Tony Gardner
34 decavision!Spring 2008
!
Tony Gardner
Hanscom Commissary, Mass.
What’s your career history?
In 1993, I started working in the commissary as a
contract custodial worker and stocker, and I was
promoted to project manager in 1997. During this
time, I worked as a vendor stocker for several brokers.
In 2000, I began my federal career as a meatcutter. In
2002, I was promoted to storeworker in grocery. In
September 2004, I was promoted to grocery manager;
and in September 2007, I was promoted to store
manager.
What are your professional goals?
I aspire to be a store director.
Who has influenced your career most?
I cannot select any one person who has influenced my
career, but to name a few: my parents; Store Director
Sharon Washington; Store Director Robert
Smith at Fort Drum Commissary, N.Y.; Shirley
Fredrick, project manager here seven years ago; and
Bob Medrios, retired meat manager.�
‘Every store director should have a
Tony Gardner. His work ethic is far
above the norm. When he was a
meatcutter, he would complete his
shift and offer to work additional
hours in the grocery department
stocking merchandise and
providing customer assistance.
His can-do attitude provided
opportunities for promotions to
work leader within the grocery
department and later as grocery
manager and store manager.
Because of his positive attitude,
attention to detail and commitment
to the military family, Tony is
asked for by name when units are
planning their functions.’
Sharon Washington
Store director

Describe your job in computer-assisted ordering.
I am one of four CAOs here. We manually inventory
the shelf and storeroom stock to verify balance on
hand and make adjustments before an order is
processed. The order is generated using the balance
on hand, shelf space and historical orders. We also
coordinate with grocery department workers and
vendors to make sure the right amount of product
is ordered for special promotions. When new items
come in, we have 48 hours to get them on the shelf.
This sometimes requires resetting a section to
make space for the new item. Another important
responsibility for the CAO, and for everyone who
works in the store, is customer support.
What do you like best about your job?
The challenges! Every day I face new ones,
whether it’s an added task, covering for another
CAO or helping in the warehouse. Trying to
balance everything and complete the necessary
CAO responsibilities in eight hours with a smile
is a challenge, but I love it. There’s never a dull
moment.
What’s your career history?
I started with commissaries in 1988 as a vendor
stocker at Fort Benning, Ga. From 1991 to 1993
I served as a commissary storeworker at Riyadh,
Saudi Arabia. I returned to the United States in
1993 and worked as a vendor stocker at Fort Sam
Houston Commissary. In 1996, I was hired as a
storeworker and I became a CAO in 2002.
How do you create raving fans?
My area is the health and beauty section. I try to keep
the shelves packed out and neat and my end caps
full. I’m always willing to help a customer. When a
customer asks a question, I do whatever is needed to
get the answer. If I can’t find the answer immediately,
I take a name and number and contact the customer
when I find the answer. When you put forth extra
effort it makes a world of difference to the customer.
What are your professional goals?
I earned a bachelor’s degree in
business administration in 2002 with
an emphasis in information systems
from the University of Texas, San
Antonio, and I would like to put it to
good use.
Who influenced your career most?
My family probably had the most
influence on my decisions, and
I’ve always appreciated their
honesty and support. At work, the
vendor reps have supported me by
!
Kathleen Sherman
Kathleen Sherman
Fort Sam Houston, Texas
showing appreciation for my work. This has given
me encouragement to continue to work hard. I’ve
also received support from my DeCA managers:
former grocery manager, Beth Adams (now store
director at Cannon Commissary, N.M.), and
Zone Manager Ron McMasters. My CAO partner,
Ronnie Stuart, is an inspiration. When I get
overloaded Ronnie helps me out – without me having
to ask. I’ve known and worked with or for Store
Director Marty Jackson for about 10 years. He asks
for and values my opinion and that means a lot to
me. Mr. Jackson keeps me on my toes by challenging
me with difficult tasks.�
‘Kathleen combines dynamism with sound
organizational skills to achieve exceptional results.
Her merchandising techniques have demonstrated
her resourcefulness in meeting the needs of our
customers. She knows what has to be done, finds
a way to do it better, then does it. She is one of the
best.’
Marty Jackson
Store director
35

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The world's best customers salute the world's best employees
Fort Meade cake lovers
Siobaan Bigg at Fort Meade Commissary,
Md., is an exceptional baker
and contract employee. She
worked with me on the exact
requirements for a full sheet cake.
My government office of about
80 people was amazed by her
creativity and talent. She created
the most amazing cake I have ever
seen – as well as being delicious.
Mary Ann Geinzer
I went to the Fort Meade
Commissary, Md., to order my
daughter’s 18th Siobaan Bigg
birthday cake.
Somehow, I thought I only needed 24 hours notice;
but I found out 48 hours notice was needed. I was
in so much trouble! One of the associates suggested
I talk to Siobaan Bigg, contract baker and cake
decorator, who would be in the next day at 7:30 a.m.
So I called and asked if she had any leftover yellow
cakes with chocolate frosting she could set aside for
me. Siobaan could have told me, “No,” and that I was
out of luck, but she asked for my child’s name and
when I needed the cake. Later when I picked up the
cake, it was so pretty I almost cried. Siobaan took the
same amount of care on my cake as she did with all
the others. She needs to be recognized for this. Thank
her for me!
Rebekah Jackson
Fort Belvoir raves
Terry Slade, cashier at Fort Belvoir
Commissary, Va., is the best cashier I have ever
had. I have been going to the commissary for 17 years
and have never had a cashier who was as nice as
Terry.
Tina Mata
36 decavision!Spring 2008
I commend cashier Clarissa Stiles at Fort Belvoir
Commissary, Va. Never have I had such a friendly
cashier. Her pleasant greeting, upbeat disposition,
positive outlook and concern for our shopping
experience are unrivaled in my commissary shopping
experience, and I have been involved as a dependent,
active-duty member, and now as a retiree. Please
consider Ms. Stiles for an award. Thanks for a great
shopping experience today!
Lt. Col. Luginbuhl, retired
I thank Arvester Brooks,
grocery manager, and Raymond
Lane, store manager, at Fort
Belvoir Commissary, Va., as
well as the numerous commissary
employees who helped ensure my
consumable goods shipment to
Ghana was efficiently prepared,
and that the goods were available
even on short notice. With the
Arvester Brooks team’s overall can-do spirit, it was
truly a refreshing experience that
made me and my family feel like
valued customers. The current
times are very stressful and
challenging for military families. If
the support and care provided for
my family’s goods is representative
of the way they care about all of
the commissary’s customers, then
soldiers, their families and military
retirees who frequent the Fort
Raymond Lane Belvoir Commissary are in very
good hands. I strongly commend
the commissary employees for their professionalism
and commitment to excellence.
Col. Lorie Moody, U.S. Marine Corps
(Editor’s note: Letters are edited for length and clarity.)

Fort Knox friend
While shopping at Fort Knox
Commissary, Ky., I had the
pleasure of being assisted by
cashier Myra Scott. Her greeting
and big smile brightened my day.
Upon her review of a form I need
to shop in my father’s stead, she
noticed it was about to expire
and made sure I took notice of it.
At the close of the transaction, Myra Scott
she thanked me for shopping
the commissary and closed with a smile and a
friendly, “Bye-bye.” It may seem like a small thing,
but when someone takes the time to smile, greet
and treat me as a valued customer, they deserve
recognition. Myra’s cordial, friendly, attentive
manner truly exceeded my expectations.
Mike Lovitt
Scott salute
Lisa Smith, contract employee in the seafood
department at Scott Commissary, Ill., is extremely
cordial and has the best customer service I have seen
in the seafood department in five years. First, she
asked me if I was going to freeze the salmon I was
purchasing – so she double-wrapped each item. Then
because I had mentioned I had a long drive, she put
each package in ice. Now that is someone who thinks
and goes the extra step.
Capt. Bill Switzer, U.S. Navy, retired
Little Rock thanks
I had placed a special order for
bread sticks at the Little Rock
Commissary, Ark., and I called
to check on my order. Flo Jones,
storeworker, took my call, but my
order was nowhere to be found.
Flo went above and beyond her
job and took my phone number,
telling me she would check into it
and call me early in the morning. Flo Jones
By 8 a.m., I received a call from
Flo telling me my order was ready for pickup at my
convenience. She was so helpful, friendly and caring
in this matter that concerned me.
Thank you for employees who are
concerned about customer service.
Jene Lewis
Luke guardian angel
I was putting items on the
counter for checkout at Luke
Commissary, Ariz. My last item,
a large case of bottled water, was
in the bottom of the basket. I am
a 108-pound 74-year-old, and
Eustace Prince
!
though I managed to lift the water, I lost my balance
and started falling. I almost hit the floor flat on my
back, neck and head, when suddenly I began moving
the other way. After I was back on my feet, I realized
Eustace Prince, grocery manager, had saved me
from a nasty fall. Every day, I think of him and
consider him my guardian angel, and I thank him.
Lucretia Gourley
Davis-Monthan
appreciation
I work at a large child development
center on Davis-Monthan Air
Force Base, Ariz., and I special
order a large quantity of baby food
and formula. Christina Carley,
sales store clerk, goes above and
beyond to ensure my order is
complete and loaded into carts
Christina Carley when I arrive for pickup. She has
all the UPC labels available for the
cashiers, which makes the process much easier and
doesn’t hold up the line a long time. I want to bring
this to the attention of management. Christina is very
helpful and I really appreciate what she does.
Jacqueline Chinn-Childs
Fort Benning kudos
Mike Jones, contract employee
with Military Deli and Bakery
Service at Fort Benning
Commissary, Ga., is the best!
For more than 23 years, I’ve
bought many cakes for many
occasions, and he does the best
job of decorating I have ever
seen – better than all the civilian
Mike Jones grocery stores and privately owned
bakeries. He decorated the baby
shower cake I ordered, and it was outstanding. The
flowers, booties and other icing decorations were
gorgeous! Plus, he was polite, nice and respectful.
I will tell all my friends about this man’s ability
and talent. Fort Benning is sure to start selling
more cakes! I plan to buy all my cakes from here,
something I have never done before. Kudos to Mike!
Cathy Sengstacke
Bremerton produce
I’ve been shopping at Bremerton Commissary,
Wash., for about 35 years, and I have always received
help when needed in the produce department. The
personnel today, and especially the past two or three
years, have been the greatest – not just one person,
but all of them.
Donald Deetjem
37
�

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The world's best customers salute the world's best employees
Fort Gordon’s
great cashiers
Reva Csontos, cashier at Fort
Gordon Commissary, Ga.,
is an asset to DeCA. She was
very patient with me when I was
unloading my cart, since I have
two baby girls. She had a good
sense of humor. Thank you, Reva
– I wish all cashiers were as nice
as you.
Victoria Yu
Son Srithai is a wonderful
cashier at Fort Gordon
Commissary, Ga. She is always
cheerful and helpful. I think
she should be Employee of the
Month or whatever you do for
great employees. We shop at the
commissary once a week, and we
have heard other people comment
about how they like to go to Son’s
register.
Linda Burgess
Gulfport experts
The produce department staff at
Gulfport Commissary, Miss.,
are the best people with lots of
knowledge of produce and also
plants. They tell me how to cook
some of the new produce items
they carry. Diane Boss, Bert
Kelley and Larry Wheaton
– they are the best!
Teresa Olague
Store Director Walter Taylor,
grocery manager Patricia
Tice, produce worker Larry
Wheaton, and cashier Linda
Hutchison at Gulfport
Commissary, Miss., constantly
“bend over backwards” to please
the customer. All the staff
members are friendly, extremely
38 decavision!Spring 2008
Reva Csontos
Son Srithai
Diane Boss
Larry Wheaton
knowledgeable, articulate and eager to answer
questions and locate products. This commissary
is a showcase! It has immaculate floors; wellstocked,
fresh produce; cans neatly stacked;
meat counters spotless; quality frozen foods; and
dairy items constantly rotated with clear price
labels portraying a store taking extreme care in
a personalized setting, guaranteeing the utmost
quality for the fairest price. Even as a smaller
store, this provider of our daily sustenance
is a precious asset that both active-duty and
retired military folks appreciate. The cashiers
are meticulous, considerate and very patient; the
deli with Denise Joyce is a welcome asset and a
timesaver as well. Thank you all for your wonderful
efforts and friendship.
Nathan Webb
Dahlgren compliments
I shopped at the Dahlgren
Commissary, Va., today after
not being there in months,
and I realized what a pleasant
experience it always is, thanks to
the helpful and cheerful people
who work there. I told meat
department manager Walt Ford
that his meats are the best around,
Walt Ford
which I think embarrassed him,
but it’s true. My compliments to
them all, from the managers who greet you to the
baggers who send you on your way.
Janet Edson
Fort Myer helpers
Though our daughter recently retired to take care of
my wife and me, she fractured an ankle, which placed
us in a caretaker role ourselves for four months. I
hobbled as best as I could to make trips to the Fort
Myer Commissary, Va. Barbara Madigan,
store secretary, helped me secure items I needed in
cases. Many other employees also helped me with my
shopping problems. Our commissary is staffed with
hardworking, helpful employees. Don’t change a thing
at our commissary.
Capt. John Iler, U.S. Navy, retired
Port Hueneme personal touch
I want to let someone know how great I think Store
Director June Bazile is at the Port Hueneme
Commissary, Calif. I am a command ombudsman,

and June is great at helping us as we get vendor
support for our homecoming events. She takes a
personal interest in making sure all our sailors
have a warm welcome home after serving their six
to 15 months in the war zones. She is also great at
drumming up support at our monthly ombudsman
meetings, coming to them with a lovely smile,
although we know she has been at work since very
early in the morning, and our meetings usually begin
around 7 p.m. I could not tell you the number of
times I go into the commissary and see June out on
the floor, interacting with customers, speaking with
her staff, and always with a big smile and sometimes
even a hug. Trust me, sometimes she makes my whole
day change just from talking with her. I also never
have any problems finding what I need and at great
prices, no matter how close to payday it is. We all love
June and wanted to let someone know what a great
lady she is and a great director!
Dawn Hart
Fort Jackson thank-you s
Sylvia McFadden at the Fort
Jackson Commissary, S.C., is
the nicest cashier I’ve ever had!
Thank you, thank you!
Roxanne Wilson
For my husband’s 80 th birthday,
I ordered a fruit plate from
Juliet Chisolm, sales store
checker, working in the produce
department at Fort Jackson
Commissary, S.C. It was
wonderfully put together with
lovely fruits in a great variety. It
was well-covered with a plastic
tray and cover, and then shrinkwrapped!
My husband, a great fruit
lover, was overjoyed. Ms. Chisolm
was extremely accommodating and
is to be commended for her skill.
As I was expressing my gratitude
to her, Shirley Prophet, another
sales store checker, also praised
her work. Ms. Prophet is an asset
to the commissary – friendly,
helpful and always professional.
These ladies are assets to your
workforce.
Gloria Bouchard
Sylvia McFadden
Juliet Chisolm
Shirley Prophet
!
Emilia Davis
Emilia Davis, sales store checker
at Fort Jackson Commissary,
S.C., is an outstanding DeCA
employee. She sets the example for
all to follow. She took great care
of my wife in getting the best price
for our products. We appreciate
her.
Gary Ward
Vandenberg hospitality
Justin Dormire, meatcutter
supervisor at Vandenberg
Commissary, Calif., is one of
the most cooperative gentlemen I
have ever known. He is always very
hospitable and will go out of his
way to help you.
Col. H.H. Bristol, U.S. Air Force,
retired
Sheppard praise
Justin Dormire I really enjoy shopping at
Sheppard Commissary, Texas.
The prices are great and the service is excellent. The
value of my money goes far.
Jonnie Collins
Fort Carson courtesies
Last October, Fort Carson, Colo., hosted Retiree
Appreciation Day. Many vendors had various displays
set up. The commissary had a breakfast buffet and a
lunch barbecue. I’ve been around and in the military
for 35 years, and I can only say that this was one of
the best events I’ve ever attended. None of this would
have been possible without Store Director Monique
Mings and her staff. Ms. Mings is one of the most
helpful store directors I’ve ever met. She’s always
there giving 150 percent to help make the commissary
the best in the Defense Commissary Agency. Ms.
Mings should be commended for her outstanding
devotion to duty to make Fort Carson the finest.
Thank you for a job well done.
Norbert Stynski
I’m always delighted when shopping at the Fort
Carson Commissary, Colo.! The staff is very
courteous, helpful with finding items or providing
special cuts of meat. The selection of products is
“second to none.” These folks are true professionals
in every regard. The baggers are respectful, friendly,
courteous and well-mannered when bagging
groceries. Great job by all; my wife and I are grateful
for everyone’s support of our military.
1 st Sgt. Mark and Sharon Saragian, U.S. Army
We always have great service at Fort Carson
Commissary, Colo. Everyone is always very
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The world's best customers salute the world's best employees
helpful. We have been to other commissaries and
always come back to Fort Carson. The store is very
clean, and the management is very much on top of
things.
Thomas Overshon
Bangor compassion
I want to thank Colleen
Wilhite, storeworker at Bangor
Commissary, Wash. I became
very ill while I was shopping, and
she stepped in and helped me
finish and check out. I forgot two
bags in the store and she came out
to find me with the bags.
Floyd Crow, U.S. Navy, retired
Colleen Wilhite
McGuire pros
I compliment Felicia Williams
in accounts control at McGuire
Commissary, N.J., who
assisted me on the phone and
provided professional, helpful
information on a recent food
recall. Her pleasant and courteous
demeanor reassured me when I
was concerned about a purchase
I made, helping me trust DeCA is Felicia Williams
aware and informing employees
effectively on food recalls. I enjoy shopping at
the commissary. It has friendly employees and
management staff who always offer me assistance
when I need it. Keep up the good work.
Joseph Pleva
Sugar Grove’s best
Sugar Grove Commissary, W.Va., has excellent
quality and display of fresh foods, poultry and
sandwich meats. It has helpful and very pleasant
personnel. Considering the modest size of the base,
displays are adequate in size and of a reasonable
variety – the best we’ve seen in a military facility.
A.S. and Cmdr. W. Campbell, U.S. Navy, retired
Fort Campbell lifesavers
I was having a difficult time managing my shopping
at Fort Campbell Commissary, Ky., because I had
40 decavision!Spring 2008
total hip replacement surgery
six weeks ago. My daughter
helped unload the groceries at
checkout, and I was moving
slowly using my walker. I
was using a debit card for the
first time and wasn’t doing it
right. The student sales store
checker, Marck Parris,
was patient and polite, and
Marck Parris he fixed my mistakes. What
a lifesaver. What impressed
me most was how busy the store was, since it was
quitting time and everyone was rushing for dinner
items. Marck was so polite and didn’t even bat an
eye in helping me – it was like he was helping his
mom and did it all the time. I know I’m the first
to complain when I don’t like something, so it was
important for me to speak up about something I
liked. This was my first shopping excursion since
months before surgery, and I really needed it to be
positive. Thanks to such a conscientious employee.
Merry Crist
Keesler: above and
beyond
The minute I went into cashier
Renée Crawford’s line at
Keesler Commissary, Miss.,
she greeted me with a smile that
made me feel welcome. I am a
volunteer at the base hospital,
and I don’t work with anyone
as nice as she was. The minute
Renée Crawford I went into her line, she asked
me if I had everything I needed
for Thanksgiving, and I told her I didn’t, because I
could not find a few things. Twice she went out of her
way and got them for me. It made my Thanksgiving
dinner, especially since my son was coming home
from overseas. Please thank her again for us. I enjoy
shopping there to see her smiling face – I love that
cashier. What a pleasure!
Lisa Johnson
Being retired, living on a fixed
income, and especially during the
Christmas holiday – every dollar
counts. I have shopped in the
Keesler Commissary, Miss.,
for many years, and our savings
are great. I was looking for hams
and chuck-eye steaks, and your
employee in the meat department,
Lois Redmon, came to my
Lois Redmon aid not once, but twice. She was
courteous and went in the back to
bring meat out for me and others. When thanked, she

said, “That’s my job.” What an asset she is – she also
showed us available coupons, providing extra savings
of $2.50. Thank you, Lois, for your great customer
service.
Peggy Walmsley
My compliments go to Dana
Page, management support
clerk at Keesler Commissary,
Miss. The entire management
and staff do an outstanding
job with the temporary facility
following Hurricane Katrina.
On a past visit, I was having
trouble finding several items. I
spoke to the nearest commissary
employee, who happened to be Dana Page
Dana, and she immediately came
to my aid. After she took the time to help me find
various products located in the store, we introduced
ourselves. That is when I found out she worked in
the office as one of the administrative cashiers and
normally was not out on the floor. Dana was very
helpful and went above and beyond her duties to
assist me.
Jerry Woodard, U.S. Coast Guard, retired
Special March
I extend thanks for a job well done
to Mary Conners, cashier at
March Commissary, Calif. She
has been very kind every time I
come in to shop, which is about
every two or three days. I’ve never
seen her with a sad face. She also
makes that little effort to ask how
your day has been and if there’s
anything she can do for you – and Mary Conners
she really means it. I’ve been in
the retail business for more than 30 years, and I’ve
!
met maybe a handful of people like Mary Conners.
You are very lucky to have her. She is a jewel –
helpful, kind, fast, straightforward and really knows
what she’s doing. I don’t like filling out these kinds of
questionnaires or customer service cards, but when I
see someone special, I’ll take the time.
Robin Wilson
Nilda Banks, cashier at March Commissary,
Calif., was neat, polite and extremely competent. She
always has a smile and a kind word. She deserves a
lot of kudos for her pleasant demeanor and manners.
Carl Klein
March Commissary, Calif., is outstanding in all
departments – especially the meat department. They
are always ready to serve the customer. The quality
of their meat is outstanding. I travel, and there is
no commissary that comes close to what this meat
department provides and how it does it. The staff is
always willing to provide good customer service with
a friendly attitude.
Tech. Sgt. Mario Villarreal, U.S. Air Force, retired
Pleasant McClellan
Cashier Hieu Fradenburg at
McClellan Commissary, Calif.,
is one of the most helpful persons
and always has the right answer.
We should have more people of her
caliber making the commissary a
pleasant place to be.
Robert Dean
Hieu Fradenburg Mountain Home
memories
I want to tell you about the
outstanding support Operation Warm Heart
(see picture, below) has received from Josie
Stewart, grocery manager at Mountain Home
�READY TO ROLL: Air Force
members at Mountain
Home Air Force Base, Idaho,
prepare 300 food boxes in
the commissary warehouse
for Operation Warm Heart,
a nonprofi t organization
supported by store vendors
for airmen and their families
needing help during the
holidays. Program managers
commended Josie Stewart
for her assistance (see letter,
above.) U.S. Air Force photo:
Senior Airman Megan Lyon
�
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The world's best customers salute the world's best employees
Commissary, Idaho, who is
now store manager at Sasebo
Commissary, Japan. Over the
last few years while I have been
stationed here, we’ve been able to
get great deals from the vendors
on the food and products we use to
make more than 700 food baskets
each year for troops who need a
little help during the holidays.
Josie has always been very helpful, Josie Stewart
accommodating and patient as
things change with the food boxes. In all my years
running the program, she has definitely been the
most help in ensuring our troops are taken care of.
Master Sgt. Bruce Perkins, U.S. Air Force
It is easy to take your local
commissary for granted. After
moving around the world with
the Air Force for more than 20
years, I have spent many hours
in our commissaries, and when
I stop and think about it, I am
truly thankful for our Mountain
Home Commissary, Idaho. It
is well-stocked and organized.
The employees are friendly and Michael Howell
helpful. In the time we have
been here, there have been many positive changes.
We like the updated look, the rotisserie chicken
and the increase in organic foods. Recently, new
registers were put in with self-checkout lanes. This is
another big plus for me. Thank you to Store Director
Michael Howell and his staff for our wonderful
commissary.
Lori Lee
Fort Sam service
I have shopped at many commissaries in my career,
but I especially enjoy shopping at Fort Sam
Houston Commissary, Texas, because of the
outstanding service we have received from Kenneth
Marr, grocery manager. Mr. Marr has a great
attitude and has gone the extra mile to help me and
my wife get products we requested. In December, my
wife was in a wheelchair and Mr. Marr pushed her
42 decavision!Spring 2008
through the store and helped her find the items
on her list, which took nearly an hour. I want
to thank him for a great shopping experience.
You don’t find people every day like Mr. Marr
who provide this kind of service with a smile.
I travel 20 miles, twice a week, to Fort Sam
Houston because I know Mr. Marr and his
crew will ensure my shopping experience is a
pleasure.
Col. Tom Clarke
Loving Fort Lee
So seldom is it that a customer
takes the time to write a letter
of appreciation that shows
sincere gratitude for the service
a worker has provided. With this
letter, I thank Joyce Edwards,
store associate at Fort Lee
Commissary, Va. She is always
willing to respond promptly
Joyce Edwards and courteously to any of my
inquiries. She makes me feel like
an individual and not just another in a long line of
customers. Her knowledge of commissary produce is
above and beyond that of many other people I have
dealt with. Anytime I have a request for a special
produce item, I go to Ms. Edwards, because she
always gets my orders on time. She always smiles and
shows respect and courtesy toward any customer. In
my 27 years of military service plus many years of
retirement, I can testify that employees like her are
hard to find. I truly appreciate her dedication, and
I hope you recognize, as I do, the valuable role she
plays in your organization.
Capt. Ramon Santiago, retired
Misawa amazement
I just wanted to take a minute to tell you how
much I appreciate all the organic and natural food
options you give us at Misawa Commissary,
Japan! Misawa is a small base, and I’m amazed at
the amount of organic products you supply. I love
the latest addition of hormone-free chicken, organic
bread, and organic cleaning supplies. You guys are
really doing a great job! Thank you, thank you, thank
you for helping us keep our families healthy. Oh,
and thank you for making it so affordable! The price
difference between organic from the commissary
vs. your average store in the United States is just
amazing. I don’t know how you do it, but we really do
appreciate it!
Carroll Speed

Heidelberg thanks
I’m a disabled veteran, and I use a wheelchair to get
things done. I have the greatest of thanks for the
folks at Heidelberg Commissary, Germany. They
don’t treat us as “handicapped,” and the facility is
set to accommodate us. In the latrines, everything is
accessible – from the doors and flushing the toilets to
washing hands. It’s not as easy on wheels as it looks!
Thanks, DeCA, for the service the Army promised me
at age 17.
Dr. John Lord
Buckley bravos
I would like to comment on a
wonderful employee you have in
Arlene Monson, who works in
the meat department at Buckley
Commissary, Colo. I have been
using Buckley Commissary for
three and a half years. One day,
they did not have a pot roast, and I
wanted to fix a special meal for my
husband. Arlene called me on her Arlene Monson
cell phone that she had a pot roast
for me shortly after I left the commissary, so it saved
me a return trip from farther away. She is always
pleasant and willing to help all her customers. She is
so willing to make things right if you are not satisfied
with the quality. What a kind and professional
employee! Please acknowledge her dedication.
Ann Higuchi
I enjoy shopping at Buckley
Commissary, Colo., because
of the grocery manager, Rudy
Jimenez. He is always pleasant
to everyone he talks to. He is a
manager who can be seen on
the floor talking to customers,
listening and asking questions.
He has a positive attitude and is
always smiling. Please reward
Rudy, the “Commissary Man,” in
any way you can.
David Hunter
Rudy Jimenez
Fort Bliss support
On behalf of the Riverside High School Junior ROTC
Ranger Battalion, I would like to extend our sincere
appreciation to Enrique Wallace, general manager
of Fort Bliss Commissary, Texas. He has been
extremely supportive of our Junior ROTC program,
!
Enrique Wallace
helping us as we obtain donations
from vendors. His support has
allowed us to conduct successful
activities such as the military
ball for a high school located in
an economically disadvantaged
community. Without his support,
we wouldn’t be able to do what we
do.
Lt. Col. Jose Melendez, U.S. Army,
retired
Wright-Patterson gratefulness
When shopping at the Wright-Patterson
Commissary, Ohio, on April 15, 2007, I forgot to
turn off the light in my car, and I couldn’t start the
car. When I discovered this, I went back into the
commissary for help. I explained my problem to
Sally Bowen at customer service. She went to find
help then came back and talked to me very calmly,
since by then I was crying. She told me to go back to
the car and Terry Packer, storeworker leader, would
be there to help me. He was very helpful and kind.
I won’t ever forget this. Please let them I know how
grateful I am. Thanks.
Awilda Vazquez
‘Pax River’: well done
I’ve been purchasing 80 percent of my family’s
groceries twice weekly at the Patuxent River
Commissary, Md., for almost 10 years. In that time,
I have made a personal request for about five items
to be stocked on a regular basis, and each time, my
request was taken seriously and the item stocked. The
last time this happened, I got a personal phone call
from the store director, Debbie House, notifying
me that the product was now on the shelf. The always
friendly, attentive staff goes above and beyond to
make it a pleasant shopping experience. Well done.
Sarah-Jane Carr
Kelly Fletcher
Outstanding MacDill
I would like to bring to your
attention your employee, Kelly
Fletcher, produce manager at
MacDill Commissary, Fla. She
is extremely professional in her
manner and very helpful to senior
citizens. Plastic bags in produce
ran out, and before I could ask
for more, she was right there to
help me. Not only that, but she
also helped put produce in the
bag for me. The appearance of the produce section is
outstanding; it makes one feel like taking a picture.
Everything is so well organized. Ms. Fletcher is truly
a credit to MacDill Commissary.
William Buchinsky
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The world's best customers salute the world's best employees
Camp Lejeune
appreciation
I wish to acknowledge two
dear ladies at Camp Lejeune
Commissary, N.C.: cashier
Mary Woods, and bagger No.
87, Cindy Barrows. On a recent
shopping trip, I was checking
out and felt a little breathless.
I asked Mary if I could stand
for a moment and rest. She
Mary Woods
immediately took over and
helped me to a chair. Then Cindy
began helping, too. My daughter
soon came over, but these ladies
assured her they had everything
under control so she could go
ahead and check out her groceries
as well as mine. They said she
could go get her car and leave all
of our groceries, and then they
would see that the groceries were
sent out front for pickup. My Cindy Barrows
daughter was so appreciative of
these ladies, and of course, so was I. Thank you so
much for your attention.
Juanita Jones
Fort McCoy marvels
After years of shopping at the old Fort McCoy
Commissary, Wis., I was shocked at the size of the
new commissary. At first I thought there wasn’t going
to be much to choose from because of limited space.
I was wrong. I was truly amazed at the variety and
quality available. Prices – what can I say – they’re
amazing. I like to have a steak once in a while but
cannot afford the $8 to $10 dollar price tag. But
for just over $2 for a large steak that day, nobody
anywhere can beat that. The commissary staff is the
most friendly, courteous, helpful and professional
that I’ve ever encountered in my 59 years. They are to
be commended for a job well done.
James Engelke
44 decavision!Spring 2008
McConnell’s
exceptional service
I would like to recognize
exceptional service by
Bridgett Goins in the
produce department at
McConnell Commissary,
Kan. My daughter is a teacher
in a very poor part of Wichita,
so I bake Christmas cookies
Bridgett Goins for her students, and I bring
fruit as well. Most of these
children get a free lunch at school, and meals are
sent home for them on the weekends, so any fresh
food they get is greatly appreciated. Bridgett helped
me pick excellent fruit, and she boxed it up for me
and even took it to the register. I’m very thankful for
her wonderful service. It made my day as well as the
kids’! Thank you.
Catherine Manning
Micki Leis
Anchorage pride
Micki Leis, cashier at
Anchorage Area Commissary,
Alaska, has attitude and
personality plus. She was upbeat,
fun and even bagged our groceries
since it was so busy. She took
pride in her job. Thank you for
hiring her.
Lorayne Thompson
Good job, Norfolk
I would like to let you know the outstanding job the
employees are doing at Norfolk Commissary, Va.
The commissary is always clean, neat and orderly.
When I ask an employee where something is, they
go out of their way to help me. I know it takes a lot
of hard work to keep this big commissary up and
running, but the men and women are very good
at this. Please let them know they are doing a very
good job.
Master Chief Petty Officer Donald Dickinson,
U.S. Navy, retired
Sandra Harrell
Little Creek asset
Sandra Harrell, store associate
at Little Creek Commissary,
Va., is one of the nicest and most
accommodating people. If a
produce item isn’t stocked yet, she
will get some for you. When she
is busy putting out produce, she
takes time to get what you want,
and I’m so appreciative. She is a
hard worker and well-liked. She is
an asset for the commissary.
Alicia Cable

Impressed by Randolph
I stopped by Randolph Commissary, Texas, to
pick up a few things and was so pleasantly surprised
at how clean, neat and organized my commissary
was. Ever since the renovation, it has looked so much
brighter and neater, but I was really impressed!
Rows and rows of fresh, brightly colored fruits and
vegetables, a wide variety of products, and a fresh,
clean shopping environment … The staff working in
produce is so friendly and helpful; it’s like shopping a
neighborhood market. I also appreciate the expertise
of the meat department staff helping me make
the best selection for my dinners. All in all, it’s a
hardworking team that does a great job!
Laurie Singel
Bangor salute
Every establishment should be so
lucky as to have an employee like
Joanne Matthes, supervisory
sales store associate at Bangor
Commissary, Maine! Her public
relations techniques are beyond
reproach; she’s knowledgeable,
informative, pleasant, accessible
and cordial. That smile of hers is
delightful! She’s an absolute asset Joanne Matthes
to the commissary, and I look
forward to seeing her weekly. Thank you, Joanne, for
your kind heart and more than awesome personality!
Judy Gouthard
Deserving Smokey Point
My family and I have been shopping at Smokey
Point Commissary, Wash., for some years, and
we have noticed a marked improvement in services
and aesthetic conditions. Store Director Janice
Coleman and her staff are the best we have seen
in more than 22 years of military service. It is a
beautiful facility, and all personnel deserve individual
recognition. Please inform them I and my family
appreciate their service. They are the best.
Master Sgt. Daniel Smith, U.S. Air Force
Eglin appreciation
I had not been to Eglin
Commissary, Fla., in more
than a year due to a stroke and
eye problems, and my son was
visiting from California so I said
I’d be glad to go shopping with
him. I bought 140 items, spending
almost $300. The last item lost its
price sticker, so cashier Audrey
Crouch said she’d get the sticker. Audrey Crouch
She returned with the sticker and
also paper towels and hand sanitizer. She had noticed
that I’d wiped up two wet spills from my chicken
!
thawing in the cart, and she was concerned. She
cleansed my hands thoroughly with hand sanitizer
and was extra careful to do an excellent job. Please
know I appreciate a caring individual such as Audrey,
who had a lot of patience with an elderly lady.
Dorothy Rausch
Bettina Deshazier
‘Big kudos’ to
Spangdahlem
I need to give big kudos to Bettina
Deshazier and Ron Brooker at
Spangdahlem Commissary,
Germany, for getting my sandwich
platter out on time. It was very
short notice for a luncheon – we
called less than an hour before
it was needed – and they still
managed to have it ready! These
are the kind of people who keep me
coming back. Thanks for making
this happen.
Bernica Walker
Fort Lewis dedication
Cashier Mary Carter and bagger
No. 58, Rhamphloy Barber,
at Fort Lewis Commissary,
Wash., display a high degree of
courtesy and dedication each and
every time I’ve had the pleasure
of checking out at Register 4. I
commend them for their fine service and professional
attitude. I salute these people along with the Defense
Commissary Agency.
Sgt. 1st Ron Brooker
Class Edwin Milburn, U.S. Army, retired
Lackland favorites
I’ve been privileged to use
Lackland Commissary, Texas,
for 42 years. True, I’ve used others
and also many supermarkets,
but none can measure up to
Lackland. Neat, clean and orderly
are the watchwords. My favorite
department is meat, with Mark
Hinkle and all the people going
Mark Hinkle out of their way to help anyone
who needs assistance. The
manager and all the employees are very courteous to
everyone, even though there are stressful situations
that occur constantly.
Sam Ackerman
Mila Hernandez in computer-assisted ordering
at Lackland Commissary, Texas, was more
than helpful when I was having trouble finding an
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The world's best customers salute the world's best employees
artichoke that apparently was no
longer in the system. As it turned
out, the item code had changed.
I will forever be grateful to this
young lady.
Marion Yoo
Ashley London in produce at
Lackland Commissary, Texas,
has the most beautiful personality
toward all commissary customers.
On numerous occasions, I have
asked her for assistance and no
matter what she is doing, she
always stops and helps me. She
keeps a pretty smile on her face
and speaks to customers all the
time. She should get personal
recognition for being so helpful.
Milton Whitehead
We want to thank Reba
Perlotte, customer service
manager at Lackland
Commissary, Texas, for her
caring and comforting of my
wife. My wife had recently lost
her mother and uncle, and she
became very distressed after
losing her wallet. Everything
seemed to come to a head, and
she broke down, becoming very
emotional. Reba comforted her
in a very caring way. She should
be commended for her caring and
understanding.
Ted Budzowski
While shopping at Lackland Commissary, Texas,
my wife took our 2 ½-year-old grandson to the
ladies restroom to change his diaper, where she
took off her $4,000 diamond ring and laid it on the
counter. When she finished, she was distracted by
our grandson and forgot to pick up her ring. We were
halfway home when she realized she had forgotten it.
46 decavision!Spring 2008
Mila Hernandez
Ashley London
Reba Perlotte
I immediately called the commissary and spoke
with Reba Perlotte, asking her if by chance
anyone had turned in a diamond ring. I was
surprised to hear her say, “Yes.” We returned
to the store and retrieved the ring from Ms.
Perlotte. Though the person who found and
turned in the ring was unknown, I believe you
are fortunate in having an honest employee
such as Ms. Perlotte, because the ring could
have easily fallen into the wrong hands and
we would have never gotten it back. We shop
at the commissary at least once a week, and
Ms. Perlotte’s smiling face and great personality is
definitely an asset to DeCA. She always has a good
word to say and is constantly walking through the
store and helping customers. She definitely deserves
to be recognized for her efforts!
Chief Master Sgt. Hollis Sloat, U.S. Air Force
My wife and I shop regularly at
the Lackland Commissary,
Texas, about three to five times
a week. We salute Mike Mena,
store director, for his help and
friendly demeanor. We feel the
commissary has improved greatly
since his arrival. We have lived
near the base for 30 years and feel
Mr. Mena makes senior citizens
Mike Mena feel at home and is always ready to
welcome people with a smile and
asking if he can be of service.
M.R. Williamson
Palms favorite cashier
I’d like to say how much
I appreciate the staff of
the Twentynine Palms
Commissary, Calif., including
the contract bakery staff, but
I’m especially fond of cashier
Lorraine Candelaria. I and my
husband, who is now deployed,
have been shopping here for
Lorraine Canelaria more than a year, and Lorraine
remains our favorite checker.
She’s always smiling and social, and she makes us
feel welcome. She has become much more than just
an “employee”; she has become a very close, dear
friend. When our second daughter was born, I was
dealing with postpartum depression, our older child
had broken her leg, and my husband was preparing
to deploy. I was an emotional wreck, but when I went
to the commissary, there was Lorraine, all smiles
and so supportive. She was there 100 percent for me
and now has helped me through this deployment,
too. I can never thank her enough for showing she
truly cared. I have never had a bad experience in this

store, and the bakery staff is awesome, along with a
majority of others.
Tracy Rose
Lakehurst quality
Every time I shop at the Lakehurst Commissary,
N.J., I find the most pleasant, friendly people,
always willing to help. Along with many others,
Roger “R.J.” Jeffries, grocery manager; Katina
Beebe, customer service and administration;
Maria Presseau, teller; and Greg Mergogey,
meat manager, all make me feel welcome with their
smiling faces and kind words. I like the way they
display the fresh produce and how they cut up the
fruit and vegetables. The meat and fish are perfectly
packaged and displayed. The quality and prices are
great also.
Pat Tracy
Fort Hood I friendliness
Della Ditmyer, cashier at Fort
Hood I Commissary, Texas,
is very friendly and helpful; you
should have a million more like
her! And she is fast.
Tahnee Lowery
I was amazed at how well Alesia
Greenfield, cashier at Fort
Hood Commissary I, Texas,
solved people and equipment
issues and kept her shopping line
moving at the same time. I never
saw a cashier with the passion
Mrs. Greenfield had to just help
others and keep her line moving.
I think she should be commended
for a job well done.
Reginald Ladson
Cashier Janie Sadler-Cross
at Fort Hood I Commissary, Janie Sadler-Cross
Texas, is always very friendly and
actually makes your visit to the commissary a joy, not
a chore. I always leave happy. She is the best cashier
I have ever encountered at your store.
Lisa Moreno
Redstone reviews
I have been shopping
at Redstone Arsenal
Commissary, Ala., for more
than 13 years. In that time, all
the checkers have been friendly.
Cashier Charzetta McCainey
has been consistently friendly,
warm, helpful, understanding
and engaging far above what’s
Della Ditmyer
Charzetta McCainey
!
expected. She is chief among the checkers at Redstone
and sets the standard for commissary employees
worldwide. I always feel welcome and am grateful
for the experience. I also appreciate her efficiency,
especially after visiting a civilian grocery store. Please
share my comments with her and her management.
Chief Warrant Officer Randall Sullivan, U.S. Army,
retired
Maria Spell
Sun Ye Collins
Pauline Lewis
Kathy Stinney
I’m pleased to express my sincere
thanks to sales store checker
Maria Spell at Redstone
Arsenal Commissary, Ala.,
for all of her outstanding work.
She has a friendly attitude and
responsiveness, and she is so
conscientious. She is always
congenial and helpful, and she
takes the time and effort to follow
through. You can be proud to have
this outstanding employee working
at the commissary. Thanks for all
the good work.
Col. Ronald Crowley, U.S. Army,
retired
When I was checking out
at Redstone Arsenal
Commissary, Ala., the cashier,
Sun Ye Collins, was very polite
and professional. She was also very
knowledgeable about the job she
was doing and the commissary in
general. Just thought you would
like to know what a great employee
you have. Keep up the great work!
Charles Wright, U.S. Army,
retired
Pauline Lewis, cashier
at Redstone Arsenal
Commissary, Ala., is excellent.
She is so patient and helpful, and is
always smiling. She deserves to be
recognized for the outstanding job
she does day after day!
D. Harvey
Kathy Stinney, storeworker
at Redstone Arsenal
Commissary, Ala., went far
beyond the call of duty for me.
She ran all over the commissary
looking for items. She found all of
the things and brought them to me.
Where do you find an employee
�
47

You've got ...
Mail
The world's best customers salute the world's best employees
like that? Give her my regards and thank her again
for being so kind to an old lady!
Ernestine Prince
Schofield commended
– twice
I commend Kristina Cosey, store
associate at Schofield Barracks
Commissary, Hawaii, for her
pleasant and courteous attitude.
She always has a smile on her face
and is happy to assist me at the
self-checkout lane. It’s employees
like her who make a customer feel
valued. Please commend her for a
job well done!
Jenn DeBellis
Kristina Cosey
I would like to recognize
two employees and a bagger
at Schofield Barracks
Commissary, Hawaii, for their
positive attitudes and excellent
customer service. Pat Lai
Lanyon, store associate in the
cash office, was very courteous
and helpful when she assisted Pat Lai Lanyon
me with a return. Second, I
commend Ciara Murphy, store
associate, while helping me at the
self-checkout station. She always
takes the time to help make it a
smooth process. Third, I thank
Rick Smith, bagger No. 67, for
making a special effort to assist
me with bagging my items. He
is always happy to help me and
has a great attitude. These three
people are a great part of the Ciara Murphy
Schofield Barracks location, and
their attitudes and assistance are always appreciated.
Thank you!
Jenn DeBellis
Ord courtesies
I’m grateful for all the employees at Ord
Community Commissary, Calif. I have shopped
48 decavision!Spring 2008
Angel Liciagar
Sheryl Tharp
Sheila Bramlett
there for many years, and
have been treated well
and courteously. I would
specifically like to thank the
former meat department
manager and now general
manager, Angel Liciagar,
and his staff.
Leo Trout, U.S. Army, retired
Cannon’s worth drive
I go to Cannon
Commissary, N.M., to shop
every three weeks. I drive 115
miles each way. I have always
been very pleased by the service,
products and availability of what
I need. Sheryl Tharp is my
favorite checker, but the others
are very friendly, including the
sackers and carry-out people.
Martha Beale
Orote thanks
Orote Commissary, Guam, is
a pleasure to shop in. I have been
shopping there on and off for 18
years and it has never looked so
good or run so well. Thank you,
Sheila Bramlett, store director,
for taking such good care of our
Navy families!
Lt. Cmdr. Patricia Scott,
U.S. Navy, retired
Fort Eustis angel food
I want to share some comments
about the angel food cake at Fort Eustis
Commissary, Va. We have a chief warrant officer
retiring after 36 years, and he loves angel food cake.
We thought it would be great to have angel food
cake instead of the usual “retirement cake,” slicing
several cakes and placing them in a circle to create
a life preserver, with red frosting and a rope around
it. We decided to have a taste-testing contest to find
the best cake, so we purchased one cake each from
two grocery stores, one from a specialty bakery and
one from the commissary. Our office members tasted
each cake without knowing where it came from. The
commissary’s angel food cake was unanimously voted
as No. 1. I thank Bridget Cummings, contract
bakery manager, who so graciously helped me. It’s
this type of customer service and quality that makes
me a No. 1 fan of Fort Eustis Commissary.
Georgia Kypriandes

Kadena kudos
I thank Sharon Caskey in
customer service at Kadena
Commissary, Okinawa, because
she went out of her way to help
me. She unloaded my groceries for
me, but my car wouldn’t start, so
I went back into the commissary
to ask for help. Sharon called the
auto hobby shop, but it was going
to be more than an hour before Sharon Caskey
they could help me, and I had my
children with me. She took my groceries out of my
car and put them in hers, took me and my children
home, and helped me unload my groceries. I thank
her because my husband is deployed and I don’t
know what I would have done without her help.
Terry Culberston
My youngest son is stationed
in Japan, and this is the first
time he has been out of the
country. The family misses him
terribly. I phoned the Kadena
Commissary, Okinawa, and
spoke to Kalani Patsel, store
manager. I explained my son
was having his first birthday
away from family, and I wanted
to order a special birthday cake. Kalani Patsel
Mr. Patsel was so accommodating
and helpful that the transaction was effortless. An
amazing thing happened when my son picked up
the cake. People from the store gathered around
him and took a picture of him holding the cake,
smiling from ear to ear, with a sign they had
printed, “Thanks, mom.” This was e-mailed to me,
and I passed it on to my son’s grandparents and
family. I cannot find the words to relate how much
this meant to me and my family. This photo has
been placed on my grandson’s bedside as the latest
picture of his father. I am proud to have my son
serving in the military, and I am so proud that there
are people who would take the time to care for an
airman away from home. It is times like this that
enforce how proud I am to be an American. Please
take time to thank Mr. Patsel for us.
Stephanie Richardson
Camp Casey asset
I compliment Camp Casey Commissary, South
Korea, on having a terrific cashier, Dennis Brown.
I’ve been here almost four years, and he has one of
the nicest, friendliest personalities. He always has a
smile and something nice to say. He jokes around,
yet at the same time, does his job extremely well. I’ve
never seen him treat anyone with anything other than
respect and a smile. This man is definitely an asset to
!
your staff. I hope Mr. Brown continues to brighten up
this commissary.
Sandra Allen
Chievres cares
I was very stressed that there were no candy canes
available at Chievres Commissary, Belgium, and I
needed numerous boxes for work, family and to ship
to people overseas. James Hayden, store director,
asked what I was looking for and said he had some
candy canes in the back but he hadn’t planned on
putting them out for another week. He saw how
stressed I was and said he would have them out by
that afternoon. By early that afternoon, the candy
canes were on display. It was wonderful to see that
someone cared.
Christine Leonard-Whitcomb
Mary Aguilar
serve this country.
Martha Wilson
Great service at
Holloman
We’ve shopped at the Holloman
Commissary, N.M., for 18
years, and cashier Mary Aguilar
provides superior personal service.
She is always helpful, courteous,
enthusiastic and friendly, and she
knows her job well. She is always
ready to serve customers with
whatever they need. Keep up the
great service for the people who
Fort Sill salute
On payday at Fort Sill Commissary, Okla., I was
in a long line at least 35 people deep. I thought that
I would be waiting an hour. Wrong! Every checkout
station was operating, and my time in line was under
eight minutes. Super job! Keep up the good work.
Bob Meyer
Vogelweh appreciation
Connie Tallon is such a dynamic store director at
Vogelweh Commissary, Germany! Every time I
have a question or request, Ms. Tallon is on the spot.
She immediately stops what she is doing and finds the
answer to my question – and I have a lot of questions.
I appreciate that she seems to always be available
for the customer, and she instills that kind of service
in all her people. I really appreciate the commissary
because of Ms. Tallon and her folks.
Charlie Gill
�
49

You've got ...
Mail
The world's best customers salute the world's best employees
Alconbury well done
I would like to recognize
Tiffany English for a job well
done in the deli and bakery at
Alconbury Commissary,
England. She goes above and
beyond when it comes to
customer service. When I needed
help, she interrupted her break
to help me, and she did it with a
smile on her face – and not a big
sigh! Thank you very much.
Nancy Steele
Amazing McChord
My husband asked that I get “lots”
of his favorite sports drink at the
McChord Commissary, Wash.
The first staff person I saw at the
commissary was Julia Vilgos,
produce storeworker, who was
outside stocking strawberries.
I asked her what to do, and she
immediately helped me by giving
me the case lot request form for Julia Vilgos
future use and by helping me
get “lots” for that day. She checked for cases and
when none were available, she got me boxes to load
with bottles from the shelf. This was a long process
and involved her tracking me down in the store
several times. She even brought me an extra cart.
Her customer service was absolutely amazing and
exemplary!
M. Hewitt
F.E. Warren fan
Please convey my sincere
appreciation to Melisha
Robinson, sales store checker
at F.E. Warren Commissary,
Wyo., for sustained outstanding
customer service, thus ensuring
complete customer satisfaction.
The new automated checkout
is at times frustrating and
confusing. She is always prompt
in resolving my problem and
50 decavision!Spring 2008
Tiffany English
Melisha Robinson
above all, she is always polite and friendly.
B.J. “Spike” Giachino
Mitchel Field marvels
I commend the staff and crew of Mitchel Field
Commissary, N.Y. The facility is well-run
and saves me many dollars. I have been using
commissaries since 1946 and would not think of
shopping anywhere else.
Gloria Osborne
Selfridge satisfaction
What a pleasant atmosphere to shop in the
Selfridge Commissary, Mich.! It’s always clean,
smells fresh and provides great service. The fruit and
vegetable trays are beautiful and a great value. Keep
up the good work. The commissary is my primary
shopping destination.
Anonymous�
Ugly but goody
Jim Marino, right, store director, Lajes Field Commissary,
Portugal, explains the healthy delights of an unusual
produce item, the huge, white Ghana yam, to a children’s
tour group. Courtesy photo: Angie Erickson�

obituaries retirements
PAULA HAYES, NAES Lakehurst, N.J. (Aug. 18)
ANA LEWIS, HQ DeCA, Va. (Dec. 12)
WILLIAM “BILL” McCROY (retired), MCLB
Barstow, Calif. (Nov. 19)
RENE VARELA, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
(Jan. 18)
Cruz Garcia (40) Nora Goovers (40)
Akira Kinjo (40)
Peter Mueller (40)
Daniel Schull (40)
B. Leonguerrero (40)
Franz Romatka (40)
Ursula Weber (40)
!
frontandcenter
FELIX AGUIRRE, Luke
AFB, Ariz. (40)
MERINO
BUENAFLOR,
NOLF Imperial
Beach, Calif.
ANNE DAILEY,
Fairford, England
CELESTINO
DIMALANTA, NB
San Diego, Calif.
* THOMAS DOYLE,
Hickam AFB, Hawaii
(42)
Thomas Doyle (42)
EMMANUEL ENES,
Lajes Field, Portugal
RAULITA FEEMSTER, Nellis AFB, Nev.
FLORENDA FRANKOVIC, Schofield Barracks,
Hawaii
TRUDY GRAVES, Luke AFB, Ariz.
CLYDE GRIFFIN, Luke AFB, Ariz.
REED LEADER, HQ DeCA, Va.
JANICE MOORE, HQ DeCA, Va.
O.G. “GENE” RICE, NB San Diego, Calif.
RICHARD SAINZ, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
LELAND SCHNEIDER, HQ DeCA, Va.
JUNKO TASHIRO, Camp Zama, Japan
FRANK VELARDE, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
AL ZIMMER, HQ DeCA, Va.
* Pictured
anniversaries
(Mug shots welcomed for those with 40+ years)
40 years
* CRUZ GARCIA, Fort Hood II, Texas
* NORA GOOVERS, DeCA Europe, Germany
* AKIRA KINJO, Okinawa CDC
* BASTIAN LEONGUERRERO, Guam CDC
DAVID MEYERS, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
* PETER MUELLER, Garmisch, Germany
* FRANZ ROMATKA, Germersheim CDC, Germany
* DANIEL SHULL, Fort Belvoir, Va.
DALE TURPIN, Zone 27, Wright-Patterson AFB,
Ohio
* URSULA WEBER, DeCA Europe, Germany
35 years
HEINZ ANDRZEJEWSKI, Kaiserslautern CDC,
Germany
SONJA NIEDERAUER, DeCA Europe, Germany
DIETRICH WOLF, Germersheim CDC, Germany
30 years
ARRETTA ALLEN, March ARB, Calif.
IRENE APGAR, Grand Forks AFB, N.D.
LESTER BENTON, Travis AFB, Calif.
PATRICK BOUCHARD, Fort Lee, Va.
DENISE BROWN, HQ DeCA, Va.
LINDA BROWN, HQ DeCA, Va.
WILLIAM BULL, Langley AFB, Va.
ROBERT CAMPBELL, Anchorage Area, Alaska
BETTINE CAVANAUGH, HQ DeCA, Va.
DAVID CAVANAUGH, Fort Meade, Md.
GERARD CONTRERAS, March ARB, Calif.
ROBERT DANIELS, Columbus AFB, Miss.
MITCHELL DAVIDSON, NNSY Portsmouth, Va.
WAYNE DEKAM, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
RICKY DOWNS, Fort Campbell, Ky.
GERALDINE ELLIOTT, NB Norfolk, Va.
WILLIAM ENGELAGE, Randolph AFB, Texas
CHARLES FOSTER, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
WILLIAM FUTCH, Fort Stewart, Ga.
ANGEL GARCIA, Lajes Field, Portugal
MARIE GIAMMARCO, HQ DeCA, Va.
BARBARA GILBERT, NAS Corpus Christi, Texas
ELLA GLADNEY, Barksdale AFB, La.
JIMMY GLENN, Fort Riley, Kan.
MARLENE GRIFFIN, HQ DeCA, Va.
HENRY HABERSHAM, NWS Charleston, S.C.
ARHET HOWARD, Fort Bragg South, N.C.
MARY KIGHT, Fort Hood I, Texas
CHARLES KIRBY, Shaw AFB, S.C.
JANET LAWRENCE, HQ DeCA, Va.
GEORGE LAWS, Fort Bliss, Texas
RICCARDO LIEFFORT, Lakenheath, Germany
MELVYN LITSCH, Germersheim CDC, Germany
KATHERINE McCARNEY, Bolling AFB, D.C.
ANNE MORRISON, Aberdeen PG, Md.
MARIANNE MOTSCHENBACHER, Hanau,
Germany
KAREN OCHSNER, Hill AFB, Utah
CHARLES PAGE, Fort Meade, Md.
BARBARA ROBBEN, Beale AFB, Calif.
ROSWITHA SCHULZ, Ramstein AB, Germany
FLOYD SHELTON, Fort Eustis, Va.
LEVI SINGLETON, Fort Lewis, Wash.
WENDELL SMITH, DeCA East, Va.
MARYLOU TAYES, Fort Hood I, Texas
DERTHRICK TAYLOR, Luke AFB, Ariz.
MARGARETA THIEM, Vilseck, Germany
LUKE TOLLETT, NS Annapolis, Md.
GENE TREMBLEY, Fort Bliss, Texas
JOYCE WAGNER, MCAS Yuma, Ariz.
WAYNE WILKERSON, Vogelweh, Germany
JUERGEN WILL, Kaiserslautern CDC, Germany
CLAUDE WILLIAMS, NAS Pensacola, Fla.
KATHY WILSON, NAS Memphis, Tenn.
25 years
NORBERT BOEHMERT, Garmisch, Germany
YONG TAE-CHOE, Taegu Camp Walker, South
Korea
PETER DAHN, Germersheim CDC, Germany
IRENE DAL BOSCO, Hanau, Germany
ELFIE DICLEMENTI, Baumholder, Germany
MICHAEL FRISCHKORN, Hanau, Germany
ALBERT JUERGEN, Kaiserslautern CDC,
Germany
JOERG HUENERFAUTH, Germersheim CDC,
Germany
HEINZ ILLNER, Bitburg, Germany
ELKE KIRK, DeCA Europe, Germany
REIDUN MAISANO, Baumholder, Germany
JOSE OURIQUE, Lajes Field, Portugal
FRANCO PRATOLA, Livorno, Italy
PYON HONG-NOK, Taegu Camp Walker,
South Korea
SUN CHANG-HO, Camp Casey, South Korea
WOLFGANG TAPPE, Germersheim CDC,
Germany
ANDREAS WOLF, Kaiserslautern CDC, Germany
20 years
EIZO ABE, MCAS Iwakuni, Japan
CHRISTA ALLEN, Peterson AFB, Colo.
RICHARD ALLEN, MCRD Parris Island, S.C.
ISADORE ALSTON, NTC Great Lakes, Mich.
MARGARET ANDERSON, Luke AFB, Ariz.
HARRY ANGUD, NB San Diego, Calif.
YONG APANA, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii
ROBERTO AYUSO, Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico
�
51

�HO HO HEALTHY: Schweinfurt Commissary, Germany, won the San Lucar
Winter Vitamin Display Contest with the help of this holiday display featuring
clementines, oranges and orange juice. DeCA photo
(20 years)
RICHARD BAES, HQ DeCA, Lackland AFB, Texas
DEBRA BAGBY, Fort Campbell, Ky.
PAMELA BAILEY, Arnold AFB, Tenn.
ALEXANDER BAK, DeCA Europe, Germany
MANUEL BALANSAY, NB San Diego, Calif.
CECIL BALLARD, Fort Hood I, Texas
JESUS BARROZO, NB San Diego, Calif.
MARTHA BATIE, Redstone Arsenal, Ala.
WILMA BERGER, Bitburg, Germany
AFRICA BERSAMIN, Fort Irwin, Calif.
ROBERTA BLIXT, Fort Riley, Kan.
PAULA BOLSTER, HQ DeCA, Va.
PAKAKAEW BOOTHE, MacDill AFB, Fla.
JERRY BRAMELL, Buckley AFB, Colo.
APRIL BRISKEY, Fort Campbell, Ky.
SHIRLEY BROWN, Fort Myer, Va.
KEITH BURKS, Fort Belvoir, Va.
SYBRIENA BURTON, Fort Campbell, Ky.
GALE CALLOWAY, HQ DeCA, Va.
ANTHONY CAREY, NTC Great Lakes, Mich.
FRANCISCO CEDILLO JR., Ord Community,
Calif.
THOMAS CHAMBERLAIN, Guam CDC
ALICIA CHASTAIN, NAS Pensacola, Fla.
JUNE CHRISTIAN, Moffett Field, Calif.
VIOLET CLAREN, HQ DeCA, Va.
LISA CLEMONS, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
PEARL COLBORN, Fort Carson, Colo.
LENNIE CONNEL, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
KATHERINE COOTS, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
ANITA CORDELL, Fort Belvoir, Va.
AUDREY CROUCH, Eglin AFB, Fla.
TIMOTHY CUNNINGHAM, Mannheim, Germany
52 decavision!Spring 2008
!
MARIA DE FATIMA-MARTINS, Lajes Field,
Portugal
MYRNA DELUNA, MCAS Miramar, Calif.
RASHEED DIALLO, HQ DeCA, Va.
VERONICA DICE, Fort Knox, Ky.
CHONG AE DIMOND, MCB Quantico, Va.
LAURIE DISNEY, NAS Jacksonville, Fla.
MAYBELL EDMONDS, NB Norfolk, Va.
CORNELIA FABIAN, Sembach, Germany
JULIA FEREBEE, Fort Benning, Ga.
SHELIA FINLEY, NAS Pensacola, Fla.
MARLENE FISHER, Fort Bragg North, N.C.
JULIA FONTENOT, Fort Polk, La.
DEBRA FRENCH, Fort Hood I, Texas
MANFRED FROEHLIG, Germersheim CDC,
Germany
RECTO FULINARA, NAS Patuxent River, Md.
SUZANNE GAGNE, HQ DeCA, Va.
DEBBIE GATES, NB Norfolk, Va.
UTA GAWANTKA, Bamberg, Germany
SAMUEL GIBBS, Ramstein CMPP, Germany
ELLA GRANT, HQ DeCA, Va.
MANOLIA GRIDER, NB Norfolk, Va.
PAULINE HAMMOND, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
ULYSSES HAWK, NAS Jacksonville, Fla.
PAUL HIGUERA, Yuma PG, Ariz.
VONCELIA HOGAN, Fort Hood II, Texas
FELICIA HOWE, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
DALE HUNTER, MCAS New River, N.C.
SON OK HUNTER, March ARB, Calif.
ESTHER ISABELLE, Fort Bragg South, N.C.
MARTHA JAMES, Andrews AFB, Md.
ALVIN JENKINS, Fort Gordon, Ga.
IVY JEMISON, Charleston AFB, S.C.
DEBRA JOHNSON, Fort Polk, La.
JOSEPHINE JONES, MCAS Yuma, Ariz.
MANFRED JUNG, Kaiserslautern CDC,
Germany
HAROLD KELLY JR., Fort Monmouth, N.J.
PATRICIA KERNEY, Fort Benning, Ga.
KIM CHUNG-HWAN, Hannam Village, South
Korea
KIM YANG-HO, Yongsan, South Korea
MILINDA KNIGHT, HQ DeCA, Va.
SHARLEE LaBRECQUE, HQ DeCA, Va.
JANICE LANGFORD, Redstone Arsenal, Ala.
PATRICIA LARSEN, Luke AFB, Ariz.
MARY LAYUG, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii
DARLENE LEAK, HQ DeCA, Va.
GUDRUN LEWIS, Fort Stewart, Ga.
BARBARA LOGAN, Shaw AFB, S.C.
HELEN LOTT, Hunter AAF, Ga.
KI O LOWMAN, Fort Huachuca, Ariz.
JESSE MACIAS, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
JACQUELINE MACK, Andrews AFB, Md.
CHARLES MAHAFFEY, Fort Sill, Okla.
DEBRA MARSELLA, Fort Monmouth, N.J.
JOYCE MARTIN, NAS Oceana, Va.
KATHRYN McCARTHY, Peterson AFB, Colo.
LEE McKINLEY, NAS Jacksonville, Fla.
CAROLYN McMILLAN, Fort Bragg South, N.C.
NANCY MITCHELL, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
VIANNE MOHR, Fort Bragg South, N.C.
AUDREY MOORE, NOLF Imperial Beach, Calif.
MICHAEL MOORE, Randolph AFB, Texas
GEMMA MORANDIN, Aviano AB, Italy
SENAIDA MORGAN, Eglin AFB, Fla.
LOIS MOSHER, Fort Drum, N.Y.
DONNA MUIR, NB Norfolk, Va.
RACHELLE MUNIZ, NB San Diego, Calif.
JANIE MURPHY, HQ DeCA, Va.
TERESA NEWLAND, NTC Great Lakes, Mich.
JIMMY NICHOLSON, Andrews AFB, Md.
MARIO NOVENARIO, NAS North Island, Calif.
JUDITH OTERO, MCAS Miramar, Calif.
ROBBYE PADGETT, MacDill AFB, Fla.
RONDA PEACOCK, McGuire AFB, N.J.
ELAINE PETERSON, Eglin AFB, Fla.
ROBERT PETRUCCIANI, HQ DeCA, Va.
ROBERT PLAYER, Shaw AFB, S.C.
RAMONA PRESTON, HQ DeCA, Alexandria, Va.
MARK PUGH, NAS Oceana, Va.
MICHAEL QUINTANILLA, Andersen AFB, Guam
DEBORAH RAETHER, NOLF Imperial Beach,
Calif.
TIZIANO RAPEZZI, Livorno, Italy
ILMA RECASAS, NOLF Imperial Beach, Calif.
TONG REESE, Randolph AFB, Texas
JEROME REID, Nellis AFB, Nev.
JOSE REYES, Ramstein CMPP, Germany
CATHY RIDDICK, Fort Belvoir, Va.
JEFFREY ROSE, Lakenheath, England
TAMMY ROSIN, Anchorage Area, Alaska
FRANK ROTH, Kaiserslautern CDC, Germany
LINDA RUFFIN, Redstone Arsenal, Ala.
APRIL RUMBLE, NNSY Portsmouth, Va.
KI CHUL SANDERS, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
MATTHEW SANDERS, Bitburg, Germany
PETER SCHENKEL, Vogelweh, Germany
STEFAN SCHLUETER, Bamberg, Germany
CLAUDIA SCHROBBACH, Wiesbaden, Germany
CETERRIA SHANNON, Fort Lewis, Wash.
TUYET SHEFFIELD, Fort Meade, Md.
KIMBERLY LOU SINGLETON, Shaw AFB, S.C.
CONNIE SLAUGHTER, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
VIELKA SMITH, Fort Bragg North, N.C.
BECKY SPENCE, Offutt AFB, Neb.
LILLIE STEWART-WILLIAMS, Andrews AFB, Md.
THOMAS STONE, Fort Bragg South, N.C.
MARIA TAUBER, Grafenwoehr, Germany

!
Luke produce manager wins ‘top 25’ honor
Harry “Spike” Lewis,
produce manager at Luke
Commissary, Ariz.,
heads to Las Vegas May 6
to accept his honor as one of the
nation’s 25 United Fresh Produce
Association’s Outstanding Produce
Managers 2008. He is believed to
be the first Defense Commissary
Agency recipient.
“This year’s winners are among Harry “Spike” Lewis
the very top performers at store
level,” said Tom Stenzel, United Fresh president.
“These are the individuals on the front line of produce
sales, and we’re glad to say a small ‘thank you’ to
these men and women on behalf of the entire produce
industry.”
The 25 winners represent 20 different retail
supermarket chains, commissaries and independents
in 17 states, and they were selected from some 200
nominations submitted. Winners came from such
stores as Food Lion, Harris Teeter, Hy Vee, Kroger,
Safeway and Wal-Mart.
“Mr. Lewis is one of my brightest, most teamdriven
managers here at Luke,” said Chris Thomas,
Luke store director. “He strives daily to grow sales
through direct contact and outreach with our valued
customers. His outreach efforts go above and beyond
that of an ordinary manager and leap into the realm
ANASTASIA TEODORIDIS, Bitburg, Germany
SHARON THOMAS, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
JOHN THOMPSON, DeCA West, Calif.
WILLIAM THOMPSON, Fort Huachuca, Ariz.
KIM THURMOND, Fort Campbell, Ky.
JON TURNER, Randolph AFB, Texas
SUSAN ULLMAN, McGuire AFB, N.J.
PAUER ULRIKE, Bamberg, Germany
ANA VIEIRA, Lajes Field, Portugal
CYNTHIA VILLAREYES, Port Hueneme, Calif.
MICHAEL WALKER, Fort Lee, Va.
PATRICIA WARD, Fort Gillem, Ga.
ISAAC WASHINGTON JR., HQ DeCA, Va.
ROBIN WATSON, Fort Meade, Md.
CHERYL WHITE, Redstone Arsenal, Ala.
MASHEL WHITTINGTON, Fort Belvoir, Va.
SHIRLEY WILLIAMS, Fort Hood I, Texas
JIMMY WOOTEN, NAS Meridian, Miss.
KAREN WORTH, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
CLEASTER YOUNG, Charleston AFB, S.C.
REBECCA YOUNG, Fort Bragg North, N.C.
SEMRA ZORLU, Incirlik, Turkey
15 years
AHMET CAKIN, Germersheim CDC, Germany
MYONG H CRAYS, Yongsan, South Korea
JAMES FOSTER, Kaiserslautern CDC, Germany
WERNER HEINDEL, Wuerzburg, Germany
HANIM KALKAN, Germersheim CDC,
Germany
BIROL KESERCI, Germersheim CDC, Germany
GWENDOLYN LONON, Fort Campbell, Ky.
ANDREA MEDJADI, Germersheim CDC,
Germany
MARINKO PETRUSIC, Germersheim, Germany
JEAN-PIERRE PIETTE, Chievres, Belgium
BRUNA RIGONI, Vicenza, Italy
MATTHIAS SCHNEIDER, Germersheim CDC,
Germany
LYDIA SENKA, Germersheim CDC, Germany
KATJA STARCK, Germersheim CDC, Germany
EVA SWIERKOWSKI, Germersheim CDC, Germany
MALCOLM THOMPSON, Menwith Hill, England
RICHARD WALKER, Garmisch, Germany
BEATE WALLEN, Wiesbaden, Germany
HATICE YUEKSEL, Germersheim CDC,
Germany
10 years
MARILYN ADINIG, MCAS Miramar, Calif.
HAMZA AKARGOEL, Germersheim CDC,
Germany
DIETER AMBERG, Garmisch, Germany
ROBERT ARROYO, Schinnen, Germany
BENITA ATOIGUE, NSB Kings Bay, Ga.
BENNY AUSTIN, Fort Jackson, S.C.
FELY AZIZ, Bolling AFB, D.C.
JOHN BAILEY, Sheppard AFB, Texas
RHONDA BEANUM, MCB Quantico, Va.
SHARON BECKLES, March ARB, Calif.
of fantastic. He believes in the commissary mission
and goes out of his way to improve customer service
and satisfaction daily. Spike is the ‘go to man’ of
produce.”
Lewis became produce manager at Luke in 2004.
He started his commissary career as a cashier and
storeworker at Torrejon Commissary, Spain.
From there he became a storeworker in produce at
Castle Commissary, Calif., and then went to Luke
Commissary as a produce storeworker, then moved
to customer service before his selection to his current
position.
His tips for becoming a great produce manager?
“Dedication, developing a great team and sharing
the honors,” said Lewis. “Being creative; having an
exciting, colorful and eye-appealing department;
involving all departments. Working with contractors
and vendors to ensure we share the same goal.
Listening to customers and taking their feedback to
give them the finest department possible. My top
priority is enhancing the benefit for all customers by
providing the best, freshest produce.”
Ready Pac Foods Inc., sponsors the annual awards
program. Winners are selected based on their efforts
to increase produce consumption through everyday
excellence in merchandising, special displays and
promotions, community service, and commitment to
total customer satisfaction.�
NAOMI BELCHER, Heidelberg, Germany
EVALINDA BOLO, NAS Whidbey Island, Wash.
SABINE BOOCK, Patch Barracks, Germany
JOHNNY BOONE, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
SYLVIA BREWER, Port Hueneme, Calif.
RONALD BROWN, Offutt AFB, Neb.
DIRK BURNS, Grafenwoehr, Germany
SHIRLEY BURNS, Robins AFB, Ga.
ISABELLA CAMACHO, Fort Bragg South, N.C.
NAZMI CAN, Germersheim CDC, Germany
JOCELYN CANAPINO, CGAS Barbers Point,
Hawaii
FATIH CARMAN, Germersheim CDC, Germany
SONIA CASARIN, Aviano, Italy
ANDREAS CHRISTMANN, Ramstein AB,
Germany
WILBIN COLON-VARGAS, Fort Buchanan,
Puerto Rico
SHEILA CONNERS, March ARB, Calif.
LOLITA CONVERSE, Fort Eustis, Va.
RIDA CORTEZ, NAS Whidbey Island, Wash.
CINDY CORY, McClellan, Calif.
NATHANIEL COSTON, NAS Patuxent River, Md.
MARY COWAN, MacDill AFB, Fla.
THURMAN COX, Ansbach, Germany
PAMELA CRAWFORD, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
CATHLEEN CREWS, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii
IAN CULLEN, Menwith Hill, England
SANDRA DAILEY, Fort Bragg South, N.C.
CHERYL DANIEL, March ARB, Calif.
ARTHUR DAVID, NS Newport, R.I. �
53

(10 years)
MARY DAVIS, Keesler AFB, Miss.
ROSANNA DE BORTOLI-PURAT, Aviano, Italy
ADAM DeMAYO, Patch Barracks, Germany
JEANNETTE DIGGS, Bolling AFB, D.C.
NATASHA DILLAHUNT, Croughton, England
MICHELLE DIMMETT, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
LUCY DOMINGUEZ, Lackland AFB, Texas
TREVOR DONNATIEN SR., Dover AFB, Del.
DAVID DYE, NB San Diego, Calif.
ROBERTO ESGUERRA, NOLF Imperial Beach,
Calif.
LUTRINA EVANS, NCBC Gulfport, Miss.
RAULITA FEEMSTER, Nellis AFB, Nev.
VICTORIA FLOREZ, Nellis AFB, Nev.
BYRON FLOYD, Mineo, Sicily
TERRY FORD, Vilseck, Germany
DONALD FRANKS, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
MARY JENE FRANZEN, Fort Wainwright,
Alaska
THERESIA FUHL, Schweinfurt, Germany
PAUL GANTT, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
GENE GINN, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
DEBBI GREENWOOD, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
IDA GULLEY, NAS Pensacola, Fla.
IRIS GUTT, Germersheim CDC, Germany
RAYMOND HAHN, NTC Great Lakes, Mich.
BETTY HALL, NNSY Portsmouth, Va.
HYON HALPIN, Buckley AFB, Colo.
JOHN HAMILTON, NSB New London, Conn.
BENNY HARPER, HQ DeCA, Lackland AFB,
Texas
REBECCA HARRIS, Keesler AFB, Miss.
WILLIAM HARTFORD, Moffett Field, Calif.
PATRICIA HOELTJE, NSB Kings Bay, Ga.
UDO HUSSONG, Vogelweh, Germany
ART ILUSTRE, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
SHIRLEY ISAAC, Fort Gordon, Ga.
PATRICIA ITALIANO, Anchorage Area, Alaska
MARY IVY, Columbus AFB, Miss.
MARTHA JACINTO, Fort Hood II, Texas
JONAY JENNINGS, Darmstadt, Germany
MONICA JOHNSON, Scott AFB, Ill.
GLORIA JONES, Fort Stewart, Ga.
HUEDAI KARAGOEZ, Germersheim CDC,
Germany
MANFRED KIENZLE, Germersheim CDC,
Germany
TRACEY KITZLER, Eglin AFB, Fla.
GLYNDA KRAHENBILL, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
SAVITRI, KUNJEER, Walter Reed AMC, Md.
JOSEPH LAWSON, MCB Quantico, Va.
SIUFOFOGA LEPUPA, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
ROBERT LEWIS, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
BENEDICT LICERALDE, NAF El Centro, Calif.
GARY LYNCH, Moffett Field, Calif.
REGINA LYNN, NSCS Athens, Ga.
KAREN MARTIN, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
MICHAEL MARVE, Heidelberg, Germany
KENNETH MASON, NAS Meridian, Miss.
RAYMOND MATEO, Andersen AFB, Guam
INSUK KIM MAUSER, Anchorage Area, Alaska
MICHELE McGHEE, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
GRAHAM McLAGAN, Menwith Hill, England
AMY JO MILLIGAN, U.S. Air Force Academy,
Colo.
SHELLIE MONTFLEURY, Rota, Spain
MAXINE MOORE, NCBC Gulfport, Miss.
NELIA MUNGOR, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
BRIGITTE MYSHIYA, Mannheim, Germany
LINDA NELSON, Charleston AFB, S.C.
PATRICIA NEUENKIRK, Beale AFB, Calif.
CHERIE NEWELL, Walter Reed AMC, Md.
KADIR OEZKARA, Germersheim CDC, Germany
SEZGIN OEZKARA, Germersheim CDC,
Germany
54 decavision!Spring 2008
!
�TRAVELING TATERS: This display for February’s 17 th Annual Potato
Lover's Month Retail Display Contest at Fort Stewart Commissary, Ga.,
features a two-tater team pulling a “wagon” stacked high with bakers.
DeCA photo: Priscilla Echols
ANGELA OLSON, Sheppard AFB, Texas
TIMOTHY ONEAL, Wiesbaden, Germany
DANA PAGE, Keesler AFB, Miss.
JOHN PARMENTER, Scott AFB, Ill.
JOSIE PRESTON, Fort Belvoir, Va.
MICHAEL PRIDE, Wuerzburg, Germany
SUSAN RILEY, Edwards AFB, Calif.
JAMECAM ROBINSON, Fort Campbell, Ky.
BERTHA RODRIGUEZ, Edwards AFB, Calif.
BERNARD ROHAN, March ARB, Calif.
BEATRIX ROHRBACHER, Germersheim CDC,
Germany
TOT SANNS, MCAS Miramar, Calif.
STEPHEN SANTOS, Travis AFB, Calif.
CHRISTINA SCHMIDT, Germersheim CDC,
Germany
ROSALIE SCHRAMM, DeCA Europe, Germany
CYNTHIA SCOTT, MCRD Parris Island, S.C.
KELLY SCOTT, MCAS Miramar, Calif.
MURIEL SCOTT, MacDill AFB, Fla.
JORGE SEQUINOT NEGRON, Fort Buchanan,
Puerto Rico
SALLY SHARP, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
CHRISTIAN SHUMATE, Ramstein AB, Germany
YONG SICKLER, Shaw AFB, S.C.
HARRY SIMMONS, Fort Benning, Ga.
JOHNNY SINGLETON, MCRD Parris Island, S.C.
SHEILLMAE SINOBEN, Fort Meade, Md.
CONRADO SKEPPLE, MacDill AFB, Fla.
RONALD SMITH, HQ DeCA, Washington, D.C.
SHARON SMITH, Fort Campbell, Ky.
SHERYL SMITH, McConnell AFB, Kan.
BARBARA SUNDQUIST, Fort Campbell, Ky.
VIRGINIA SUTHERLAND, Camp Pendleton,
Calif.
IMELDA SWORDS, NAS Oceana, Va.
LEON THOMAS JR., U.S. Air Force Academy,
Colo.
DARL TISCHER, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
LASHARI TOLLIVER, Wright-Patterson AFB,
Ohio
MIGUEL TORRES, HQ DeCA, Texas
DAVID TREJO, Randolph AFB, Texas
BARBIE TROUTMAN, Wright-Patterson AFB,
Ohio
TUYET VAN SANT, NNSY Portsmouth, Va.
BETTY WALKER, NAS Jacksonville, Fla.
DONNA WALLS, Hill AFB, Utah
MARIE WALSH, Charleston AFB, S.C.
ROGER WAUGH, Wiesbaden, Germany
PETER WEBER, Ramstein CMPP, Germany
KICHA WHITE, Walter Reed AMC, Md.
LARRY WHITE, NAB Little Creek, Va.
MARTHA WILLMING, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
JOY YACAPIN, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
KATHLEEN YAMADA, NTC Great Lakes, Mich.
ROSA YOLANDA, Fort Drum, N.Y.
LEEDELL YOUNGER, Beale AFB, Calif.

top employees
Employees of the Year (Fiscal 2007)
GILBERT ANCHONDO, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
YOLANDA BASULTO, FA Sasebo, Japan
SANDY COOKE, San Onofre, Calif.
LYLE DRONE, Fort Irwin, Calif.
ARTHUR HAASE, Bitburg AB, Germany
ALFRED HORMESCH, Bitburg AB, Germany
JUDY HUNT, McChord AFB, Wash.
MERCEDITA JAUSS, MCLB Barstow, Calif.
WARDELL JOHNSON, McChord AFB, Wash.
DIANA JUNGERS,
Edwards AFB, Calif.
SHIGEKO
KAMATANI, NFA
Yokosuka, Japan
MAXIMO MALLILIN,
NBK Bangor, Wash.
* KENJI NAKAZA,
Okinawa CDC
SATO
SHIMABUKURO,
MCB Camp Foster,
Okinawa
TESSIE TIONQUIAO,
NBK Bangor, Wash.
Employees of the Quarter
2nd Kenji Nakaza
Quarter 2008
KEITH WHITTINGTON, MCLB Albany, Ga.
1 st Quarter 2008
RICKY BEAVERS, Fort Wainwright, Alaska
FELIPE CAMBE, NB Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
ALBERTO CARAGAN, NAWS China Lake, Calif.
TAMMY CARROLL, Vance AFB, Okla.
CHOE YONG-KIL, Yongsan CDC, South Korea
DANIEL CRISE, Vance AFB, Okla.
JESSICA CRUZ (safety), NAF El Centro, Calif.
MONICA BASTIDAS DIAZ, Misawa AB, Japan
BRUCE ERNSTING, McChord AFB, Wash.
ERNEDA GINES, McChord AFB, Wash.
RISA HIGA, Sagamihara, Japan
LYNN HILL, McChord AFB, Wash.
TOMOKATSU ICHIDA, Iwakuni CDC, Japan
GINGER IRICK, McChord AFB, Wash.
REVELINA KATRAS, McChord AFB, Wash.
MAKOTO KINJO, MCB Camp Kinser, Okinawa
!
�DIRECT STORE DELIVERY: Langley Commissary, Va., looks like
it received a load of canned goods delivered directly to the mass
display area with this 18-wheeled work of art. DeCA photo:
Arthur Lehman
MYONGSUN KLIMCHAK, Nellis AFB, Nev.
ELVE LAMONT, McChord AFB, Wash.
KEVIN LARSEN, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
SEAN MANALO, San Onofre, Calif.
SUEKO MATAYOSHI, Okinawa CDC
MITSUYUKI MATSUDA, Okinawa CDC
ROBERTA McCLENAHAN, NBK Bangor, Wash.
OKITAKU MEDORUM, Okinawa CDC
ROBYN MITCHELL, NAF Atsugi, Japan
KIYONOBU NAKAISHI, Okinawa CDC
CARMEN NAUTA, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
MARCOS OCHOA, NAF El Centro, Calif.
JOSE RIVERA, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
EVELYN ROBINSON, FA Sasebo, Japan
CURTIS TOWSLEY, Dugway PG, Utah
DEBORAH VICTOR, McChord AFB, Wash.
WILLEMS WALTRAUD, Bitburg AB, Germany
1 st Quarter miscellaneous
Kaiserslautern CDC, Germany
PETRA GRIES, runner-up technician
MANFRED HOEHN, runner-up storage technician
KARL-HEINZ KELLER, outstanding storage
technician
GUENTHER LORENZ, outstanding storage
employee
KARLIN NEUHEISEL, outstanding technician
MIRKO SCHMIDT, runner-up storage employee
KAHSAI WOLDAI, 2 nd runner-up technician
4 th Quarter 2007
DOROTHY ADAMS, MCLB Barstow, Calif.
BYRON AUSTIN, Port Hueneme, Calif.
MARTHA BAILEY, ISC Kodiak, Alaska
ANA BICK, McConnell AFB, Kan.
AARON BURCHAM (safety), ISC Kodiak, Alaska
MI-HYE DROLL, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
GISELE ELISARA, NAS Whidbey Island, Wash.
VINCENT HENDERSON, McConnell AFB, Kan.
ANGELA JONES, MCRD Parris Island, S.C.
KIM HAK-HYON, Yongsan, South Korea
SALTANAT KNIGHTON, MCAS Iwakuni, Japan
CHRISTINE McLERNON, Edwards AFB, Calif.
JOYCE RITTLE, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
NORA ROWLAND, McConnell AFB, Kan.
TEENA TUCKER, McConnell AFB, Kan.
RONNIE WRIGHT, MCB Camp Foster, Okinawa
KATSUMI YAMADA, NFA Yokosuka, Japan
3 rd Quarter 2007
AMY DAHLHOFF, U.S. Air Force Academy,
Colo.
MARY HESSER, Chievres, Belgium
ROSE JONES, Bitburg AB, Germany
JOE YRACHETA, NB San Diego, Calif.
2 nd Quarter 2007
JESSICA WART, Chievres, Belgium
1 st Quarter 2007
GABRIELE THIRKILL, Chievres, Belgium
Employees of the Month
January 2008
TIFFANY BEN, NS Port Hueneme, Calif.
DESIREE BOLLIG, Okinawa CDC
CLARA BOWMAN, NAF Atsugi, Japan
CHON HAE-MAN, Yongsan, South Korea
CHONG CHAE-POK, Yongsan, South Korea
YOJI FUJIMOTO, MCAS Iwakuni, Japan
KATSUMI GIMA, Okinawa CDC
MELINDA GRIFFITH, Kadena AB, Okinawa
HAN HYO-CHONG, Yongsan, South Korea
HISAO HIGA, Okinawa CDC
MISAO HIGA, MCB Camp Foster, Okinawa
TETSUYA HIGA, Okinawa CDC
SUMIYO HOKAMA, MCB Camp Courtney,
Okinawa
HAJIME HONDA, MCB Camp Kinser, Okinawa
LESLIE IPPOLITI, Edwards AFB, Calif.
JURI KOUDA, Sagamihara, Japan
KAZUHIKO NAKAGUKI, Misawa AB, Japan
BESSIE SMITH, NFA Yokosuka, Japan
KIYOMI SUZUKI, Yokota AB, Japan
CLINTON TINKER, NAF Atsugi, Japan
GEORGE WALLACE, Iwakuni CDC, Japan �
55

�TRAYS SCORE
TOUCHDOWN:
Elmendorf
Commissary, Alaska,
knows its customers
love Super Bowl snack
trays chock full of
produce and deli items.
The store sold $2,000
worth of the footballshaped
trays in just
two days. Avocados
proved to be a favorite
as well, generating
another $2,000 in
sales. Ditomaso photo:
Steve Harrison
December 2007
LYNN BROOKENS, Osan CDC, South Korea
LYN CADAVOS, MCAS Iwakuni, Japan
KENTOKU CHIBANA, MCB Camp Courtney,
Okinawa
KENTON CONNOR, Iwakuni CDC, Japan
ALWYN DeLaCRUZ, Port Hueneme, Calif.
SHOKO EGUCHI, NFA Yokosuka, Japan
HWANG CHUN-SOK, Osan CDC, South Korea
YOSHINORI KAKINUMA, Yokota AB, Japan
KIM PONG-SU, Osan AB, South Korea
KIM YONG-KUK, Yongsan, South Korea
MAKOTO KINJO, MCB Camp Kinser, Okinawa
MICHELLE LAMMON, NB Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
OKITAKU MEDORUM, Okinawa CDC
PENNY NASH, Yongsan, South Korea
KAZUE NISHINO, Misawa AB, Japan
CRYSTAL PEACOCK, NBK Bremerton, Wash.
ANTHONY RUNBLADE, Edwards AFB, Calif.
ISAMU SAKUMOTO, Okinawa CDC
YOSHIKI SHINZATO, MCB Camp Foster,
Okinawa
SON CHANG-SU, Yongsan, South Korea
CLINTON TINKER (checker), NAF Atsugi, Japan
LUCAL WHITE, NAF Atsugi, Japan
HIROTOSHI YASUI, Okinawa CDC
YIM CHAE-SUK, Osan AB, South Korea
YONG KIM-TO, Osan AB, South Korea
KAKAZU YOSHIHISA, Okinawa CDC
November 2007
DESI BOLLIG, Okinawa CDC
SHARON CASKEY, Kadena AB, Okinawa
SHOKO EGUCHI, NFA Yokosuka, Japan
KATSUMI FUJIMOTO, MCAS Iwakuni, Japan
NAOTO HAMAMOTO, Iwakuni CDC, Japan
SONG OK HONG, Osan AB, South Korea
LANCE JURALBAL, Port Hueneme, Calif.
KIM HAK-HYON, Yongsan, South Korea
YOSHIO KIN, Sagamihara, Japan
NAHOMI KINJO, MCB Camp Kinser, Okinawa
NAOKI KOGA, Yokota AB, Japan
DENISE MAPES, Edwards AFB, Calif.
MITSUYUKI MATSUDA, Okinawa CDC
ERIN McCORMICK, Sheppard AFB, Texas
JUN NAKAISHI, Okinawa CDC
KIYONOBU NAKAISHI, Okinawa CDC
SACHIKO NAKASONE, Kadena AB, Okinawa
VICTORETTE PEDRO, CGAS Barbers Point, Hawaii
SAMANTHA SCHNEIDER, Vandenberg AFB,
Calif.
56 decavision!Spring 2008
!
MASANORI SUMI, Misawa AB, Japan
MICHAEL TRUJILLO, NAF Atsugi, Japan
MARIA URESTE, NAF Atsugi, Japan
RONNIE WRIGHT, MCB Camp Foster, Okinawa
CHOICHI YARA, MCB Camp Courtney, Okinawa
October 2007
CHONG COHILL, Fort Belvoir, Va.
MELVIN CRUTCHFIELD, Fort Belvoir, Va.
GEORGE CRUZ, Fort Belvoir, Va.
DAVID DOYLE, Sheppard AFB, Texas
CALVIN FLOWERS, Fort Belvoir, Va.
ELSA GARCIA, NAF El Centro, Calif.
MORRIS HARGROVE, Fort Belvoir, Va.
SALANAT KNIGHTON, MCAS Iwakuni, Japan
ANDRIS KNOX, Fort Belvoir, Va.
RICHARD MATTISON, Fort Belvoir, Va.
PETER PAULOS, Fort Belvoir, Va.
JOE RAGLAND, Fort Belvoir, Va.
DOREEN ROWLING, NBK Bremerton, Wash.
SCHERRA SHAW, Fort Belvoir, Va.
MINERVA VARGAS, Fort Belvoir, Va.
September 2007
SHIRLEY HUDSON, Fort Belvoir, Va.
August 2007
KATHY JILLSON, Fort Belvoir, Va.
SANDRA WEBB, Fort Belvoir, Va.
pro honors
(Other winners from listed contests may have
been published previously)
Clorox Health and Wellness Sale
DeCA West: ZONE 8, best overall DeCA
performance award
Coke Fall Football Display
DeCA West: NS EVERETT-SMOKEY POINT,
Wash.
Coke NASCAR Display, Phase II
DeCA West: FORT BLISS, Texas, 4th place
ConAgra Truckload Sale Display
DeCA East: BANGOR ANGB, Maine; FORT
BRAGG SOUTH, N.C.; NB NORFOLK, Va.
DeCA Europe: LAKENHEATH, England
DeCA West: EDWARDS AFB, Calif.; FORT
LEAVENWORTH, Kan.; FORT SAM HOUSTON,
RANDOLPH AFB, Texas; NFA YOKOSUKA,
Japan
DelMonte Truckload Sale Display
DeCA Europe: MANNHEIM, RAMSTEIN AB,
Germany
Dunham & Smith Summer Splash Display
DeCA Europe: LAKENHEATH, England
Elite Nut Produce Contest
DeCA East: NSY PORTSMOUTH, N.H.
DeCA West: MALMSTROM AFB, Mont.
Fisher House Sales and Merchandising
DeCA East: FORT CAMPBELL, Ky., best
merchandising
DeCA West: ZONE 8, best merchandising
Frito-Lay Super Bowl Sales
DeCA West: NAS KINGSVILLE, Texas,
1 st place; MARCH ARB, Calif. 1 st place;
RANDOLPH AFB, Texas
General Mills Just Add Milk Display
DeCA West: MOUNTAIN HOME AFB, Idaho,
honorable mention
General Mills Spiderman Display
DeCA East: NAS MEMPHIS, Tenn., honorable
mention
DeCA West: MOUNTAIN HOME AFB, Idaho,
band 4; MALMSTROM AFB, Mont., honorable
mention, bands 1-4
Italian and American Festival of Savings
DeCA East: Overall, MCLB ALBANY, Ga.;
FORT BENNING, Ga.; FORT GILLEM, FORT
McPHERSON, Ga.; NAB LITTLE CREEK, Va.;
McGUIRE AFB, N.J.; REDSTONE ARSENAL,
Ala. Sales bands, NWS CHARLESTON, SHAW
AFB, S.C.; FORT STEWART, Ga.; WHITEMAN
AFB, Mo. Honorable mention, NAS MEMPHIS,
Tenn.
DeCA Europe: Overall, LAKENHEATH, England
DeCA West: Overall, ANDERSEN AFB, Guam;
FORT HOOD II, Texas; NOLF IMPERIAL
BEACH, MCAS MIRAMAR, Calif. Honorable

Picture Utah in the dead
of winter: a snowstorm
and strong winds causing
white-out conditions, with
roads a solid sheet of ice.
For Jay Cart, truck driver for
Hill Commissary, the threetimes-a-week
trek via Skull Valley
Highway to Dugway Proving
Ground Commissary to deliver
groceries traverses open range, Jay Cart
passes only three houses and offers
only sporadic phone reception. He prepares for each
trip with safety uppermost in his mind.
“In bad weather, rule No. 1 is to slow down and
reduce your following distance,” says Cart. “Make
sure the vehicle is winterized – clear windows, snow
tread tires, and all fluids topped off.”
At 12:30 p.m. on Jan. 28, Cart had made his
delivery to Dugway and was on his way back to
Hill, just 34 miles out. Suddenly, in the middle of
nowhere, he saw an overturned sport utility vehicle.
He stopped, intending to see if anyone was in the
vehicle and to render assistance if necessary. Another
driver stopped behind him and accompanied him to
the vehicle.
As they approached, Cart saw a woman strapped
in the driver’s seat, and he called 911 on his cell
phone, thankfully getting clear reception. But as the
men opened the door, Cart realized the unconscious
woman was blue and required immediate medical
!
An unlikely hero
Hill Commissary driver responds at fatal accident scene
mention, NBK BREMERTON, Wash.; FORT
HUACHUCA, Ariz.; LOS ANGELES AFB, Calif.
Heinz Golden Ketchup Display
DeCA West: McCHORD AFB, Wash., honorable
mention
Just Add Milk Display
DeCA West: MOUNTAIN HOME AFB, Idaho,
honorable mention
Kellogg’s Earn Your Stripes Display
DeCA West: Runners-up, KADENA AB,
Okinawa, McCHORD AFB, Wash., runners-up
Kimberly-Clark Box Tops for Education Display
DeCA East: FORT BRAGG SOUTH, N.C., best
display
Kraft Excellence in Execution
DeCA East: ZONE 27; NAS BRUNSWICK,
Maine; NWS CHARLESTON, S.C.; COLUMBUS
AFB, Miss.; FORT KNOX, Ky.; NCBC
GULFPORT, KEESLER AFB, Miss.; LANGLEY
AFB, NAB LITTLE CREEK and NAS OCEANA,
Va.; NSA NEW ORLEANS, La.; NS NEWPORT,
R.I.; USMA WEST POINT, N.Y.
DeCA West: ZONE 19; ANDERSEN AFB,
Guam; ALTUS AFB, Okla.; FORT HOOD II,
NAS CORPUS CHRISTI, NAS KINGSVILLE,
RANDOLPH AFB, Texas; FORT HUACHUCA,
LUKE AFB, YUMA PG, Ariz.; FORT GREELY,
Alaska; HILL AFB, Utah; MARCH ARB, Calif.,
plaque for outstanding performance, increased
sales
Kraft Outreach Program
DeCA West: Davis-Monthan, Ariz., sales band
and largest dollar increase in sales worldwide
Little Debbie Cake Sales
DeCA East: FORT BRAGG SOUTH, N.C., No. 1
in 2007 sales
McCormick Sales
DeCA East: MAXWELL AFB, Ala.; SHAW AFB,
S.C.
Milk-Bone Canine Assistants Display
DeCA East: FORT BENNING, Ga.; HANSCOM
AFB, Mass.
attention. He described the victim to the 911
operator and said he would start cardiopulmonary
resuscitation but was told to wait for permission.
Finally, permission was given, and with help
from the other driver, Cart cut the woman’s seatbelt,
laid her flat on the ground and proceeded to render
CPR. At that point, a school bus driver arrived and
helped Hurley also.
“My 20 years of service in the U.S. Air Force
with extensive training in first aid and buddy care
conditioned me for this type of situation,” he said.
Help finally arrived, and while a state trooper
gathered information from Cart and the other
driver, the woman was rushed to the hospital via
ambulance. Unfortunately, she did not survive.
Though Cart modestly sees nothing exceptional
about what he did that day, others see it differently.
“I’m thankful that we have people like Jay who
truly care about others,” said Zone 19 Manager
Victoria Best-Rush. “I’m sorry the story doesn’t
end better, but at least Jay can rest knowing he did
everything he could to help.”
Best-Rush said Cart couldn’t tell how long the
vehicle had been there, but he saw other drivers rush
by without stopping.
“Though Jay had no way of knowing whether
the woman would live or not, he did everything he
could to try to keep her alive,” said Best-Rush. “His
actions reflect real courage, selflessness, and genuine
commitment toward his fellow citizens. He is a true
credit to DeCA and the Department of Defense.”�
Nestlé Frozen Food Display
DeCA East: NCBC GULFPORT, Miss., plaque
for sales band growth contest, Periods 3 and 4,
sales increase of 535 per cent
DeCA West: FORT HUACHUCA, Ariz., small
store, CONUS
Otis Spunkmeyer 6 th Annual Mega Sale
DeCA East: SHAW AFB, S.C.
DeCA West: BAND 4, outstanding display
support and sales increase; NELLIS AFB, Nev.,
band 9
POM Drink Sales Contest
DeCA East: KEESLER AFB, Miss., highest sales
increase
Procter & Gamble Special Olympics
DeCA West: FORT HOOD II, Texas; NBK
BANGOR, McCHORD AFB, Wash.; FORT
RILEY, Kan.; NELLIS AFB, Nev.; SHEPPARD
AFB, Texas. Honorable mention, NBK
BANGOR, Wash.; McCONNELL AFB, Kan.
DeCA Europe: ZONE 32
�
57

�MARCH MADNESS: Fort
Hamilton Commissary, N.Y., caters
to customer excitement during
college basketball’s “Final Four”
tournament for the season. Coke
photo: Sageer Aslam
Procter & Gamble Summer Club Pack Sales
DeCA West: FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska,
McCHORD AFB, Wash., Zone 12
Purina Pet Food Display
DeCA East: FORT EUSTIS, Va.
Quaker Annual Free Breakfast Display
DeCA West: YOKOTA AB, Japan
Quaker Breakfast Building Display
DeCA West: NOLF IMPERIAL BEACH, Calif.;
MOUNTAIN HOME AFB, Idaho; NB SAN
DIEGO, Calif.
Quaker/Tropicana Start Your Day Right
DeCA East: - NSASP DAHLGREN, Va.
DeCA West: MALMSTROM AFB, Mont.;
McCONNELL AFB, Kan.
San Lucar Winter Vitamin Display
DeCA Europe: BITBURG, HEIDELBERG,
HOHENFELS, MANNHEIM, PATCH
BARRACKS, RAMSTEIN AB, SCHWEINFURT,
VILSECK, VOGELWEH, Germany (see
Schweinfurt photo, Page 52)
StarKist Award for Merchandising Excellence
DeCA East: ZONE 2; ZONE 21; FORT
BENNING, FORT McPHERSON and ROBINS
AFB, Ga.; FORT BRAGG SOUTH, N.C.;
DeCA Europe: RAMSTEIN AB, HEIDELBERG,
MANNHEIM, WIESBADEN, Germany
DeCA West: ANDERSEN AFB, Guam; NBK
BANGOR, Wash.; GOODFELLOW AFB,
RANDOLPH AFB, Texas; NB SAN DIEGO, Calif.
Stouffer’s Hot Pockets Display
DeCA West: DUGWAY PG, Utah
Unilever-Continental Sarvis Italian American
Display
DeCA East: Overall, MCLB ALBANY, Ga.;
FORT BENNING, FORT GILLEM and FORT
McPHERSON, Ga.; NAB LITTLE CREEK, Va.;
McGUIRE AFB, N.J.; REDSTONE ARSENAL,
Ala. Sales bands, NWS CHARLESTON, S.C.;
FORT STEWART, Ga.; McGUIRE AFB, N.J.;
SHAW AFB, S.C.; WHITEMAN AFB, Mo.
Honorable mention, NAS MEMPHIS, Tenn.
DeCA Europe: SEMBACH, Germany
DeCA West: MCB CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa;
FORT HOOD II, Texas; MALMSTROM AFB, Mont.
USA Pear Winter Wonderland Display
DeCA East: FORT RUCKER, Ala.
DeCA West: MARCH ARB, Calif.
Zatarain’s Mardi Gras Promotion
DeCA East: NB NORFOLK, Va.; SHAW AFB, S.C.
Organizational honors
ALCONBURY, England, best overall design for
base holiday greeting card
ANDREWS AFB, Md., letter of appreciation
from Department of Veterans Affairs for
outstanding support of homeless veterans and
“Embracing Our Nation’s Veterans” program
58 decavision!Spring 2008
!
CAMP CASEY, South Korea, awarded
certificate of appreciation from 210th Fire
Brigade for support to Indianhead Field
Artillery Association Golf Challenge
CAMP CARROLL, South Korea, certificate of
appreciation from commander for outstanding
support to 4th Annual English Camp
MCB CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa, award from
Marine Corps Bases Japan commanding
general for support to 101 Critical Days of
Summer campaign
CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea, received
Commander’s Safety Award of Excellence for
zero accident and injury rate in 2007
CARLISLE BARRACKS, Penn., Certificate of
Environmental Accomplishment from Shred-It
Company for saving 22 trees
CHARLESTON AFB, certificate of appreciation
for support to South Carolina Army National
Guard and 105 th Battalion Soldiers and
families during Annual Christmas Family Day
FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan., commander’s coin
from installation commander for outstanding
support of soldiers and families
FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska, Employer of the
Year Award 2007 from Fairbanks Resource
Agency for support of equal opportunities to
interior Alaskans with disabilities
EGLIN AFB, Fla., American Flag that flew over
Afghanistan on combat mission in F-15E “Strike
Eagle” for outstanding support of Operation
Enduring Freedom
NAF EL CENTRO, Calif., 2 nd place, Annual
Christmas Tree Lighting Parade
FORT BLISS, Texas, award from 369 th Chemical
Company, Army Reserve, for outstanding support
of Operation Iraqi Freedom
FORT CAMPBELL, Ky., certificate of
appreciation for community support at a
Morale, Welfare and Recreation recognition
ceremony
FORT CARSON, Colo., Store Director MONIQUE
MULLIN-MINGS, certificate of appreciation from
base commander and command sergeant major
on behalf of Fort Carson community
FORT DETRICK, Md., certificate of
appreciation from U.S. Marine Corps Reserve
for support of Toys for Tots
FORT EUSTIS, Va., plaque from Army
Transportation Center for support of Asian-
Pacific Heritage Month
FORT GILLEM, Ga.: Certificate of appreciation
for support of 52 nd Ordnance Group during
deployment for Operation Iraqi Freedom
FORT EUSTIS, Va., voted “Most Valuable
Service on Post” by Army Family Action Plan
meeting attendees
FORT HOOD I, MARY KIGHT, supply manager,
BETTY CAREY, store manager, and Overseas
Corp., Texas, certificates of appreciation for
outstanding support of Texas Army National
Guard holiday party for about 400 attendees
FORT POLK, La., coin from post retention
command sergeant major for support provided
to Fort Polk soldiers
FORT RUCKER, Ala., certificate of appreciation
from garrison commander for outstanding
support to soldiers, families at newcomers’
briefings.
FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska, certificate
of congratulations from NISH for providing
outstanding employment opportunities to
people with disabilities
HEIDELBERG, Germany, certificate of
appreciation from National Industries for the
Blind for increasing sales
KEESLER AFB, Miss., commander’s coin for
outstanding support of military community
LAJES FIELD, Portugal, certificate of
appreciation from First Sergeants’ Council for
outstanding service during holiday season;
certificate of appreciation from National
Industries for the Blind for increasing sales

MacDILL AFB, Fla., THERESA O’ROURKE,
acting grocery manager, and JIM WINSTEAD,
maintenance, each received token of
appreciation from Health and Wellness Center
director for support to Health and Wellness
Fair, held in October; Store Director HECTOR
GRANADO (now HQ DeCA, Va.), and KELLY
FLETCHER, produce manager, each received
personal correspondence from U.S. Central
Command, for support of command holiday
reception
NAS MAYPORT, Fla., received plaque for
surpassing 100 percent of Combined Federal
Campaign goal
MILDENHALL:, England, selected Facility of the
Month by Mildenhall Public Health
MISAWA AB, Japan, honorable mention as
runner-up in base holiday greeting card contest
FAF MOFFETT, Calif., along with Kraft, Webco
and Pepsi, special appreciation plaques
for continued contributions and support;
American flag flown over Headquarters, Multi
National Corps, in Iraq, from Naval Reserve, in
appreciation of continued support
NAS OCEANA, Va., certificate of appreciation
from command officer of nurse corps,
Portsmouth Naval Hospital, for outstanding
support of annual Thanksgiving meal and food
baskets
ORD COMMUNITY, Calif., ROBERT LANDON,
store director, awarded Honorary Order of the
Purple Heart, along with LEA WEAVER, Sarvis,
for support of Purple Heart Association annual
dinner
MSF OROTE POINT, Guam, certificate of
appreciation from National Industries for the
Blind for sales promotion
PATRICK AFB, Fla., Store Director RON
ROGERS (now store director, MacDill AFB,
Fla.), awarded commander’s coin and letter
of appreciation from 45 th Space Wing
commander and 920 th Air Rescue Wing
commander for holiday season support of
families; 132 holiday bags were provided to
families in need
NAS PATUXENT RIVER, Md., DEBBIE HOUSE,
store director, received letter of appreciation
for commissary support of “The Women of the
Moose U.S. Troop Care Package Project”; letter
of appreciation from installation commanding
officer, for support sending 308 care
packages, valued at $15,400, to task force
stationed in Iraq, and $4,000 in care package
items to Walter Reed AMC, Va., Wounded
Soldier Program
NS PORT HUENEME, Calif., American flag
flown over Camp Eggers, Kabul, Afghanistan in
support of Operation Enduring Freedom from
Air Force Sergeants Association for outstanding
support; Zone Manager ROBERT VARELA,
AFSA coin in appreciation
SCOTT AFB, Ill., along with Kraft, Overseas
and Dunham & Smith, letter of thanks for
outstanding support during holiday season
SELFRIDGE ANGB, Mich., letter of
appreciation from command for support of
holiday projects
SCHINNEN, Germany, certificate of
appreciation from Allied Forces North for
support of annual community Thanksgiving
dinner; “Gold Award” plaque from garrison
commander for contributions to Combined
Federal Campaign Overseas
VICENZA, Italy, certificate of appreciation
from community equal employment opportunity
office for outstanding support
!
�CANS OF BOUNTY: Del Monte fruits and veggies take center stage in this
mass display at Aviano Commissary, Italy. S&K Sales photo: Romi Sandruck
VILSECK, Germany, certificate of appreciation
from National Industries for the Blind for
increasing sales
VOGELWEH, Germany, certificate of
appreciation from National Industries for the
Blind for increasing sales; plaques for Store
Director CONNIE TALLON, KELLY VIVIAN
and GEORGE WILLS for support of “Thanks for
Thanksgiving” event for 500 service families
WIESBADEN, Germany, certificate of
appreciation from National Industries for the
Blind for increasing sales
NAS WHITING FIELD, Fla., “Chairperson’s Cup”
for superior performance in Combined Federal
Campaign
YONGSAN, South Korea, certificate of
appreciation from commander for outstanding
support of 2007 Morale, Welfare and
Recreation Fall Festival
Individual honors
ANGELA BREWTON,
NAS Whiting
Field, Fla., citation
from commander
for superior
performance, 2007
Combined Federal
Campaign
ANDREW BROOKES,
Edwards AFB, Calif.,
“Dare to Soar”
Award, Chief’s Group
coin, for outstanding
support
Angela Brewton
AL CRAWFORD, store
director, Fort Lee,
Va., letter of appreciation and commander’s
coin from Sergeant Major of the Army for
outstanding support
ROBERT FOWLER, Little Rock AFB, Ark.,
commander’s coin for selection as “Airlifter of
the Week”
TRAVIS GOODWIN, NAS Meridian, Miss.,
Customer Service Employee of the Day Award
from base commander
VICKI IRVIN, NAS Fallon, Nev., 2007 Industry
Appreciation Award for Zone 15 from American
Logistics Association
GEORGE MANN, Spangdahlem, Germany,
“Freedom Team Salute” commendation,
lapel pin, certificate and personal letter by
American Legion, Department of New York, for
outstanding contributions
MICHAEL MERTZ, store director, Yongsan,
South Korea, Gold Star Award from Yongsan
American Red Cross for support via significant
humanitarian contributions
CLYDE NOLEN, store director, Fort Hamilton,
N.Y., Outstanding Community Service Award by
installation commander, recognizing quality of
life contributions through voluntarism or other
services
DORIS RUSSELL, deli-bakery manager, MCAS
Cherry Point, N.C., letter of commendation, unit
coin for outstanding support of unit Christmas
celebration
BARBARA SANNINO, store director, Fort
Meade, Md. (now Zone 23 manager, McGuire
AFB, N.J.), certificate of appreciation and
commander’s coin for outstanding service
MARGARET STANLEY, store director, Hurlburt
Field, Fla., note of thanks from wing commander
for outstanding support of quarterly awards
breakfast
CONNIE TALLON, store director, Vogelweh,
Germany, commander’s coin, certificate of
appreciation and Marine Corps memento for
continued support
ERNESTINA VASQUEZ, Bitburg, Germany,
certificate of appreciation from Airmen and
Family Readiness Center for continued support
ENRIQUE WALLACE, Fort Bliss, Texas, plaque
from installation commander for support of
Thanksgiving basket program; certificate of
appreciation from command sergeant major for
support to soldiers, families
MARY WILLIAMS, store director, Wiesbaden,
Germany (now store director, Fort Meade,
Md.), commander’s coin from garrison
commander in appreciation for continued
community support�
59

OH HAPPY DAY: With Col. Darrell Thacker, installation
commanding officer, looking on, Store Director
Pat Tourish cuts the cake celebrating the grand
opening of the new deli at New River Commissary,
N.C., March 25. The store recently won Best Large
Commissary in the United States honors for the
second consecutive year (see story, next issue).
U.S. Marine Corps photo: Cpl. Cecilia Rooks