Customer service - Commissaries.com

decavision
www.commissaries.com
2009 Penguins awarded
Page 18
Kaiserslautern Cold Storage
celebrates 50 th: 1959–2009
Page 22
Team diversity —
DeCA supports
disabled employees
Page 28
‘The commissary: It’s worth the trip!’
What we do best
over all the rest:
Vol. 18, No. 4 2009
Customer service
Page 4

22
KAISERSLAUTERN
28
CAREER
18
PENGUINS ON THE MOVE: Commissaries
scored Penguins in all three annual
competitions this year, Pages 18-20.
Pictured: Eglin Commissary, Fla., unleashes a herd of
dinosaurs to win gold. DeCA photo: Maggie Hayden
CENTRAL DISTRIBUTION CENTER
CELEBRATES 50 TH : DeCA’s cold storage facility boasts a
proud tradition of excellence, Pages 22-26.
OUTREACH
TO DISABLED:
Highly qualified
employees find opportunities with
DeCA, Pages 28-30.
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
Regions gain enlisted advisors .... 27
You’ve got mail ............................. 31
Heart of the benefit ...................... 37
2009 Top 10 Stores ................... 47
COVER STORY: Winnie Graves,
sales store checker, Quantico
Commissary, Va., sports the perfect
smile for pleasing her customers.
Customer service is “job one”
for DeCA employees, who have
some great tips and inspiring
stories to share, Pages 4-14.
DeCA photo: Rick Brink
decavision
Vol. 18, No. 4 2009
decavision is an authorized publication
for members of the Defense Commissary
Agency. It is published by the Office of
Communication, DeCA Headquarters, Fort
Lee, Va. Contents are not necessarily the
official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S.
government, the Department of Defense or
DeCA. 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 editor at: decavision,
HQ DeCA Office of Communication,
1300 E Ave., Fort Lee VA 23801-1800;
telephone 804-734-8000, ext. 4-8768;
e-mail: cherie.huntington@deca.mil
Philip E. Sakowitz Jr.
DeCA director and CEO
Office of communication
James Frost ............................................... director
Lt. Col. Karen Hawkins .................. deputy director
Staff contributers
Rick Brink ..................................... PAO, DeCA East
Cherie Huntington .................. editor, decavision
Nancy O’Nell ................................ PAO, DeCA West
Kevin Robinson ............................. media relations
Dr. Pete Skirbunt ............................ DeCA historian
Millie Slamin ...................................... social media
Gerri Young ............................... PAO, DeCA Europe
Surf VISION online @ http://www.commissaries.com/employees/news_room/vision_magazine/index.cfm

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fromthetop
Equal opportunity for all
Agency strives for model EEO program
Philip E. Sakowitz Jr.
DeCA director and CEO
T
he DeCA team reflects the variety of
backgrounds that make up the armed
forces and the customers we serve. The
diversity of our workforce contributes to
a better understanding of these customers and
is an important business strength.
To sustain a capable, diverse and engaged
workforce, we need to effectively manage
our diversity. DeCA’s Equal Employment
Opportunity program is important to me, and
it is a vital component of our strategic plan.
One of the great aspects of my job is the
access it gives me to senior leaders in other
government agencies. Recently, I had the
pleasure of meeting with Carlton Hadden and
Dexter Brooks, senior executives with the EEO
Commission’s Office of Federal Operations.
Their office provides oversight for the federal
government’s EEO programs. DeCA EEO
Director Marcus Lashley and I provided
an update to the commission concerning the
agency’s achievements in dispute resolution and
workforce diversity. Marcus, General Counsel
Bill Sherman, Human Resources Director
Jerry Oestreich and I then engaged in a
discussion with the EEOC concerning their ideas
on how we could further enhance our programs.
I told them about
senior leadership’s
commitment to
EEO, and that I’m
proud of the fact that
our managers and
employees are working
together to resolve
potential discrimination complaints at the
earliest opportunity. In the fiscal year that just
ended, we resolved more than 65 percent of
informal disputes. This exceeds the average
for all federal agencies. Let’s keep up the good
work and see if we can do even better.
We also spoke to Mr. Hadden about our
plans to hire wounded warriors and individuals
with severe disabilities. This is a great
opportunity for us to “give back” to the military
community and support the nation’s goal of
Damien Wright, sales store checker,
Wiesbaden Commissary, Germany,
meets DeCA Director and CEO Philip E.
Sakowitz Jr. during a visit in September.
DeCA photo: Norman Brown
providing meaningful employment to all its
citizens. I know that many of our commissaries
are supporting these programs. I have asked
our EEO office to work with each region and
senior leaders in the headquarters to make sure
that all are aware of these valuable sources of
skilled, motivated employees.
Finally, we discussed DeCA’s efforts to
ensure that advancement opportunities are
In the fiscal year that
just ended, we resolved
more than 65 percent of
informal disputes.
— Philip E. Sakowitz Jr.
available to
everyone on an
equitable basis.
The recently
completed Career
Advancement
Survey revealed
that not everyone
felt equipped for the next step in their career, and
that we faced some challenges in ensuring that
the promotion process is perceived as fair. We
will be conducting focus groups with employees
to fully understand what we need to improve and
ensure that everyone is treated equitably.
We are making progress toward achieving
a model EEO program in DeCA. Let’s continue
to work together to make our diversity an asset
in showing the men and women of our armed
forces that the commissary is worth the trip.n
3

Primo customer service
Caprina Johnson, cashier at Fort Lee Commissary,
Va., keeps her checkout line moving quickly on a busy
shopping day. DeCA photo: Rick Brink
Tip
One customer service phrase that
I drive into all the new and old
employees’ heads is: “We do not
have a job without customers.”
This is really simple but true.
Sheila Gilbert, store director
Vance Commissary, Okla.
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coverstory
Cherie Huntington
Office of communication
R
obert Bunch, new chief of customer service
in operations, likes to tell the story of a
commissary employee who received a new
computer and called the manufacturer’s hot
line for assistance. The company employee answered
the phone by saying, “How may I exceed your
expectations today?”
Bunch savors those words as reflective of how he
views DeCA’s customer service quality. “We don’t just
meet, we exceed,” he said. “That’s something we can
be proud of. Put us up against any civilian grocery
chain, and our folks will excel. We know what our
customers want, and we deliver.”
Like a highly polished apple, however, that beauty
depends on elbow grease.
“We have to maintain and stay the best,” Bunch
said. “If we don’t find what’s new and stay ahead
of the game, we’ll just get comfortable and be like
anybody else.”
Survey says
“Comfortable” doesn’t seem to be in this operator’s
vocabulary, however, when it comes to customer
service.
“We’re looking at a lot of innovative things, new
concepts,” said Bunch. “We have to be proactive and
see where we need to be in the years ahead, then put
our hearts and souls into getting there.”
The latest Commissary Customer Service Survey
(see Page 17) apparently revealed lots of heart and
soul.
“The scores say
we’ve got it right,”
he said. “We listen to
customers and we fix
things. We keep them
coming back.”
Right, Tarek Morsy,
assistant produce
manager at Cairo
Commissary, Egypt,
delights customers
with fruit samples.
DeCA photo

Proud tradition of
excellence for world’s
best customers
Bunch hopes employees treasure the vocal
customer as much as he does.
“If they’re vocal, they care,” he said. “They’re
telling me something needs to be fixed, or that I’m
doing something really well. If they’re talking to me,
they’re paying attention. For that moment, they’re
sharing their concerns, and how we react sets the
stage for success or failure.”
Only one type of customer worries Bunch. “The
customer who scares me most is the one who says
nothing. I don’t know if I’ve met their expectations or
not. If I get them to smile, that’s a start. Then before
long, they open up.”
Customer care
Whether it’s friendliness, smiles or responsiveness,
Bunch said good customer service makes the
customer feel important.
“Even in the self-checkout lanes, a sharp, fired-up
cashier can make the customer feel confident – feel
ownership of a little piece of the process,” he said.
Ultimately, that fired-up employee represents
DeCA’s No. 1 customer.
“If we take care of our employees, they take care
of shoppers,” he said. “Proper training and support
shines through, and the customer sees it and feels
it.”
The recent agencywide customer service training
proved to be as enlightening about co-workers
as it was about customers. “It was tremendously
successful,” said Bunch. “It provided a way to
bring people together and hear other thoughts and
opinions. It gave the opportunity to see things in a
different light. It sparked general excitement and
made us realize how we appreciate each other.”
Customer service resource
Bunch wants everyone to know his division
provides “one-stop shopping” for all issues related
to customer service and wherever it relates to the
front end, from gift vouchers, coupons and shopping
carts to electronic shelf labels, hand-held scanners
and the Commissary Advanced Retail Transaction
System, commonly referred to as CARTS.
“We’re here for the stores, zones, regions and
DeCA,” he said. “If we don’t have the answer, we’ll
redirect you to who does. After all, that’s customer
service, too, and if we’re going to talk it, we
better walk it.” w
!
Maribel Cruz, customer service manager, North lsland
Commissary, Calif., ensures every shopper gets oneon-one
customer service. DeCA photo: Millie Slamin
5

‘Happy campers’ @ Cairo
I received a phone call from an upset
customer who had just been shopping at the
commissary for items to try out a new recipe,
• Always start customer dialogue with,
“May I help you?” and end with, “Thank
you.”
• Listen. Never answer unless you have a
complete answer for the customer’s
question, with assistance from coworkers
or management.
• Always show understanding for
the customer’s complaint, concern
or suggestion.
• We work for the customers,
and we need to make sure we meet
their expectations.
• We are DeCA representatives. The
impression a customer gets about a store
and organization usually comes first from
the level of customer service they receive.
A first impression can only be made once.
Tip
Mohamed Enein, store administrator
Cairo Commissary, Egypt
Lisa Pond, customer service; Mary Keene, support clerk; and Carolyn Unruh, produce, stay focused during the
customer service training held in the commissary warehouse at Vance Air Force Base, Okla. DeCA photo: Kelli Slater
6 7 decavision 2009!Vol. 18, No. 4
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and when she was ready to start cooking, she
could not find the recipe.
She stated this was a new dish she could not
make without the recipe to follow, and all the
ingredients she just purchased would either go
to waste, or she would need to return them.
The customer told me which register she used
and even knew the cashier’s name.
I proceeded to the front end to see if the
cashier or baggers had seen a recipe left behind.
The cashier remembered the customer and also
had the recipe, which was left in the shopping
cart along with a shopping list. The cashier
passed the recipe to me and as I started reading
off the ingredients over the phone, the customer
shouted, “That’s it, I’ll be there in 20 minutes.”
When the customer arrived, she was
overjoyed when I handed her the recipe. She
praised the cashier for caring enough to hold
on to her shopping list and recipe, and for not
discarding it as trash. It took a very small action
to create a big, raving fan.
Vickie Mills, store director
Cairo Commissary, Egypt

Commissary customer service
from the heartY
A
Store Director Sharon Parton
Fort Campbell Commissary, Ky.
customer had his dog in his car and had
left his windows down for the dog to
get airflow. He left the windows down too
far, however, and “Old Maggie” jumped
out of the car and proceeded to go into the
commissary.
She was friendly and came to us easily
while looking for her “dad.” We took her
to an office and began to page for her
owner. The owner, a mature gentleman,
unfortunately could not hear the pages and
returned to his car.
When he realized Old Maggie was
gone, he began to panic. Commissary
employees had remained near the vehicle
to identify the owner as quickly as possible.
Our customer was then reunited with his
beloved dog.
With tears in his eyes, he stated he and
Old Maggie had been together for many
years and that she was all he had. The
commissary has always been a special place,
but now it became even more special to him
with the extra effort made to ensure that his
companion was out of harm’s way. He said
he and Old Maggie would be back soon to
shop again.
Share your stories of customer service
“from the heart.” Keep length to no more
than 300 words, and submit to your store
director for consideration for publication in
a future decavision.
Tip
Until you walk in someone else’s
shoes, reserve your judgment.
Loriann McDonald, store director
Fort Wainwright Commissary, Alaska
!
Annette Inniss, meat department worker at San
Diego Commissary, Calif., along with Steven Hake,
meatcutter, and Carrie Bailey, meat department
worker, take a break to watch a salsa product demo.
DeCA photo: Bill Vick
‘Happy campers’ @ Fort Wainwright
“Mrs. McCarty” is a dedicated
commissary. She came in for her weekly
shopping and was looking for pine nuts. She
asked one of our storeworkers if we carried
them. The employee was not sure but told
her to continue her shopping and he would
find out.
He found the product and took it to her as
she was almost finished with her shopping.
She was so appreciative that she called me
and relayed the story. He not only found the
product for her, he told her where she could
find it in the future and what the price was,
and he brought several bags with him so
she could buy what she wanted. She left our
store a raving fan.
Loriann McDonald, store director
Fort Wainwright Commissary, Alaska
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7

Customer Debi Masa enjoys fast service from sales store checker Grace Guilbault at the grand opening of the
Robins Commissary, Ga. DeCA photo: Rick Brink
‘Happy campers’ @ Fort Gillem
Joyce Fleming is a sales store checker and
the model cashier. Joyce deals with difficult
situations in a most professional manner; her
intent is to deliver superb customer service.
• Always be willing to assist customers with
their needs.
• Don’t assume disgruntled
customers are attacking you
personally.
• Take time to listen to
customers.
• Focus on the customers,
delivering 100 percent to their
needs.
• Build a stronger relationship with
customers by solving problems together.
• Challenge yourself to change a negative
customer into a positive customer.
• Remember that your attitude becomes
your altitude.
Tip
Connie Leseueur, assistant store director
Fort Gillem Commissary, Ga.
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On one occasion, Joyce was ringing up the
purchases of an elderly, diabetic gentleman
who constantly complains each time he
shops. His sugar level began to drop, so
Joyce immediately walked him to a bench to
rest, and she purchased some orange juice
and a piece of candy for him.
She proceeded to complete
his order while he rested. He
was so impressed on how
she handled the incident he
later brought his wife into the
commissary to meet her.
Joyce is unique because
she changes negative
Joyce Fleming
customers into positive,
returning customers.
Connie Leseueur, assistant store director
Fort Gillem Commissary, Ga.

‘Happy campers’ @ Vance
Last summer during the air show at Vance
Air Force Base, Okla., we had an Air Force
captain from protocol come in needing
several deli trays of sandwiches and produce
department vegetable trays “yesterday.” It
seems the captain was put in charge of a lastminute
arrangement to feed local dignitaries –
about 25 people – including the mayor of Enid,
Okla.
A challenge quickly surfaced when the
one deli staffer felt overwhelmed with this
sudden urgent, large request. Being called
to the deli, store employees understood the
deli’s dilemma and suggested an alternate
way to feed the local entourage. Using deli
trays and covers, store employees, along
with the captain, took cheese and meat
packages off the shelves, along with pickles,
condiments and bread rolls, and made trays
on the spot. Produce was already on their
vegetable trays.
The captain left happy, relieved that he
had a presentable lunch to offer Enid’s local
dignitaries.
Glenn Sergeant, deputy store director
Vance Commissary, Okla.
Robert Raymond, grocery manager, loves
to tell his staff that his favorite word to use
with a patron is, “Yes.” Mr. Raymond’s goal,
no matter what department he is in,
is to give the customer the same
outstanding service, all the time.
To follow up on that, his favorite
word is, “Yes.” So often people
want something and the first
response they receive is, “No.” It
is our job to turn the “no” into a
“yes.” You can always ask a patron,
“What about using this product?” or suggest
a substitute item. This does not work all
the time, but why not try it? This leaves the
patron with a sense that you are trying to help
and are willing to do what it takes to make
them happy. It is our responsibility to ensure
the patron leaves with a positive feeling.
Tip
Kim Soares, store director
Camp Kinser Commissary, Okinawa
!
Sales store checker and high school senior
Marquita McMath waits for her next customer
at Great Lakes Commissary, Mich. DeCA photo:
Rick Brink
‘Happy campers’ @ Camp Red Cloud
We had a customer special order a
decorated birthday cake. In transit, the cake
was either dropped or had fallen over. When
the customer arrived to pick up the cake, she
was told it was damaged and not viable for
a party. The customer was very upset, vocal
and not understanding, to say the least.
The storeworker remained cool and
offered an alternative in a plain, white sheet
cake; a produce worker volunteered to
do immediate decorating and re-used the
decorations off of the damaged cake. In
the end, the customer was satisfied, made
apologies for being upset and thanked
everyone involved.
Robert Vagasky, store manager
Camp Red Cloud Commissary, South Korea w
9

Angela Cappel, cashier at Vogelweh Commissary,
Germany, rings up shopping spree items gathered
by a Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers
team competing in an August event. DeCA photo:
wallyimages.com
10 11 decavision 2009!Vol. 18, No. 4
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Tip
‘Happy campers’ @ Camp Casey
I received an e-mail from Jaime Grimes,
who was in the process of joining her husband
who was on a command sponsorship tour
at Camp Casey, South Korea. Mrs. Grimes
had some concerns about the availability of
certain items for her 3-month-old daughter,
who had a special need for a specific type
of baby formula, as well as other special
items. This appeared to be Mrs. Grimes’ first
time following her husband overseas, and I
understood her concerns.
I replied to her e-mail, and informed her
that I was going to place a special order for
the formula she needed, in her name, and
that when she arrived at Camp Casey, she
or her husband could stop by and pick up
the order. I also asked if it was possible for
her to bring extra cans of the formula when
she moved to Camp Casey, just in case the
commissary was closed when she arrived.
The baby formula was waiting for Mrs.
Grimes when she arrived, and she was
extremely pleased. She was definitely a
satisfied customer.
Yong Baez, store manager
Camp Stanley Commissary, South Korea
‘Happy campers’ @ Andrews
There have been several difficult situations
when a customer feels things should be done
in a different way. A customer with 41 items
claimed she had picked up more than she had
planned before she realized the self-checkout
lane was for 30 items or less. The front-end
supervisor contacted me to say the customer
also had an important doctor’s appointment
to meet. I asked our supervisor to help the
customer so she could make her appointment.
Rena Dial, store director
Andrews Commissary, Md.`
The customers are not always right,
but they are always your customers.
Sabrina Edwards, produce manager
Smokey Point Commissary, Wash.

‘Happy campers’ @ Camp Kinser
Jose Gonzalez, store administrator, and
Kathy Rogers, produce work leader at Camp
Kinser Commissary, Okinawa, were in the
produce department planning a display. A
patron looked as if he needed help.
Mrs. Rogers approached the patron
with a friendly smile. The customer looked
frustrated and said, “I am making a dish and
the recipe needs cilantro, and you don’t have
any here.”
Mrs. Rogers apologized and explained that
cilantro was airlifted to Okinawa, and upon
arrival, it did not meet acceptance guidelines
and was rejected. She informed the patron
that she would only provide high-quality,
fresh produce to her patrons.
Mrs. Rogers said cilantro would be
delivered the following week, but she
knew this did not help his current situation.
She said she could contact the other
commissaries on the island to see if they had
any cilantro available to immediately transfer
to Camp Kinser.
!
Left, Juanita
Fisher and
Peggy Jordan,
store associates
at Beale
Commissary,
Calif., participate
in agency-wide
customer service
training. DeCA
photo: Joan Meyer
Additionally, she asked the patron questions
concerning his recipe, walking him to the spice
section to show him other available sources
of cilantro. The patron decided he would
purchase dry cilantro and try it in his recipe.
Mrs. Rogers left the patron with an
understanding of how the produce delivery
schedule worked and standards that are set
for product arriving at the commissary. The
patron was satisfied with the end result. Mrs.
Rogers has established a rapport with the
patron, and he returns to the commissary
quite often. Mrs. Rogers and the patron have
shared other recipes, and he often asks her
advice on dishes he is preparing.
Kim Soares, store director
Camp Kinser Commissary, Okinawa
Always try to have a smile on your
face. Get management help. If
you can’t help the customer, get
someone who can.
Ronald Vickerstaff, store director
Vicenza Commissary, Italy
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Tip
11

Greet customers with a smile and acknowledge
them with a positive attitude; always
be willing to help and listen to their
concerns. Take care of the customers
at all times. Sometimes we have
to go above and beyond to find an
item, or assist our seniors with
their shopping. It’s our duty to
ensure they get everything they need
and experience the best customer
service so they will share their shopping
experience with others.
Tip
Rena Dial, store director
Andrews Commissary, Md.
‘Happy campers’ @ Atsugi
I want to pass this on about one of
Atsugi’s finest taking the initiative to serve our
customers. With the embargo here of various
produce items, our customers have no choice
but to purchase local “like” items and try to
make do.
Such was the case with yams, one
of the most requested items during the
holidays. Damita Jones, one of our produce
storeworkers, took it upon herself to do a yam
demo. Personally buying the sweet potatoes,
she cooked them at home in butter, nutmeg,
cinnamon and vanilla – her own special recipe
– and brought it in for our customers to try.
Her candied yams were fantastic! They were
much better than canned, and a big hit with
the customers. What makes this special is not
the fact that she did a demo, but why she did
it. She did it to educate our customers that the
local Japanese yams were every bit as tasty as
the U.S. variety, and that they could be sure
that they were spending their hard-earned
money on a product well worth the cost. She
got her message out loud and clear, and as
always, Damita was “caught doing something
right.”
Rose Castro, acting store director
Atsugi Commissary, Japan
Right, store associates Chianti McCaskill and
Giuliano Arestirado, McGuire Commissary, N.J.,
please shoppers with their thorough knowledge of
the produce department and outstanding customer
service. DeCA photo: John Zoubra
12 13 decavision 2009!Vol. 18, No. 4
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Suggested reading

‘Happy campers’ @ Camp Lejeune
When I was a store director at Camp
Lejeune Commissary, N.C., I had a delibakery
manager who was extremely
aggressive in trying to increase her sales.
She would go out of her way to make
customers happy, making every effort to do
whatever was necessary to gain additional
customers.
She would run contests to see if one
person could eat one of the super-sized
sandwiches she made. The prize for that
would be a free sandwich. She had a call-in
order system set up that generated more
business during the lunch hour than our
regular customers did.
One of the initiatives she tried was to
offer free delivery of any Marine Corps
Ball cake. Several of the squadrons took
advantage of this deal, with the truck
making several trips a day delivering huge
cakes to various locations throughout the
base and town. She sold more than 80 cakes
that year.
One Marine came to my deli-bakery
manager and told her that his squadron
would not be able to celebrate the Marine
Corps birthday because they were scheduled
to be in the field the entire month on
maneuvers. Never one to admit defeat, my
manager found out where the squadron
was going to be located in the general area
and promised the Marine if his squadron
would order the cake from her, she would
make sure they were able to have their
celebration.
Not only did my deli-bakery manager
deliver the cake, she also stayed there and
served the cake to more than 500 Marines
that day. She was so popular with the
Marines that she received many e-mails
from them when they were deployed to Iraq
and Afghanistan, telling her how much they
missed those special sandwiches she used to
make for them.
Phyllis Black, store director
Cherry Point Commissary, N.C.
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!
Stacy Wehri, store associate at Quantico Commissary,
Va., welcomes customer questions as she restocks
fresh produce items. DeCA photo: Rick Brink
13

Treat all customers the way you want to be
treated, and provide them with the level of
service you expect. I always encourage my staff
to try to involve customers in the resolution of
their complaints and empower them to
help find a solution. Customers tend
to feel more relaxed and more likely
to walk away satisfied when they feel
in control of their situation. No one
likes to feel as though situations are
beyond their control.
Tip
Robert Vagasky, store manager
Camp Red Cloud Commissary, South Korea
‘Happy campers’: vendor support
I would like to tell you
about Linda Brigham, Proctor
& Gamble merchandiser at
Quantico Commissary, Va.
Linda is an exceptional
individual. She is one of those
people you know in your heart
you can always rely on. No
matter what event, no matter
Linda Brigham
what sale or product, Linda
makes herself available to whatever our needs
may be. She builds displays, pushes product, and
works a demo like no other. She assists patrons,
employees and management. No project is ever
too much for Linda. I cannot stress enough how
very fortunate we are to have her at our store.
On Tuesday, Oct. 20, Linda was called to
assist in a very personal way. An elderly female
patron was calling for assistance from the ladies’
restroom. The woman, small, frail and barely
able to get around with her walker, found herself
unable to take care of her soiled clothing. Linda
graciously offered her assistance.
What a huge heart she has. She is a loving
wife, mother and grandmother; but even more
impressive is the fact that she also cares for
her 105-year-old mother-in-law. She tends to
neighbors, co-workers and strangers alike.
I would like to recognize Linda for all that
she gives to so many on a daily basis. Her
presence makes a world of difference at
Quantico Commissary.
Leslie Ford, general manager
Quantico Commissary, Va.
14 15 decavision 2009!Vol. 18, No. 4
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Customers enjoy a smile from Celia Williams,
customer service manager, Nellis Commissary,
Nev. DeCA photo: Millie Slamin
We had a customer who wanted a certain
low-salt potato chip that we had carried
previously, but it was no longer on the sales
floor. The company representative happened
to be standing next to me on the sales floor
when this gentleman approached and gave
me his request. The representative gave him
product information and assured him that we
would be carrying it in the future, and that
the next time he came in, there would be a
complimentary bag for him. He left our store a
very happy man.
Loriann McDonald, store director
Fort Wainwright Commissary, Alaskan

Commissaries save customers billions
Millie Slamin
Office of communication
W
ith savings at
31.7 percent,
customers flocked
to commissaries for
groceries, bargains at case lot
sales and to remote areas for
even more savings at Guard and
Reserve on-site sales.
“This year was also a recordbreaker
for DeCA as we nearly
reached $6 billion in sales for
fiscal 2009,” said DeCA Director
and CEO Philip E. Sakowitz Jr.
“I have to say that we achieved this
because we never lost sight of our
commitment to our No. 1 priority
– delivering a premier commissary
benefit to America’s military and
their families.”
Generating sales of $5.98
billion, customer transactions
increased at stores worldwide,
with DeCA reporting customer
savings of $2.77 billion.
“Our mission is to bring
this valued nonpay benefit to
the deserving men and women
of our armed forces, military
retirees and their families, and
to maximize their savings” said
Sakowitz. “We have done that
and more this year, and for that
I thank our loyal customers and
everyone at DeCA.”
In just its second year, Guard
and Reserve on-site sales brought
in $9.1 million in sales and
saved customers $4.2 million.
There were other campaigns
and programs – not to mention
coupon redemption – that also
put customer savings over the top.
“We have passed along a
tremendous savings to our
customers that equates to an
annual savings of about $3,300
for a family of four,” Sakowitz
explained. “I cannot tell you how
comforting it is to know that in
!
hotsales
Doraleen Wells, cashier at Fort Lee Commissary, Va., treats her customers to a
charming smile at checkout. DeCA photo: Rick Brink
today’s struggling economy we
are able to not only provide this
benefit – we are able to help them
save money as well.”
The agency’s marketing
campaigns, as well as its sales and
informational programs, served to
strengthen customers’ commitment
Fort Campbell joins seven stores
hitting million transactions in fiscal 2009
1. NB Pearl Harbor, Hawaii 1,318,893i
2. NB San Diego, Calif. 1,232,138h
3. Fort Belvoir, Va. 1,141,796h
4. Ramstein AB, Germany 1,136,388h
5. Fort Lewis, Wash. 1,108,801i
6. Fort Campbell, Ky. 1,087,645h
7. Fort Bragg South, N.C. 1,057,499h
8. Fort Meade, Md. 1,027,255hn
ih Indicates comparison to fiscal 2008 figure
to take advantage of their benefit
and shop at the commissary.
“And from our achievement,
we were able to pass along
$2.77 billion in savings to our
customers, proving that shopping
the commissary is truly ‘worth the
trip!’”n
‘Million transactions club’
15

16 17 decavision 2009!Vol. 18, No. 4
!
HOT STORE-LEVEL RECORDS
MCLB Albany, Ga. Jul Meat record sales day $6,781
Bangor ANGB, Maine Jul Produce, deli record sales day $4,690, $1,906
NBK Bangor, Wash. Sep Record sales year $30.4 million
Barksdale AFB, La. Sep Record sales day $153,000
Camp Lejeune, N.C. May Record sales day $264,000
Chievres, Belgium May Case lot record sales day $80,843
Sep Record sales day $75,251
Fort Drum, N.Y. Jun Record sales day $143,113
Fort Gillem, Ga. May Case lot record sales day, another record next day $212,132, $157,351
Fort Jackson, S.C. Jun Meat record sales day $21,867
Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. May Record sales day $270,169
Fort Rucker, Ala. Jul Meat record sales day $18,651
Fort Sill, Okla. Sep Record sales year $36.8 million
Gunter AFB, Ala. May Case lot record sales day $104,133
Mountain Home AFB, Idaho Sep Record sales day $73,000
NSB New London, Conn. Jul Produce record sales day $10,910
NAS Pensacola, Fla. Jul Produce record sales day $19,370
Robins AFB, Ga. May Record sales day $191,649
NSU Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Jul Record sales $419,907
Travis AFB, Calif. Sep Case lot record sales $217,320
NAS Whidbey Island, Wash. Sep Record sales day $198,340n
Dinner’s
on us
Corporals Shana Landry and Christine Markus enjoy the annual spaghetti luncheon
hosted by Cherry Point Commissary, N.C. Industry donates menu items, and
volunteer base chefs prepare the meals. DeCA photo: Phyllis Blackn

Kevin L. Robinson
Office of communication
C
ustomers are satisfied
with their commissary
benefit. That’s the
message DeCA received
from more than 20,000 shoppers
in the 2009 Commissary
Customer Service Survey.
The overall score of 4.67 (on
a scale of 1 to 5) was DeCA’s
highest mark ever, representing
a rise of 0.6 points over 2008’s
CCSS results.
“It’s wonderful news to hear
from our customers that they
feel this strongly about their
commissary benefit,” said Philip
E. Sakowitz Jr., DeCA director
and CEO. “These numbers are
off the charts – in every category
– and it’s a testament to the fine
work and dedication of our team
members to deliver the best
commissary benefit possible to the
greatest customers in the world.”
Commissary survey results
... shot way too small
A
ww, what a shame — really cool photos shot the
size of postage stamps. Seems like a crime not to
use them.
Photos for publication need to be shot with high
resolution in a size of at least 5-by-7, since enlarging
the original size makes a picture too grainy for use
in magazines.n
Clockwise from top left, industry partners procured
a giant electronic billboard for nearly three weeks
in August and September, promoting the benefit
at Moffett Field Commissary, Calif. Fort Benning
Commissary, Ga., nails a Snapple merchandising
competition with this thirst-quenching helicopter. A
DeCA pinata — possibly the first of its kind — makes
its debut at organization day at Incirlik Commissary,
Turkey, in October. Camp Humphreys Commissary,
South Korea, advertises its case lot sale in a big way
with a magnetic sign on the side of a base shuttle
bus. DeCA photos
!
DeCA hits all-time high scores
in 2009 customer service survey
DeCA conducted this year’s
survey over 10 days beginning
July 8 at its stores worldwide.
Customers answered 14 questions
designed to measure their overall
commissary shopping experience.
Questions focused on areas such
as savings and prices, product
quality, selection and availability,
store hours, employee customer
service, décor and appearance,
and checkout procedures.
The resulting 21,326 responses
were measured on a 5-point
rating scale, ranging from 1,
“very poor,” to 5, “very good.”
The survey was administered
to commissary customers three
times per day, each day of the
survey period. The response
rate was 88 percent. The overall
score is an average of the 14 item
scores.
Really cool photos ...
The top three items receiving
the highest ratings were
“courteous, friendly and helpful
employees” at 4.81, “overall
satisfaction” at 4.78, and “meat
quality and selection” at 4.72. All
items rose by at least 0.03 points
from the 2008 survey.
From its inception in
1991, DeCA has surveyed its
customers. First, the agency
used the Air Force’s Customer
Service and Evaluation System, a
measurement based on a 0-100
rating scale. However, in 2000,
the agency adopted the CCSS
because the survey is custommade
for evaluating commissaries.
“We appreciate our customers’
opinion about their benefit and
recognize it as a bar that is set
for our future performance,”
Sakowitz said.n
17

!
Merchandising talents honored in three contests
2009 Penguins
Buzz has it that penguins are migrating in
staggering numbers to two U.S. locations.
One of the sites, Aberdeen Proving Ground,
Md., at least offers winter snow and ice, but
what kind of penguins settle in sunny Florida?
Amber, gold and silver Penguins from the
National Frozen and Refrigerated Food Association,
that’s what kind.
The NFRFA awards amber, gold and silver
Penguins in three annual competitions: March
Frozen Food Month, June Dairy Month, and Ice
Cream and Novelties featured in June and July.
March Frozen Food Month
Gold
Tinker Commissary, Okla. (3): Best Department,
Best End Cap, Overall Store Promotion
Eglin Commissary, Fla., won gold in both Best End Cap and
Best Department categories, along with a silver for overall
store promotion. DeCA photo: Maggie Hayden
18 19 decavision 2009!Vol. 18, No. 4
Aberdeen Commissary, Md. (2): Best Department
Display, Overall Store Promotion
Kirtland Commissary, N.M.: Best End Cap
Silver
Aberdeen Commissary, Md.: Best End Cap (2 nd
consecutive)
Davis-Monthan Commissary, Ariz.: Best End Cap
Fort Bliss Commissary, Texas: Best End Cap
Kirtland Commissary, N.M.: Best Department
Little Creek Commissary, Va.: Best Department
McClellan Commissary, Calif.: Overall Store
Promotion (2 nd consecutive)
Nellis Commissary, Nev.: Overall Store Promotion
Quantico Commissary, Va.: Best End Cap (3 rd
consecutive)
Sheppard Commissary, Texas: Best Department
June Dairy Month
Amber (3 rd consecutive gold)
Eglin Commissary, Fla.: Best End Cap
Gold
Aberdeen Commissary, Md. (2): Best End Cap,
Best Department
Eglin Commissary, Md.: Best Department (2 nd
consecutive)
Fort Leonard Wood Commissary, Mo.: Overall
Store Promotion
Silver
Beale Commissary, Calif.: Best End Cap
Eglin Commissary, Fla.: Overall Store Promotion
Travis Commissary, Calif.: Best End Cap
June-July Ice Cream & Novelties
Gold
Aberdeen Commissary, Md.: Northeast
Aberdeen Commissary won gold in all three
competitions this year, thanks to talented Diane
Mann, grocery manager.
“Ms. Mann is the focal point of the Penguins,”
said Store Director Tammy Spickler. “She rallies
the sales representatives to participate and, this
w
Right, Tinker Commissary, Okla., featured a living
Susan Murphy, aka Ginormica, from the movie,
“Monsters vs. Aliens,” for March Frozen Food
Month. The “star,” storeworker Kisa Adams,
created her costume and donned a wig to bring the
promotion theme alive. DeCA photo: John Spaur

year, General Mills stepped up and helped with the
displays and demos. Ms. Mann’s imagination is
absolutely sensational.”
Another of DeCA’s traditional winners, Eglin
Commissary, Fla., could not compete in this year’s
March Frozen Food Month competition with a major
renovation going on, but it rebounded with a third
gold to achieve a coveted amber Penguin for June
Dairy Month.
Inspiring minds
With such sources of inspiration as Aberdeen
and Eglin, other commissaries are building the
foundations for a Penguin tradition of their own. This
year, Zone 8 celebrated seven wins.
“To my knowledge, Zone 8 had never won a
Penguin,” said Zone Manager Ron McMasters.
“Then last year, Tinker Commissary, Okla., won two
silver, and this year, the zone won four gold and three
silver. I’ve got a great team, and I’m proud to be a
part of their success,” he said, adding that he calls
Zone 8, “The Mighty Eighth,” a salute to World War
II’s renowned Eighth Army Air Forces.
Tinker Store Director John Spaur said his team
was fully committed to joining the ranks of stores
like Eglin and Aberdeen, which he calls “the Gold
Penguin Masters.”
“We began last year with hopes of winning a
gold Penguin in any category,” Spaur said. “We were
intent on putting Tinker on the map. We fell a bit
short of our goal, winning two silver Penguins. We
were of course delighted, but also disappointed.”
He said those achievements set the stage to
Kirtland Commissary, N.M., picked up both gold and
silver Penguins, with a gold for Best End Cap. DeCA
photo
20 21 decavision 2009!Vol. 18, No. 4
!
Quantico Commissary, Va., achieved its fifth year of Penguin
wins. DeCA photo
step up to the next level and bring home the gold.
“We then knew how high the bar had to be set, and
the tremendous amount of work and commitment
required to win.”
Like Tinker, Fort Leonard Wood Commissary,
Mo., also had a pair of silvers and longed for gold but,
apparently, one gold is never enough.
“Our goal is definitely to win gold again next
year,” said Store Director Wanda Dotson. “Our
gold Penguin needs a mate. I was never disappointed
to win second place, but first – what a great feeling.”
Quantico prevails
Well on its way to a winning tradition appears
to be Quantico Commissary, Va., with a five-year
streak of wins. Their strategy?
“We strive daily to provide only the best to our
patrons, to include our creative ventures,” said
Store Director Carrie Butler. “With a theme such
as ‘Monsters vs. Aliens,’ we couldn’t go wrong.
Coordinating with industry, we took this theme to a
higher level – space! Quantico is fortunate to have
amazing creativity within our team. I am proud of
their efforts.”n

!
Six-figure on-site sales
Fort Gillem, Ga., @ Chattanooga, Tenn. Sep 09 $286,959
NB Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
@ American Samoa
Apr 09 $283,845
Fort Gillem @ Atlanta May 09 $258,827
Fort Gillem @ Chattanooga Mar 09 $253,292
Fort Gillem @ Chattanooga Jun 09 $250,243
NB Pearl Harbor @ American Samoa Aug 08 $250,222
Fort Bragg South, N.C. @ Charlotte, N.C. Jun 08 $248,250
Fort Gillem @ Atlanta Jul-Aug 09 $246,659
NB Pearl Harbor @ Hilo, Hawaii May 09 $238,570
Fort Bragg South @ Charlotte Apr 08 $233,414
Fort Gillem @ Atlanta Mar 09 $221,218
NB Pearl Harbor @ Hilo Oct 08 $216,940
Fort Bragg South @ Charlotte Dec 08 $211,279
Eglin AFB, Fla. @ Duke Field, Fla. May 09 $200,615
Fort Gillem @ Chattanooga Dec 08 $199,486
NAS Jacksonville, Fla. @ Miami Apr 08 $191,476
NB Pearl Harbor @ Hilo Oct 07 $187,000
Fort Jackson, S.C. @ Greenville, S.C. Oct 08 $181,624
NAS Jacksonville, Fla. @ Miami Apr 09 $180,798
Fort Campbell, Ky. @ Knoxville, Tenn. Apr 09 $166,405
Patrick AFB, Fla. @ Miami Nov 08 $165,000
Fort Jackson @ Greenville Jun 08 $162,085
Fort Bragg South @ Charlotte Aug 09 $156,739
Maxwell AFB, Ala. @ Fort McClellan, Ala. Oct 08 $155,405
Fort Jackson @ Greenville Aug 09 $148,585
Fort Sam Houston, Texas @ Houston Jun 08 $144,195
Fort Gillem @ Atlanta Apr 08 $142,043
Fort Gillem @ Chattanooga Jun 08 $128,000
Fort Campbell @ Knoxville Aug 08 $124,105
NCBC Gulfport & Keesler AFB, Miss.
@ Camp Shelby, Miss
Feb 09 $113,679
Fort Drum, N.Y. @ Burlington, Vt. Jun 09 $106,381
Keesler @ Camp Shelby Jul 09 $105,021
Little Rock AFB, Ark.
@ Camp Robinson, Ark.
(through fiscal 2009)
Mar 08 $101,043
Little Rock @ Camp Robinson Oct 08 $100,844
Eglin @ Mobile, Ala. Oct 08 $100,362
Total events, fiscal 2009: 165
Total transactions: 82,888
Total sales: $9.1 million
Total savings: $4.2 million
Senior Airman Jeffrey Folds, member of the
Air Force Reserve Command’s 94th Airlift
Wing in Atlanta, shops with his children
at an on-site sale hosted by Fort Gillem
Commissary, Ga. The store brings four sales
a year to this location, with the latest event
ringing up more than $250,000 in sales.
U.S. Air Force Reserve Command Photo:
Don Peekn
21

1959 –
50 years of service
Kaiserslautern Central
Distribution Center celebrates
legacy of customer service
Austin Romesburg III
Chief, Kaiserslautern Central Distribution Center
O
n March 2, 2009, DeCA’s Kaiserslautern
Central Distribution Center in
Kaiserslautern, Germany, proudly completed
50 years of quality support to American
forces and their families.
Otherwise fondly known as Kaiserslautern Cold
Storage, or KCS, it was planned in 1955 and built
between 1956 and 1959, becoming the U.S. forces’
largest “refrigerator” at a cost of 9 million deutsche
marks, or about $2.1 million. It has about 125,000
square feet of floor space, enough to accommodate
450,000 cases of frozen and chilled products.
The Defense Logistics Agency assumed
responsibility for European subsistence support
on April 1, 1979, after 20 years as a U.S. Army
organization, and KCS then became an important
part of Defense Subsistence Region Europe.
From 1995 to Sept. 30, 1997, KCS operated
under the Defense Distribution Region East and
22 23 decavision 2009!Vol. 18, No. 4
!
makinghistory
remained responsible for Europe-wide troop support
and commissaries. During the summer of 1997,
the activity underwent a significant transition in
preparation for yet another change of leadership,
as DeCA assumed command, becoming the sole
customer of what is believed to be the largest cold
storage facility in Europe.
DeCA takes charge
For this transition, all troop issue stock was
removed, replaced by freeze stock from what was
then DeCA’s Rotterdam Cold Storage facility in
Holland. For the first time, on Oct. 1, 1997, KCS
focused solely on supplying frozen and chilled
products to all U.S. commissaries throughout Europe,
ushering in a new era of operation.
The facility is located just east of Ramstein
Air Base, America’s largest military base outside
the continental United States, and the largest
concentration of Americans living outside the
United States. From the beginning, its location
was convenient to military air, commercial rail and
highway routes. While rail transport is no longer
used, its location continues to be a logistical attribute.
Today, 135 people operate KCS, about 89
percent of whom are local nationals from nine
countries. Working three shifts, today’s distribution
professionals continue the proud heritage established
by the initial cadre, known as the “’59er Club,” based
on the KCS year of establishment.
An average warehouse inventory value of $11
million is reinforced by weekly oceangoing container
shipments from the United States. These containers
are first offloaded at Antwerp, Belgium, then travel
on Rhein River barges to the container port of
Germersheim, Germany. From there they are trucked
the final two hours to KCS.
Employees handle about 950,000 cases of 1,900
different products each month, from frozen pizzas
to Thanksgiving turkeys destined for the homes of
American commissary customers. This massive effort

!
2009
involves receiving and shipping nearly 11 million
cases of food a year. Through 50 years of operation,
more than 550 million cases of subsistence moved
through KCS by refrigerated containers, vans and rail
cars. The 697,000 trucks and trailers, if placed endon-end,
would make a convoy more than 7,500 miles
long.
Customers from 50 countries
KCS customers are varied and widely spread
over the hemisphere. Commissaries, annexes,
NEXMARTs, embassies and charge sale customers
are located in more than 50 countries, including
Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Austria,
Norway, Spain, Portugal, Egypt, Italy, Greece,
Turkey, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
Changing support requirements due to military
transformation in Europe over the past few years
have caused some mission realignment of functions
and operations. Because of reduced demands and
limited storage space at the stores, many European
suppliers deliver their products directly to KCS rather
than to individual commissaries. KCS then segregates
and cross-docks the products to the customers, along
with the wide variety of U.S. items requested from
the warehouses.
In the dawn hours at Kaiserslautern Cold Storage,
containers stand ready to unload after being trucked
two hours from the port at Germersheim, Germany.
DeCA photo: wallyimages.com
Improvements galore
Without interruption of the mission and virtually
unnoticed by customers, many renovation and
construction projects were accomplished over
the years to improve the facility and streamline
operations.
A new warehouse room was added in 1987,
expanding storage capacity by 12,300 square feet.
The dock was expanded and enclosed in 1991, and 16
hydraulic ramps were installed to ease loading and
offloading of countless vehicles. Since 1997, a new,
decentralized refrigeration system, new racking,
high-speed doors and improved interior lighting were
installed. An automated warehouse management
system was installed in 2001, and voice-activated
picking was added in 2007. Both automation
initiatives were DeCA firsts.
Edited by Gerri Young, DeCA Europe public
affairs officer
w
23

TEAM KCS
Cold
storage,
warm
hearts
24 25 decavision 2009!Vol. 18, No. 4
!
Proud professionals
continue tradition of
quality support
Austin Romesburg III
Chief, Kaiserslautern Central Distribution Center
Over the past half century, the proud
professionals of Kaiserslautern Cold
Storage, Germany, continuously put
forth their effort and talents to ensure
the military and their families were
provided with first-class perishable

subsistence. The supply chain
was never broken; the doors
were never closed – they served
their customers with fine style.
These people of KCS have always
given their best and adjusted
as necessary to get the job done
right.
Since DeCA took over in 1997,
the range of items stocked soared
from 1,200 lines to more than Austin Romesburg III
1,900 lines. Commitment and
teamwork brought the activity to its present level of
operations at the tip of the sword through a state-ofthe-art
warehousing management system, ongoing
facility improvements, office upgrades and increased
automation capabilities.
Partnership with DeCA’s nearby Consolidated
Meat Processing Plant resulted in an efficient and
economical distribution system for providing fresh
beef to customers. The transformation of military
operations in Europe continues to evolve, so we can
only pause a moment to reflect upon yesterday’s
accomplishments.
We have not reached the end of our journey.
Today, tomorrow and beyond will bring new
demands and challenges to be met, and the workforce
!
of KCS will translate the concept of “can do” into
“will do” actions. We will capitalize on automation
capabilities to increase our value to our customers
and the agency. As we grow, we’ll continue to liaison
with our business partners to achieve best business
practices and serve as a benchmark in attracting
additional business. Innovation, creativity and
boldness must be our guidelines in conquering future
challenges. Using our successes of yesterday as a
springboard, I’m confident the professionals of KCS
will make it happen into the future.
As we celebrated our 50 th anniversary, we
realized our mission and accomplishments rely
heavily upon our successful bonds with many other
activities. Buyers, stock controllers, vendors, store
directors, transportation carriers, vehicle operators,
mechanics, veterinarians, guards, engineers and
construction personnel, computer operators, clerks,
technicians, specialists, and managers of numerous
disciplines constitute the many participants in the
logistics of providing subsistence to the ultimate
customers – the American forces and their families.
The workforce of KCS is proud of its
accomplishments and stands ready to continue the
spirit of quality support to American forces through
the coming years.
‘American cold storage’
Huge facility buzzes with activity
Gerri Young
DeCA Europe public affairs officer
M
ost people drive down
the road to the east
gate of Ramstein
Air Base, Germany,
without giving the large, low
building behind the trees a second
thought. Observant among
them might wonder what the
brown sign on the road means
by “Amerikanische Kuehlhaus,”
German for “American Cold
Storage.” They’ve come to know
the turn brings them to the ELVS
gate, as in Elvis Presley, followed
by a quick right turn to encounter
a security gate not considered
part of the military security
force network on the base. The
differences are easy to see.
A team of KCS-contracted
guards perform around-the-clock
security for the installation. There
is no other gate quite like it. To
the right is a picnic table sitting
next to a small fish pond built
by the head guard, Horst Lieb,
who has worked at KCS for nine
years. On the left is a mannequin
dressed as a gate guard and “on
duty” 24 hours a day. All visitors
to the installation are provided
with a visitors badge at the gate
and given instructions where to
park for the type business they are
conducting. A warm and friendly
reception is the norm.
Directly in front of the gate, a
huge spread of asphalt for the 780
trucks a month awaits for loading
or unloading. To the right is a
picnic pavilion for fair weather
lunches or team-building parties.
The enormously long and low
building, containing offices, docks
and giant freeze and chill rooms,
sits between the container staging
area and the picnic ground.
The constant movement of
frozen and chilled merchandise
is the lifeblood of the place as
arctic-parka-clad employees in
high-tech headgear buzz expertly
back and forth between subzero
temperatures in the freeze rooms
to the 806-foot shipping and
receiving dock. Myriad trucks
line up at the doors, consuming
or disgorging hundreds of pallets
of freight each day. Only a few
years ago did this decidedly
male atmosphere start to include
female forklift drivers.
Visitors to the cold rooms
sometimes wear arctic parkas
w
25

provided to them in the office.
Sometimes they try to be macho
about it and go inside in their
street clothes, never able to last
as long as their seasoned escorts
in light jackets. Photographers
with video or still cameras shoot
quickly, challenged by the cold
or the enormity of the rooms
swallowing the light, never giving
it back.
Many local nationals have
devoted their entire work lives
to this place. In 2000, Klaus
Brandstaedter was the last of
the “’59ers” to retire, having been
among the very first employees
to open the operation in 1959.
By the time the 50 th anniversary
26 27 decavision 2009!Vol. 18, No. 4
!
celebration was held, no member
of this elite group attended as they
had the 40 th anniversary party,
having passed away or become too
ill to attend.
Hidden away from the hustle
and bustle of receiving and
shipping in a workshop at the
back of the building is a group of
four talented mechanics devoted
to keeping the materiel handling
equipment in top operating
condition. This includes 57
forklifts and 23 walker-riders
and order pickers. A mechanic
is assigned on each shift and
stands ready to address any
other mechanical problems on
equipment such as dock levelers,
Forklifts from a fleet of 57 hustle to select requested items
from the shelves in the cold storage facility. DeCA photo:
wallyimages.com
spin-wrap machines and highspeed
doors.
In the lower level of the
building, past the KCS polar
bear sculpture, sits the Germanoperated
“Kantine,” dishing
out hot lunches of homemade
food like schnitzel and fries with
salad, meatloaf with potatoes
and vegetables, or spaghetti with
meat sauce and salad; hardy
food for hardy workers, cooked
by Heinrich and Maike Frick
for the past eight years. Midday
finds workers young and old
shedding part of their many layers
of clothing to warm up, fill their
stomachs, or occupy their minds
with television or a game of cards.
The administrative offices
modernized along with the
warehouse over the years with
computerization and modern
furniture, but, as in the past,
the makeup of the staff is still
primarily local national. In the
front office, only the chief is
American, supported by a team of
four German women with a total
of 140 years of service.
The sense of family is as
strong here as the refrigeration
system is cold. The old-timers
train the newcomers and bring
them into the fold by a regimen of
well-learned teaching and goodhearted
teasing. They proudly
show off their facility and skills
to the many visitors touring KCS
every year. To be escorted by
the chief, Austin Romesburg,
with 49 years of experience in
the logistics field, or his deputy
Wiltrud von Wallis, a German
local national who started at KCS
in 1972, or the facilities project
manager Agron Mece, is to get
a true sense of the family ties this
international group of employees
has developed and nurtured over
the years.
They know what they do is
important and they do it well.n

Kevin L. Robinson
Office of communication
T
here was a time when military commissaries
were staffed by soldiers, sailors, airmen,
Marines and Coast Guardsmen working right
alongside civilians. These uniformed members
served as cashiers, stockers, store officers and more.
Those days are long gone. In October, however,
DeCA took a page from that past by adding senior
enlisted advisors to its regional offices.
Joining Command Sgt. Maj.
Victor M. Garcia, DeCA’s senior
enlisted advisor to the director, are
Army Reserve Sgt. Maj. Linda
K. Ricker in DeCA Europe, Air
National Guard Chief Master
Sgt. Larry Fullilove in DeCA
East, and Coast Guard Reserve
Master Chief Petty Officer Joe
L. Valdez in DeCA West.
“We thought it was only
Victor M. Garcia
right, being that we had a
command sergeant major at the
headquarters, that we should also have some senior
enlisted leadership in the regions,” said Philip E.
Sakowitz Jr., DeCA director and CEO. “Fortunately
we were able to do that with the cooperation of
the military services. These are our senior enlisted
advisors – professional leaders, experienced,
multiservice and diverse.”
The added manpower will help Garcia in his
mission of advising DeCA’s civilian leadership about
the needs of enlisted service members’ commissary
benefit and connecting with the senior enlisted
leaders of the armed services. The agency’s senior
enlisted advisors are also military advocates for
DeCA customers – the 12 million active duty,
retired and forces in reserve and their families –
and responsible for increasing the awareness of
the commissary benefit and its savings to these
authorized patrons.
DeCA’s decision to add senior enlisted advisors to
its geographic areas mirrors the Army and Air Force
Exchange Service, which currently employs an Air
Force chief master sergeant in the senior enlisted
advisor position at its Dallas headquarters, and two
Army sergeants major – one in the Pacific and the
other in Europe.
“Since becoming the commissary’s senior
enlisted advisor almost a year and a half ago, the
opportunities to talk with service members and their
!
peoplealways
‘Back to the future’
New senior enlisted advisors
start region assignments
Three new senior enlisted advisors expand DeCA’s
military outreach: Sgt. Maj. Linda K. Ricker, Chief
Master Sgt. Larry Fullilove, and Master Chief Petty
Officer Joe L. Valdez. DeCA photo
families have taken me around the world,” Garcia
said. “However, this is not a one-man job. I want all
of our uniformed commissary authorized patrons to
have someone in their area who can listen to their
needs and address their concerns about their benefit
– someone who walks in their shoes and knows what
it’s like to be deployed and away from their families.”
Collectively, DeCA’s regional senior enlisted
advisors have almost 90 years of military experience.
Ricker, for example, has served in the Army
Reserve for 27 years, and was deployed to Iraq
from March 2008 to March 2009 and mobilized in
support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Fullilove, a veteran of 36 years in service, was
mobilized for operations Desert Shield, Desert
Storm, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, as
well as support of the Hurricane Katrina relief effort.
Valdez is a veteran of 24 years in the Coast Guard
Reserve and more than 12 years of other military
service including active duty in the Air Force and the
Army Active Guard Reserve program, and reserve
service in the Army Reserve and the Texas Army
National Guard. He was mobilized on active duty for
seven years with the Coast Guard immediately after
the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
“As senior enlisted advisors, we are here to
help connect our authorized customers with their
commissary benefit,” Garcia said.n
27

28 29 decavision 2009!Vol. 18, No. 4

Talent wanted for people with targeted disabilities
According to Grant, the renewed effort by DoD
Dr. Pete Skirbunt
Office of communication
DeCA intends to hire at least 189
“individuals with targeted disabilities,” or
IWTDs, in the next few years.
This hiring effort will be part of
an overall goal mandated by the Department of
Defense of ultimately having 2 percent of the entire
DoD workforce made up of individuals with these
disabilities. DeCA presently employs 126 such
individuals, so the additional 189 would bring the
agency’s total to 315 — and that is 2 percent of the
agency’s 15,714 civilian employees who are not
contract workers or “local nationals” working at
overseas stores.
Targeted
‘‘
disabilities
include – but are
not limited to –
hearing or vision
impairments,
missing extremities, and
partial or complete paralysis.
It also includes conditions
such as convulsions, mental
retardation, mental or
emotional illness, and severe
distortion of the limbs or
spine.
Claudie Grant of DeCA’s Equal Employment
Opportunity office stressed that the agency is not
simply filling an arbitrary quota with individuals
who may or may not be qualified for employment.
Instead, DeCA hopes to exceed the numerical goal,
while making sure that all individuals hired meet all
requirements for the positions into which they are
placed.
“Anyone with a targeted disability needs to be just
as qualified as the other top candidates for a given
job,” Grant said. “We will not relax our standards
either in hiring or in job performance just to hire a
person with a targeted disability.”
Cherry Point Commissary, N.C., leads the way in
DeCA in hiring the disabled. Store Director Phyllis
Black calls this team, “The Magnificent Seven.” Josh
Jones kneels in front; seated are Katie Wildermuth,
Samantha Wynn and Tiffany Keyes; and standing,
Manuel George, Grocery Manager Jozette Stewart,
Travis Parker, Black, and Joshua Daugherty. DeCA
photo: Maureen Burnetsky
!
I love working at the
commissary, talking
to the customers
and meeting people,
asking them if they
found everything OK.
Agency provides equal opportunities
and the agency has been prompted by a decreasing
number of individuals with targeted disabilities
employed by the department. “That means,” he
emphasized, “that we have to not only do a better job
of hiring such individuals, we also have to do a better
job of keeping them.”
While these efforts will be carried out at all
levels – headquarters, regions and commissaries
– several stores have already proven themselves to
be remarkably proactive regarding IWTDs. Grant
is especially impressed with the efforts of Store
Director Phyllis Black at Marine Corps Base
Cherry Point, N.C., who recently hired eight such
individuals – that’s 28 percent of the 29 people hired
by the entire agency in recent months.
Black says of her effort,
“It just took off! I got excited
about it, because there’s
nothing these people can’t
do, and I’m glad to give
them a chance to prove
it. They all have positive
attitudes that more than
make up for any problems
their disabilities cause them.
I wish I had more of them!”
Alan Jones, Cherry
Point’s zone manager, is
equally enthusiastic: “We’re thrilled to support this
program that brings us employees with positive
attitudes and great work ethics,” he said. Black’s
efforts recently helped her achieve DeCA’s award as
EEO Leader of the Year.
“If Cherry Point can do it, so can other stores,” Grant
said, “and we’re confident that’s what will happen.
Cherry Point has given everyone an example to
emulate. We’re not asking anyone to show favoritism;
we’re asking that hiring officials give everyone –
including targeted individuals – a fair chance.”
Bob Vitikacs, DeCA East acting director, noted
that stores in his region have recently hired 11 IWTDs
in addition to the eight at Cherry Point. “We’re
encouraging all of our stores to be proactive in this
program,” he said. “Cherry Point’s success is really
an inspiration to everyone. We can help improve
people’s lives and simultaneously improve the
agency.”
Keith Hagenbuch, acting director for DeCA
— Joshua Daugherty
West, said he and the region fully support the
w
29

‘‘
initiative. Chris Burns,
deputy director, noted,
“We’ve provided our
zone managers the
information they need
to help them succeed in
this area, including the
latest statistics on our
IWTD employees, listed
by store. As vacancies
occur, DeCA West’s zone
managers and store
directors work closely
with DeCA EEO to help initiate the employment
process.”
Tom Milks, DeCA’s deputy director and chief
operating officer, directed DeCA Europe last year, and
he pointed out that things work differently in Europe.
“While DeCA Europe totally supports the
EEO initiative of hiring employees with targeted
disabilities, there are obstacles inherent to the
overseas theaters that make this a greater challenge
than in other locations.
30 31 decavision 2009!Vol. 18, No. 4
!
I love my job.
Everyone here is
friendly and likes to
help me out. I am learning
things I’ve never had the
opportunity to learn before.
— Manuel George
“When American
personnel are
considered for
overseas transfer,
they’re screened
to ensure any
unusual health
considerations can
be supported by the
limited American
medical facilities in
their duty location,”
he continued. “This
requirement unfortunately limits the application of
individuals with these disabilities for positions in
Europe.”
Although local national employees are not counted
in DoD’s statistics on individuals with targeted
disabilities, DeCA Europe currently has 50 with
identified disabilities who are valued members of its
workforce.
“DeCA Europe also has one U.S. employee
hired under the ‘disabilities’ guidelines, plus 66
U.S. employees and one U.S. student hire with
self-identified medical issues who were not hired
under the disabilities authority,” said Milks. “These
employees contribute greatly to the mission of
serving the American military. They bring a special
aspect to the workplace, making us all more aware
and appreciative of how varied our lives are. We
are grateful to have them on our team and in our
community.”
At DeCA headquarters, Beverly Cannady, chief
of the contract policy and systems division, currently
employs one employee with a targeted disability
and hopes to soon get another. “We’ve seen a severe
shortage of qualified individuals in contracting
and acquisition over the past few years, and the
disabilities initiative has provided an additional
avenue for recruiting,” she said. “It’s been a very
positive experience that helps both the agency and
the employee.”
The initiative has the full support of DeCA Director
and CEO Philip E. Sakowitz Jr. “DeCA supports
the Individuals with Targeted Disabilities program
100 percent, and will work toward meeting and
exceeding the 2 percent goal,” he said. “It only
makes sense that all people have job opportunities.
That includes not only accessible workplace and
equal opportunities in being hired, but also in
opportunities for training and promotion. We’re
going to do everything we can to make sure this
initiative succeeds.”n
Left, Manuel George places a newly arrived load of
items in the chill box at Cherry Point Commissary,
N.C. DeCA photo: Phyllis Black

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The world's best customers salute the world's best employees
Fort Gillem
I knew Store Director
Jim Black, Fort Gillem
Commissary, Ga., while
stationed at Fort McPherson, Ga.,
and was always appreciative of
the service he provided to both
Gillem and McPherson. Imagine
my surprise after I retired in
Chattanooga, Tenn., that Jim and
his crew were providing quarterly Jim Black
service to the local Guard armory.
I attended his first on-site sale and could not believe
the number of people that attended. I haven’t
missed a single one of his visits. The time and effort
Jim and his staff devote to these extended visits
are tremendously appreciated by retired military
personnel as well as Guard and Reserve families. It
lets us know we are not the forgotten members of our
military family. Each time Jim and the delightful,
hard-working, friendly crew from Atlanta shows up,
it is a dream come true. I do not know whose idea it
was to provide this service to our service members
and retirees in the Chattanooga area. What I do know
is it is greatly appreciated, and Jim’s effort in making
this happen is a great credit to him, the commissary
agency and the thousands of employees that make
our service personnel’s lives a little easier.
Lt. Col. Donald L. “Lee” Norris, U.S. Army, retired
Fort Hood I
Patrick Clayton, computer-assisted ordering
specialist at Fort Hood I Commissary, Texas,
was very helpful and polite. He walked across the
commissary to find an item for me since I walk with
difficulty. He also got me a second cart, taking my
full one to the front. He could see I was struggling
(Editor’s note: Letters are edited for length and clarity.)
with my overly laden, heavy cart. He is an exemplary
employee and should be commended.
Karen Lisowski
Walter Reed
I am writing to let you know of an outstanding
commissary employee at Walter Reed
Commissary, Md. I recently placed two very
large orders in preparation for an overseas move
to Ethiopia. Zella Carver, store associate, had my
order rung up and ready to go when I arrived. She
was incredibly helpful and provided service with a
smile. I placed another order two weeks later. She
called to let me know a couple of items had not
arrived, but that she was working to fill the order.
She was true to her word. She called to say the order
was complete. I hope the commissary management
realizes what a gem of an employee they have in
Ms. Carver. She made my bulk order a very pleasant
experience.
Lee Malone, spouse of Capt. Joseph Malone,
U.S. Navy, retired
Luke
I would like Silvestre
Chaco, support clerk at Luke
Commissary, Ariz., to be
properly recognized for his day
in, day out professionalism. I am
cognizant of the fact that it’s his
job; however, he goes above and
beyond, not just pointing (when
I ask for the location of an item).
Silvestre Chaco My wife is handicapped and
has a lot of difficulty walking. If
she can’t find something, Silvestre will go get it. He
checks the price and makes recommendations. He is
also so congenial with all customers. We look forward
w
31

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The world's best customers salute the world's best employees
to Thursdays – he is always there with a smile, ready
to help. Please recognize him for the outstanding job
he does. He’s a definite asset to the commissary. He’s
a keeper.
Robert Kaan, U.S. Air Force, retired
Langley
On numerous occasions, when I visited Langley
Commissary, Va., I’ve met Judy Banks, store
associate in produce, through her well-kept area
and helpfulness. She always has a smile and is
very knowledgeable of the items. She has always
taken time to stop whatever she’s doing to assist
the customers, not only me. I highly suggest this
employee be commended among her colleagues.
Daniel Smith Jr.
Kirtland
As the outreach chairperson
for the Kirtland Air Force
Base, N.M., Catholic chapel
community, I plan monthly
events for our parish. For these
events, I always shop at the
commissary because of the
convenience, the good prices, and
the wonderful customer service.
Recently, I coordinated our
Robert Bernstein
parish picnic for 200 participants,
and Robert Bernstein,
merchandiser, was in charge of my special order. I
commend him for his superior customer service. I
gave him a list of items I needed, and he e-mailed
information detailing the specific brands, package
sizes, surcharge amount and total cost. Mr. Bernstein
deserves kudos for being a bargain shopper. He
found low-cost, high-quality items, allowing me to
buy extra snacks because I had funds remaining. He
had everything set aside for me on the morning of the
picnic. It was a very busy day, and I really appreciated
being able to quickly pick up and purchase my order.
I also would like to compliment Mr. Bernstein for
his prompt responses to phone calls and e-mails. In
32 33 decavision 2009!Vol. 18, No. 4
!
particular, his willingness to communicate made
picnic planning much easier.
Vivian Dep Maheu
Portsmouth
I commend Annette Roberts, store
administrator for Portsmouth Commissary,
Va., for her outstanding service by going the
extra mile in such a courteous manner. I was
shopping in the commissary when I spotted a
cappuccino product I had been searching for.
Only vanilla and mocha were on the shelf, however,
not the hazelnut I had been searching for everywhere.
I had the box top, so I asked for the manager and was
introduced to Ms. Roberts. She immediately looked
up the cappuccino and told me they did not carry
it, but she would be happy to order it from a larger
area commissary. Three cases were available, and I
happily bought all three.
Jean West
Nellis
The finest of your
fine employees at Nellis
Commissary, Nev., cashier Yu
Chen Cato, has been extremely
courteous, polite and helpful,
far beyond my expectations. For
example, if an item is weighed
but looks like the price is too
much, she reweighs it. If a sack is
Yu Chen Cato torn or something is crushed, she
brings the matter to my attention,
thus saving me time, money and aggravation. Ms.
Cato always displays an enthusiastic personality
and concern, with a warm, caring and professional
attitude.
Maj. Paul Thompson, U.S. Air Force, retired
Yongsan
My wife and I visited
Yongsan Commissary, South
Korea, and while approaching
the checkout line, we ran into
Charlie Cho, store manager.
What a pleasant man! While we
were talking, we mentioned that
we were looking for a cheese
slicer. Mr. Cho searched for a
Charlie Cho slicer, and he also had another
employee look in the warehouse.
He returned to us and said he would try to have
some ordered quickly. What a great response! I hope
all your employees take the same customer service
approach. Mr. Cho is a pleasure to be around, and
you can be sure we will always stop by and say hello.
Russ Fisher

Patch Barracks
Sarafin Cortez, sales store technician, is far
and away the best employee at Patch Barracks
Commissary, Germany. He is consistently friendly,
efficient and fast. He helps the baggers so customers
can get on their way quicker. He is extremely
respectful to every customer, and he knows his
business. I go out of my way to go through his lane
when I check out. He is the model for others to copy.
I have shopped at commissaries my entire life – 50
years – and he’s in the top 1 percent I have seen.
Craig Ross
Port Hueneme
I congratulate Port Hueneme Commissary,
Calif., for employing store associate Maria
“Yhoyie” Espirita. Every time I go to the office
to request help or I have a problem with the cash
register accepting my debit card, Ms. Maria is so
cordial and helpful. She always has a warm smile on
her face. This lady is a wonderful troubleshooter and
customer service representative, and she has been so
every time I needed help in the past one and a half
years. If I still had my small business, I would try to
hire her away from you.
Senior Master Sgt. Jeff Russell, U.S. Air Force,
retired
North Island
I have shopped at practically
all commissaries around the
world; however, none measure up
to North Island Commissary,
Calif. I shop here nearly every
day, and the shelves are always
well stocked; each department
offers outstanding quality, variety
and freshness; displays are
appealing to the eye, with sales Thomas Testerman
prominently marked; and the
store is impeccably clean, with easy access – most
comforting. Last but not least, is customer service –
courteous, above and beyond, with an “ask and you
shall receive” attitude. Energy and teamwork among
the staff permeate the atmosphere. It’s evident that
under the leadership of Store Director Thomas
Testerman, employees are inspired to give their
very best. I have friends who travel to North Island
Commissary from other towns to shop here. Please
know how grateful I am to have the privilege to shop
here.
Yoshi Tiffany
Menwith Hill
I live in Scotland, and I contacted Store Director
Ricky Potteiger, Menwith Hill Commissary,
England, about the store and the requirements for me
!
to use it. Ricky
came back
straight away
and provided
me with the
information I
needed. He also
volunteered
to escort me
and my family
if we had any
problems
getting on the base. He was friendly and helpful prior
to our arrival, then he made himself and his deputy,
Janice Johnson, available to us during our visit.
These two representatives made our trip down from
Scotland very enjoyable and stress-free – and as
your slogan says, they made it “worth the trip.” Ricky
and Janice’s enthusiasm was evident in the friendly,
helpful staff throughout the commissary.
Petty Officer 1st Ricky Potteiger Janice Johnson
Class Joseph Burns, U.S. Navy,
retired
Lackland
I thank the great employees you have working at
Lackland Commissary, Texas. Petra Martinez
and Belinda Connell, store associates, do an
outstanding job helping customers select produce.
Every time I shop at the commissary, these two ladies
not only help me, but also all the other customers,
selecting the best fruits and vegetables. We are very
lucky to have dedicated employees like this, who go
out of their way to assist service members and their
families. Thanks again, and keep up the good work.
Col. Peter Wojcik, U.S. Army, retired
Vilseck
For Rose Barracks Youth Services, we send a
big thank you to Deputy Store Director Terry Ford
and Michael Maier in the bakery at Vilseck
Commissary, Germany. Thanks to their continued
support and outstanding customer service, our
National Kids’ Day has been a huge success, and the
cake was delicious and beautifully decorated. Vilseck
Commissary is the best. Keep up the good work.
Tammy Weightman
Fort Worth
We routinely visit the Fort Worth
Commissary, Texas. On our visit today, we had
the pleasure of again having store associate Patrick
Arredondo serve our needs at the self-service
checkout. He has been at that position many times
w
33

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The world's best customers salute the world's best employees
when we shopped at the commissary. Today, he was
again the helpful, cheerful attendant that we have
come to recognize. No matter how busy or stressful
his day has been, he is always quick to see customer
needs, and he helps with his friendly manner. He
is knowledgeable and well-trained, and we are
appreciative of that. It can be very stressful when
there is a problem at checkout and others are waiting
in line. He resolves the issues so quickly that they are
hardly noticeable. We appreciate him every time we
shop.
Tech. Sgt. Earl Croy
Croughton
I ordered a cake for my son from Croughton
Commissary, England, two weeks in advance.
The cake was not there when I went to pick it up.
Secretary Julie Romine went over and beyond
her duty. I was upset, and she tried to sell me
another cake, but I told her that was not what I
wanted, I wanted the cake my son picked out. She
was going to let me speak to the manager when she
returned from lunch, but we came up with a better
idea. Rasheedah Young, commissary support
technician, was in the store, and she volunteered to
decorate the cake and make it look like the cake my
son had chosen. Julie volunteered to buy me a cake,
without even asking me if she could. She paid for the
cake, and Ms. Young decorated the cake just like the
cake my son had chosen. I was very pleased.
Tech. Sgt. Veronica Murphy, U.S. Air Force
Fort Lewis
I thank store associate Katie Schiappacasse
for her help at Fort Lewis Commissary, Wash.
She went out of her way to provide outstanding
customer service. I was purchasing clementines that
came in a mesh bag instead of the usual crate, and
I grabbed them without checking a price. I couldn’t
find a price at checkout, so I decided not to bother
with them. In the meantime, Katie went to the
produce department to check the price, but she was
34 35 decavision 2009!Vol. 18, No. 4
!
given the price for the 5-pound bag instead of the
2.5-pound bag. She returned to produce a second
time and got the correct price. She then offered
to ring up my extra purchase at her register so
I didn’t have to wait in line again. It seems like
a small gesture, but she really did go out of her
way to help. She was very sweet as well, making
the words “customer service” really stand for
something. Thanks so much, Katie.
Mary Rice
MacDill
My husband and I arrived
early at MacDill Commissary,
Fla., but there weren’t any
handicap scooters. A storeworker,
Darryl Chapman, heard my
husband tell me to sit on a bench
and wait. He asked if he could
help me, and I told him I recently
had back surgery and couldn’t
Darryl Chapman possibly walk around the store.
Mr. Chapman went all through the
store and parking lot, trying to find a scooter, with no
luck. Another shopper gave me his scooter when he
was finished shopping, but it was low on power, so
Mr. Chapman said he would keep looking. My scooter
quit in the meat department, and Mr. Chapman told
me to sit right there, and he returned a few minutes
later with a fully charged scooter. He went above and
beyond to help me. Thank you, Mr. Chapman.
Marjorie Merrill
Randolph
What a terrific shopping
experience! I arrive at the
Randolph Commissary, Texas,
and see a number of vendor
contractors, all in good spirits
and full of smiles, trying to sell
their products. I buy a lot of their
products, then go inside. The
store is clean, well-stocked and
Tony Reyes in excellent order. The produce
area employee is whistling his
heart away while he restocks. He pauses to greet me
and asks if I need help. I continue to shop, shop and
shop some more. In the market, the butcher brings
me the best, freshest cuts of beef. Oh yum! Contract
vendors are giving away samples of sausage and
coupons. So good. I added some to my basket. I’ve
been in the store at least three hours – better go
check out. Cashier Tony Reyes is friendly, courteous
and so professional – it’s a pleasure to go through
his checkout. Wow – it’s $389.91, he says, and I tell
myself, “I can’t wait until my next trip here.”
Kenneth Jenkins

Redstone
Arsenal
On numerous
occasions during my
shopping trips to
Redstone Arsenal
Commissary,
Ala., I have been
helped by Dwayne
Hayes, commissary
storeworker. He is
very helpful, patient
and kind, not only to me, but to other
patrons as well. I thought you should
know about the great job he is doing
and that we appreciate it. Keep up the
good work, Mr. Hayes, that continues to
make for a very satisfying shopping trip
to our Redstone Commissary.
Specialist 1st Dwayne Hayes
Class Leroy Pugh,
U.S. Army, retired
Little Rock
Grocery manager Adrian
Carranco and storeworker lead Bobby
Fowler, Little Rock Commissary,
Ark., have worked with me several
times now with food items for large
cookouts. Mr. Carranco makes me feel
like whatever problem I have, it’s his
problem, too, and he wants to help get
things figured out. Mr. Fowler helped
me through the checkout process and
loading the meat, then taking all the
empty cases back into the store so
I didn’t have to worry with them. I
know this was just part of his job, but
throughout the work, he was smiling
and so pleasant. I also feel that Mr.
Carranco’s leadership is one reason why
Mr. Fowler is such a great employee:
Leading by example is shown to the
highest here.
Specialist 1 st Class Garry Odom,
Arkansas Army National Guard
Grafenwoehr
I just want to submit a short
compliment to the entire staff at
the Grafenwoehr Commissary,
Germany. I always receive excellent,
friendly service from the bakery-deli,
the store workers stocking or doing
various jobs, the cashiers and the
baggers. I am always greeted with a friendly smile,
even from the youngest bagger in the store. The
management is very visible and approachable.
!
Zone 36 Manager Wayne Walk shares a letter he
received about Charles Harris, manager, Osan
Central Distribution Center, South Korea.
I want you to know what kind of person Charles
Harris is. He really cares and supports all his
employees. He takes care of his people. If it were not
for him, I might not be here, or at a minimum, would
be on a kidney dialysis machine.
On
June 30, I
literally could
not move – I
felt like I was hit by
a Mack truck. Mr.
Harris came to my
house and took me to
the Camp Humphreys
Clinic. They ran tests
and said I had major
complications they
could not treat because
they are a small clinic.
My DeCA family
Brian Mercer
Charles Harris
They immediately placed me in an ambulance and
took me to Dankook University Hospital, Chonan,
South Korea, where I was placed immediately in the
intensive care unit.
The doctor said my kidneys were shutting
down. By the grace of God, I pulled through and
spent the next eight days in the hospital. Mr. Harris
and Timothy Estes, assistant CDC manager, came
by many times and brought me things I needed.
Mr. Harris continued to call me while I was on
convalescent leave to make sure I was OK.
I wish there was a way to recognize him, so I
wanted you to know. And yes, I checked with the doc
and I can still smoke cigars.
Brian Mercer, foreman
Osan CDC
Want to thank a DeCA colleague for treating you like
family? Send your story to your store director for
inclusion in decavision.n
35

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The world's best customers salute the world's best employees
Thanks for such good service.
Angie Hood
Charleston
It’s refreshing, to say the least, to find someone
who actually enjoys their job and goes above and
beyond to help a customer. That’s exactly what
store associate Allison Tucker did for me at
the commissary at Naval Weapons Station
Charleston, S.C. The store had been out of the dog
food that we buy for nearly a month. I saw Allison
and asked her about it. She went to the back, and
when she returned, she said they expected a truck in
and would put my name on two bags if I gave her my
phone number. Awesome!
Ann Yingling
Fort Sill
Storeworker Christine
Browne took care of my needs,
going above and beyond to make
sure that my lunch hour wasn’t
spent waiting in a long line to check
out at Fort Sill Commissary,
Okla. While I was waiting in line
to check out, she asked if I was on
my lunch hour, and I answered
yes. She asked me to follow her Christine Browne
to the self-checkout line and she
would ring me up. I was so impressed with her. She
should be recognized as a valuable employee to your
organization, because she goes the extra mile and does
it with a friendly smile and positive attitude.
Trisha Lett
Camp Humphreys
I was at Camp Humphreys Commissary,
South Korea, and enjoyed shopping at your location.
Your staff at that time was very professional and
always so helpful. I’m looking forward to my next
deployment to Camp Humphreys.
Bobby Hernandez
Schofield Barracks
On Monday, I had the best shopping experience
in the Schofield Barracks Commissary, Hawaii.
36 37 decavision 2009!Vol. 18, No. 4
I entered the commissary in a bad mood; nothing
was going right for me. I was in the self-checkout
line nearly ready to check out when I realized that
I had forgotten an item. I asked the attendant,
Tracy Stack, if she could tell me where I could
find a specific kind of protein bar. She said, “Just
one minute,” and next thing I knew, this employee
brought me one of each of the different flavors,
allowing me to choose the one I was looking for.
Man, I felt special! She even continued helping me
with the produce codes on items I was purchasing.
She made my day. Thanks.
Sunnta’e Flowers
Yongsan
I want to take this time to express my gratitude to
one of your meatcutters at Yongsan Commissary,
South Korea. Kwon Han-Min, a Korean national
employee, has been very helpful and courteous while
attending the meat display case. He is young but very
knowledgeable in his profession and takes the time
to explain various cuts of meats and how to prepare
them. Being of Korean heritage, I don’t know the
name of meats in English. Mr. Kwon, as always, takes
the time to explain what cuts to use to prepare a
certain Korean dish. I have heard the same from my
friends, and I think he is the best meatcutter that’s
ever worked behind the meat display case. Thank you
for having him here.
Song Soska
Andrews
I would like to express my sincere appreciation for
the excellent work of store associate Irene Cohen
at Andrews Commissary, Md. She was working
the express line when a couple came up with about
40 items in their cart, just ahead of me. Irene pointed
out the excessive number of items when they started
putting items in the counter, but they kept putting
them on. When Irene rang up more than 20 items,
she totaled them out and refused to ring up anymore
items. She was firm, but not disrespectful, in telling
them that 20 was the limit on that line. The couple
paid for their items, then got back on the end of the
line without any argument. I was very impressed.
Way to go! I've seen people go through express lines
in a variety of establishments, military and civilian,
and have never seen anything done about it. Thanks
for a job well done, Irene!
Lt. Mark Ethridge, U.S. Navy Reserven

!
Yofthebenefit
‘Heart of the Benefit’ celebrates the winning work philosophies
of three outstanding DeCA team members.
What do you like best about your job as a sales store checker?
Meeting and interacting with people. It’s amazing
that people will remember you when they are
satisfied with your service.
How do you help make the commissary worth the trip?
By providing the exceptional level of service my
customers expect and go one step beyond. I want my
customers to feel that they are appreciated and that
it is my privilege to provide them their commissary
benefit.
What’s your professional history?
I worked in a manufacturing company as a quality
inspector and as a casual clerk at the post office as a
seasonal carrier. I also worked at the Fort Belvoir golf
pro shop as a cashier.
What are your professional goals?
To continue my current position within DeCA in the
customer service department and pursue a career as
a medical records clerk.
Who has had the most influence on your career?
My parents, though they were not well educated
and came from poor families, were able to send me
to a good local public school in the Philippines and
instill in me the principles of hard work, humility and
patience. The other people who have influenced my
career are my department managers, by putting their
trust and confidence in me and providing the tools for
me to accomplish my job to the best of my ability. w
Josie is the epitome of customer service.
She exemplifies dedication and always
makes the customer feel that she is
doing more than just a job, but truly
providing a service and making the
commissary worth the trip. Thank you,
Josie, for making our customers feel
special and appreciated.
Tony Matthias
Store director
Josephine Siack
Fort Belvoir Commissary, Va.
Josephine Siack DeCA photo: Rick Brink
37

Juri Kouda DeCA photo: Ronald Yoder
Juri Kouda
Sagamihara Commissary, Japan
What do you like best about your job as a sales store checker?
What I love best about my job is our customers.
Seeing them smile makes a world of difference in
my life. Watching our customers leave happy makes
me happy.
How do you help make the commissary worth the trip?
I help make it worth the trip by knowing my
customers’ needs. To help them save even more, I
take the time to find and clip coupons and attach
them to products. I view my customers as if they
were my family, and I want to help them in any way
I can.
38 39 decavision 2009!Vol. 18, No. 4
!
What is your professional history?
I am a Japanese local national, and I graduated
from college in 1997. Upon graduation, I saw an
opportunity to work with Americans and accepted
a waitress position with Morale, Welfare and
Recreation. I worked at MWR from 1997 until 2003
when I accepted a great opportunity to work with
DeCA.
What are your professional goals?
My goals are to better serve the military, civilians
and their family members by continuing to learn
American ways of living. I want to further my
knowledge of the products we sell and the services
we provide. I would love to learn more about the
accounting aspects of DeCA and to increase my
knowledge of computers.
Who influenced your career most and how?
The person who influenced and continues to
influence me most is Ronald Yoder, our store
director. Since Mr. Yoder became our store director,
he always has a smile on his face; you won’t catch
him without one! He is a great teacher and mentor,
and he is always there to pick me up when I need
it the most. He encourages me to keep trying and
never give up. Bell Watson, our customer service
manager, has also influenced me by teaching me
how to work in a team and reminding me how
important it is to work as one team, not individual
departments.
Juri Kouda’s dedication to the store and
the customers we serve is truly amazing.
The energy and enthusiasm she brings
to providing outstanding service to
our patrons and her co-workers is
contagious and makes everyone around
her strive to be better. Whether she is
running a register for 10 hours straight
in the freezing cold at an on-site sale at
Camp Fuji, or using her personal time to
clip, sort and hang coupons on products
in the store, Juri is focused on going
the extra mile to support our mission,
and she does it all with a smile. Juri
truly is the face of world class customer
service at our store, and she makes the
commissary worth the trip for everyone
who walks through our doors.
Ronald Yoder
Store director

Cathylin San Nicolas DeCA photo: Ingrid Ruiz
Cathylin
San Nicolas
Grafenwoehr Commissary, Germany
What do you like best about your job as a store associate?
I work in all departments, however my favorite
department is grocery. There are many challenges to
conquer and find resolutions for while working with
team members and management. Working in this
department, I have learned to stock shelves correctly,
do ordering and receiving, and set up end caps and
floor displays. I enjoy greeting and assisting all our
customers, whether it’s for a special order, finding
a particular product in the store or just talking with
them. Working in the grocery department lets me
learn something new every day. I also like helping
the customers, and when I am stocking on the floor,
this gives me the chance to interact with them and
ensure they are satisfied when they leave the store. I
like building displays, and aside from winning a best
display competition, I find the most gratification from
the positive comments I get from the customers.
How do you help make the commissary worth the trip?
I think it is important to provide a great place to
shop for all our soldiers and family members. At
Grafenwoehr Commissary, we do all we can to help
!
our most valuable customers. I treat all my customers
with utmost respect, greet them with a smile and ask
how their day has been. Whether I am at the register
or stocking the shelves, I am sensitive to the needs of
our customers and make sure they get the best service
ever. I research products for them, if they cannot
find them in the store, and I will make sure that the
next time they come, the products are available. I
treat my customers the way I want to be treated. I am
a military spouse, and I know how hard it is when
spouses are down range. I put smiles on their faces by
greeting and helping them.
What’s your professional history?
Before I started with DeCA, I worked for Army and
Air Force Exchange Service at Fort Hood, Texas, as a
sales clerk in the car care center. Before that I worked
for an auto parts and service center as a branch
manager back home in Guam. I also worked for Navy
Exchange as a cashier in the NEX car care center and
progressed to become shift leader. My career is based
on working with customers to the fullest.
What are your professional goals?
I want to be a DeCA store director.
Who influenced your career most and how?
My store director here, Jimmie Holzhauser, and
store administrator, Ingrid Ruiz, have been very
helpful to me in my first DeCA work experience. Mr.
Holzhauser has given me the opportunity to learn all
aspects of the store. He advises me on certain areas of
the job that I am having a hard time with, and his 35
years of experience are beneficial to me and the whole
store. Mrs. Ruiz inspired me to follow a management
career path with DeCA. She showed me how I can
move up in the business. Both Mrs. Ruiz and Mr.
Holzhauser are very good in training their employees
and they create a very positive work environment.
They both make it fun to work here.n
Mrs. San Nicolas is a very dynamic
individual; she is willing to accept any
challenge that comes along. I strongly
believe that if she continues the way
she is going, she will be an outstanding
store director one day. In the years to
come, DeCA will need highly qualified
and motivated employees like Mrs. San
Nicolas.
Jimmie Holzhauser
Store director
39

Robert Allen (40)
obituaries
JACK FIELD, Fort Riley, Kan. (Aug. 13)
KARL TAKENAKA, NB Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
(Aug. 23)
* Pictured
retirements
* DANIEL ADAMS,
Fort Huachuca,
Ariz. (40)
VERDER DANIELS,
NAS Whiting
Field, Fla.
ROSE FOSTER, HQ
DeCA, Va.
DIANE HARRIS, HQ
DeCA, Va.
DELORIS JORDAN,
HQ DeCA, Va.
GERDA LENEAR,
Fort Carson,
Daniel Adams (40)
Colo.
DELBERT PARSONS,
Tinker AFB, Okla.
ELAIDO RIVERA, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
YI HAE-CHOL, Yongsan, South Korea (40)
anniversaries
(Mug shots welcomed for those with 40+ years
of service)
45 years
* GERALD PEREZ, NAS Key West, Fla.
40 years
* DANIEL ADAMS, Fort Huachuca, Ariz.
* ROBERT ALLEN,
Tyndall AFB, Fla.
* PETER BANSCHER,
Germersheim
CDC, Germany
ANTHONY
ERDOLINO, NAS
Patuxent River,
Md.
* STEVE PAROS,
Tyndall AFB, Fla.
* FRANK RUDOLPH,
Fairchild AFB,
Wash.
Gerald Perez (45)
Peter Banscher (40)
40 41 decavision 2009!Vol. 18, No. 4
!
frontandcenter
35 years
CRUZ ALEMAN JR., Beale AFB, Calif.
RALPH ALLES JR., Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
PETER AMNOTT, Bangor ANGB, Maine
SHARON BLACK, Scott AFB, Ill.
DEBORAH CRAIG, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
RITA EHLENZ, Spangdahlem, Germany
JOHN GARRISON, HQ DeCA, Va.
ROY GASKIN, Edwards AFB, Calif.
INGRID LITSCH, Germersheim CDC, Germany
JOHN MAFFEI, HQ DeCA, Va.
JAMES MILES, NAS Patuxent River, Md.
MAUREEN O’CONNOR, Fort Knox, Ky.
FRANK PENN JR., HQ DeCA, Va.
PYO YANG-PAE, Yongsan CDC, South Korea
MELVIN SIMMONS, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
ALEXANDER VARELA, NS Great Lakes, Ill.
RENÉ VITIKACS, HQ DeCA, Va.
PETER WILHELM, Kaiserslautern CDC, Germany
30 years
AHN JUN-SHIK, Yongsan CDC, South Korea
REYNALDO ANDRES, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
GISELA BAKER, Hunter AAF, Ga.
CALEB BISER, Fort Detrick, Md.
RONALD BLACK, HQ DeCA, Va.
LESLIE CALDWELL, HQ DeCA, Va.
ALBERTO CENTENO, NSB New London, Conn.
WAYNE CORREIA, HQ DeCA, Va.
CONRAD CRAYTOR III, McConnell AFB, Kan.
REBECCA CROWDER, HQ DeCA, Va.
WILLIAM DORMIRE, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
GWENDOLYN DUNCAN, HQ DeCA, Va.
JOYCE EDWARDS, Fort Lee, Va.
GENE FEAGANES, Bolling AFB, D.C.
JOHN GAY, McConnell AFB, Kan.
CHARLES GOODROE, MCLB Albany, Ga.
JANET GOODWIN, Fort Jackson, S.C.
TOMMIE HARRIS, NB Norfolk, Va.
VIVIAN HASTIE, Patrick AFB, Fla.
JOAN HENDERSON, McChord AFB, Wash.
EARNEST HICKS JR., MCLB Albany, Ga.
MICHAEL HOWELL, McConnell AFB, Kan.
TIMOTHY JUNE SR., Fort Jackson, S.C.
KIM KWAN-SOK, Yongsan, South Korea
PHILLIP LAMB, Fort Lewis, Wash.
MARIE LEONARD, Fort Bragg North, N.C.
PHILIP LOPEZ, NAS Corpus Christi, Texas
BRENDA MATTHEWS, HQ DeCA, Va.
JAMES MIRABAL, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
JOSEF NEIDIG, Germersheim CDC, Germany
SIAKI PENITITO, Ord Community, Calif.
MARY ANN PENROD, Fort Carson, Colo.
DARYL PERRIN, NBK Bremerton, Wash.
KEVIN PIGRAM, HQ DeCA, Va.
Steve Paros (40)
Frank Rudolph (40)
THOMAS POWELL, Fort Knox, Ky.
JOSEPH RAGLAND, Fort Belvoir, Va.
EMILY REDDINGTON, Travis AFB, Calif.
JUDITH RING, Offutt AFB, Neb.
ARTHUR ROBINSON, Fort Eustis, Va.
FRED SANCHEZ, Andersen AFB, Guam
LORETTA SANDERS, Fort Hood I, Texas
CAROL SAUNDERS, Fort Gordon, Ga.
WOLFGANG SCHEIBER, Ramstein AB CMPP,
Germany
BEVERLEY SHERARD, MacDill AFB, Fla.
ANGELA SMITH, HQ DeCA, Va.
CURTIS SMITH, NB Norfolk, Va.
GEARLDEAN SMOLDT, HQ DeCA, Va.
ELDEN TRITCH, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
JUANITA TRUJILLO, McClellan, Calif.
CARL WEINSTEGER, NB Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
KAREN WRIGHT, NAS Whidbey Island, Wash.
25 years
JUDY AQUINO, NAS Mayport, Fla.
EVELYN ATRERO, NAS Miramar, Calif.
RICKY BEAVERS, Fort Wainwright, Alaska
TWILA BEDWELL, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
GREGORY BOWMAN, Fort Bragg North, N.C.
KRISTINE BROCKES, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
GLORIA BROOM, HQ DeCA, Va.
LAVERN BROWN, MacDill AFB, Fla.
LEANN BURTON, NAS Mayport, Fla.
MYONG BYROM, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii
JUDY LEE CHERRY, HQ DeCA, Va.
ROBIN CLARK, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
LORENZA COLLIER, HQ DeCA, Va.
LISA DEGRACE, NAS Miramar, Calif.
WANDA DOTSON, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
PATRICK DOWDELL, NAS Mayport, Fla.
MAGNOLA EBANKS, Patrick AFB, Fla.
ELAINE ECCEL, McClellan, Calif.
GWENDOLYN EDWARDS, Fort Gordon, Ga.
RUBEN FONTANILLA, NB Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
ROBERT GAINEY, Dover AFB, Del.
TERRI GEFFERT, Fort Campbell, Ky.
SHIRLEY GOBA, MCAS Cherry Point, N.C.
JOHN GONGORA, Goodfellow AFB, Texas
SUN GUTHRIE, NAS Pensacola, Fla.
ROBERT HARRIS, Fort Belvoir, Va.
JUANITA HIGGINBOTHAM, Fort Sam Houston,
Texas
SUBRINA HILL, Fort Knox, Ky.
MADALENE HUDDY, Schofield Barracks,
Hawaii
FRAN HUDSON, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
CARMEN HUGHES, Langley AFB, Va.
DIANA HUNTER, Hill AFB, Texas
CLAUDINE JACKSON, HQ DeCA, Va.
PERRY JOHNSON, Fort Jackson, S.C.
LILLIE KING, Fort Hood, Texas
DUNDUAN KONDO, MCB Kaneohe Bay,
Hawaii
HENRY MANDUJANO, Fort Sam Houston,
Texas
JOYCE MANNING, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
SUE MARCUM, NBK Bremerton, Wash.
JOHN MARTINEZ, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
MAGGIE MATTOCKS, MCAS Cherry Point, N.C.
HAROLD MAY, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
PETER MAYES, Fort Stewart, Ga.
JAMES MESSINEO, Fort Meade, Md.
GREGORY MILLENDER, Scott AFB, Ill.
ELEANOR MINOR, Guam CDC
HANS PETER MOLTER, Kaiserslautern CDC,
Germany
LINDA MOORE, Beale AFB, Calif.

SCOTT MOOREHEAD, HQ DeCA, Va.
YOLANDA MURRAY, Lackland AFB, Texas
DIANE NICHOLSON, NAB Little Creek, Va.
RONALD PATTERSON, C.E. Kelly SF, Pa.
CARL PETERS, NB Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
HECTOR RAMOS, Fort Wainwright, Alaska
ANA RARANGOL, NB Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
SHARON MARIE RAY, Fort Knox, Ky.
GWENDOLYN SCOTT, Fort Carson, Colo.
ALZINA SKINNER, Fort Eustis, Va.
LAURA SLEIGH, Fort Lewis, Wash.
JEANNETTE SNIPE, Hunter AAF, Ga.
SONG KWI-TAE, Taegu CDC, South Korea
CHRISTINE SPAIN, NSA New Orleans, La.
ROGER TEW, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
FLOYD THIGPEN, NAS Jacksonville, Fla.
JAMES THOMPSON JR., Fort Hood I, Texas
HILARY TOVES, NS Orote, Guam
TODD ELLIOTT TRIMMER, NAS Brunswick, Maine
UN SUK TRUITTLEE, Fort Gordon, Ga.
BENJAMIN WAINWRIGHT, Hickam AFB,
Hawaii
!
SHERRI WALDEN, Charleston AFB, S.C.
BARBARA WALKER, Seymour Johnson AFB,
N.C.
MYONG WALKER, Fort Hood I, Texas
STEVEN WHEELER, Edwards AFB, Calif.
BARRY WHITE, HQ DeCA, Va.
SHELIA WILLIAMS, Fort Hood II, Texas
YI MUN-U, Yongsan, South Korea
20 years
JERE AMIDEI, HQ DeCA, Va.
RAYDELLA ANDERSON, NAB Little Creek, Va.
TODD ANDERSON, Grand Forks AFB, N.D.
ANGELES BAISA, Fort Rucker, Ala.
THOMAS BERAK, HQ DeCA, Va.
BETTYE JOYCE BLACKWELL, Elmendorf AFB,
Alaska
SUN BOHN, FAF Moffett Field, Calif.
MARIANNE BRANDT, Nellis AFB, Nev.
ANDREW BROOKES, Peterson AFB, Colo.
ESTRELLITA BURTON, March ARB, Calif.
MICHELLE BYRD, Fort Sill, Okla.
pTREATS FOR TROOPS: Store Director Ruby Ervin, Randolph Commissary,
Texas, and Postmaster Gerardo Coronado prepare six 70-pound boxes of
items donated by industry partners to send to local airmen deployed to
EMILIA CAROC, Bolling AFB, D.C.
CAROLYN CARR, NWS Charleston, S.C.
MARY CARRINGTON, Fort Gordon, Ga.
ROBERTA CHEATHAM, HQ DeCA, Va.
CHONG TAE-HYON, Camp Humphreys, South
Korea
JULIE COLE, Hill AFB, Utah
ALSO CONGIU, HQ DeCA, Va.
EDNA CRADDOCK, Bolling AFB, D.C.
CLAUDIA CROCKER, MCLB Barstow, Calif.
WILLIAM CROMBLIN, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
MARK CRUMP, NAS Pensacola, Fla.
ISAAC CRUZ, Guam CDC
BEVERLY DAVIS, Fort Jackson, S.C.
DONNA DEABLER, Offutt AFB, Neb.
LARRY DEAN, Columbus AFB, Miss.
JEFFREY DEWEY, MCRD Parris Island, S.C.
ALEXANDRA DIETZEN, Spangdahlem AB,
Germany
STEFAN DOLL, Sembach AB, Germany
UTE DOLLT, Germersheim CDC, Germany
JEFFREY DONALDSON, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
ANDREAS DRECHSEL, Ramstein AB CMPP,
Germany
KELEMATINA DUNKLEY, McClellan, Calif.
MARIA ESTRADA, Langley AFB, Va.
IVA FELTON, NS Newport, R.I.
KELLY FLETCHER, DeCA East, Va.
REGINAL FLOWERS, NAS Patuxent River, Md.
LEON FOUNTAIN, Fort Bliss, Texas
DIANA GANT, Buckley AFB, Colo.
JO GARCIA, Hill AFB, Utah
MICHELLE GARRARD, Walter Reed AMC, Md.
WILLIAM GIBSON, NAS North Island, Calif.
PAUL GUNN, Travis AFB, Calif.
TERESA HALE, Eglin AFB, Fla.
DEBBIE HALSEY, NAS Oceana, Va.
VIVIAN HAMLET, HQ DeCA, Va.
YONG CHA HEMPHILL, Fort Meade, Md.
DARNELL HICKS, HQ DeCA, Va.
JEFFREY HODGES, Fort Sill, Okla.
LaVON HOLLAND, NAS Oceana, Va.
HELEN HOOVER, ARDEC Picatinny Arsenal,
N.J.
FLORENDO IGNACIO, NAES Lakehurst, N.J.
SCOTT JAMES, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
SALVADORA JELINEK, NAS Patuxent River, Md.
SARAH JENNINGS, Hill AFB, Utah.
JANET JOHNSON, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
MATTIE JONES, Bolling AFB, D.C.
RAMONA JONES, Luke AFB, Ariz.
GERLINDE KAISER, Germersheim CDC,
Germany
RON KELLY, HQ DeCA, Va.
THERESA KELLY, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
COLLEEN KEMP, Fort Bragg South, N.C.
CAROL LAKEY, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
IDETH LATIMER, HQ DeCA, Va.
DIANA GANT LEAD, Buckley AFB, Colo.
GEORGE LEE, NSB Kings Bay, Ga.
GERDA LENEAR, Fort Carson, Colo.
JANA LITTLETON, Fort Hood I, Texas
REBECCA LOOK, Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif.
DIANNE MARSH, March ARB, Calif.
PETE MARTINDALE, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
MAUREEN MATTHEWS, RAF Lakenheath,
England
NORMAN MAYER, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
BARBARA McCARTY, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
VIRGINIA MILLER, White Sands MR, N.M.
YASUHISA MIYAZAKI, Camp Zama, Japan
FLORENCIO MORENO, NAS Kingsville, Texas
DEBORAH MUNDT, Fort Rucker, Ala.
NORMAN MYERS, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
Kuwait. DeCA photo: Bobby Brooks w
41

MARIA NASCHKE, NAS Oceana, Va.
CARLITA NAUTA, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
CARL NEELY, Fort Belvoir, Va.
CHRISTA NEIDIG, Germersheim CDC, Germany
PREMEDIA OSBORNE, Fort Hood II, Texas
TRACY O’TOOLE, Fort Polk, La.
SANDRA PABST, NS Great Lakes, Ill.
ELLIS PALOMO, Fort Sam Houston, Texas
LOUISE PETRIZZI, Sheppard AFB, Texas
EDWARD PORTO, NSF Dahlgren, Va.
HAESUK QUINNAN, Fort Lewis, Wash.
EDWARD RATCLIFF, NS Port Hueneme, Calif.
BARBARA REID, Fort Bragg North, N.C.
FELICIA RICHARDSON, Altus AFB, Okla.
WILLIAM ROBERTIN JR., West Point USMA, N.Y.
SHERI RODAHL, Minot AFB, N.D.
JOEY SANTIAGO, NS Orote, Guam
DOMICIANA SAUNDERS, NAS Jacksonville, Fla.
CAROLE SESSIONS, Hill AFB, Utah
SEONG SHEEHAN, McChord AFB, Wash.
ROSA SILVA, Eglin AFB, Fla.
VASQUEZ SOMBOON, Ord Community, Calif.
RICHARD STILLIE, Fort Greely, Alaska
MICHELLE SWIFT, NSB Kings Bay, Ga.
TORSTEN TINNEY, Ramstein AB, Germany
PATRICIA TORRES, Fort Bragg North, N.C.
RUBEN TRONCOSO, Fort Bliss, Texas
ROLINDA UMAYAM, SC Smokey Point, Wash.
ROBIN VINCENT, Fort Riley, Kan.
KRISTINE WATSON, MCB Quantico, Va.
GLORIA WORTHAM, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
GLORIA WUNZ, Patrick AFB, Fla.
JOY YOST, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
42 43 decavision 2009!Vol. 18, No. 4
!
pPRODUCE ‘KID ZONE’: San Diego Commissary, Calif., knows produce
can be a “kid magnet” with the right merchandising. DeCA photo:
Bill Vick
15 years
KATIE ADKINS, Barksdale AFB, La.
KIM ALSTON, Charleston AFB, S.C.
GREGORY ANDERSON, NAS Jacksonville, Fla.
ANGELITA BALICAO, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
ELENA BALISI, NSB Kings Bay, Ga.
BLESILDA BOLDEN, NAS Key West, Fla.
DIANE BOSS, NCBC Gulfport, Miss.
PHILLIP BRADY, Eglin AFB, Fla.
NERISSA CAMPOSAGRADO, NCBC Gulfport,
Miss.
MAMERTO CAPIL, NOLF Imperial Beach, Calif.
ANNA MARIA CAPORAL, Aviano AB, Italy
MARNIE CASTANEDA, NAS Jacksonville, Fla.
MARIO CATEIL, NAS Fallon, Nev.
MADOLINE CHAMBERS, HQ DeCA, Va.
DEBORAH DAVIS, Randolph AFB, Texas
MYONG AE DeBEVOISE, NAS Patuxent River,
Md.
GRAZIANO DEL TURCO, Aviano AB, Italy
MARIO DE LUCA CEROS, Aviano AB, Italy
NICOLETTA DE POL, Aviano AB, Italy
RICHARD DEROUIN, McClellan, Calif.
DENISHA DORSEY, NAS New Orleans, La.
GIANNA MAZZEGA FABBRO, Aviano AB, Italy
STEFANO FANNA, Aviano AB, Germany
MARIA GALVAN, MCB Camp Pendleton, Calif.
MARIANNE HARLOS, Vogelweh, Germany
ANNETTE HARRUS, Germersheim CDC,
Germany
MARTINA HEILMANN, DeCA Europe, Germany
ELVIRA HERNANDEZ, MacDill AFB, Fla.
CONNIE HICKS, NAS Lemoore, Calif.
GARY HILL, Peterson AFB, Colo.
TEJAUNIA HILL, Seymour Johnson, N.C.
SIRIRAT HOSKING, Nellis AFB, Nev.
BRIAN JOHNSON, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
LINDSEY JOHNSON, Travis AFB, Calif.
MARIE LUISE JONES, Vogelweh, Germany
GOEKMEN KARAISMAILOGLU, Germersheim
CDC, Germany
VICKI LAHNE, Scott AFB, Ill.
CLIFFORD LASTER, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
HELGA LISING, Fort Campbell, Ky.
BENJAMIN LOCKHART, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
SANDRA LOMELI, McClellan, Calif.
CATHERINE MAPIES, Sheppard AFB, Texas
OLGA MARTINENKO, Germersheim CDC,
Germany
BENJAMIN MATUTINO, Schofield Barracks,
Hawaii
MERLITA McCARTY, Tinker AFB, Okla.
MICHAEL MENA, Fort Bliss, Texas
LEONARD MICKLE, Fort Riley, Kan.
EMILY MONTEMAYOR, NAS Miramar, Calif.
MARIA ROSA MORETTI, Aviano AB, Italy
TERESA NEGRON, Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico
DONALD O’KEEFE, Scott AFB, Ill.
GEORGE PAGE, Fort Riley, Kan.
JOYCE PARISH, NAS Mayport, Fla.
KIMBERLY PAULSON, Grand Forks AFB, N.D.

FERNANDO PENULIAR, NAS Jacksonville, Fla.
JENNIFER PETTY, McConnell AFB, Kan.
JOCELYN PETWAY, NB San Diego, Calif.
VERONICA PRICE, NAS JRB Fort Worth, Texas
MERLINDA RAMOS, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
FLOYD RAPIER, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
YOLANDA RAQUENO, NB San Diego, Calif.
GEORGE RASHIDI, Ramstein AB, Germany
BOBBY REYNOLDS, NBK Bremerton, Wash.
MIN SUK REYNOLDS, Fort Meade, Md.
VIRGINIA RICHMOND, MCB Quantico, Va.
JULIE RODRIGUEZ, MCB Camp Pendleton, Calif.
RONALD ROUX, Moody AFB, Ga.
IMELDA ROWE, Patrick AFB, Fla.
MARIA SAUCEDO, Randolph AFB, Texas
IRENE SCHEPP, Germersheim CDC, Germany
FAYE SCOTT, NNSY Portsmouth, Va.
ENEDINA SPENCER, Fort Hood II, Texas
FABRIZIO TUBELLO, Aviano AB, Germany
WALENTINA ULRICH, Germersheim CDC,
Germany
MELVIN WAGNER, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
SONIA WEST, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
ROBIN WHITE, Fort Stewart, Ga.
DONNIE WILLIAMS, Scott AFB, Ill.
FREDERICK WILSON, Cannon AFB, N.M.
JEANNETT WINKLEY, Dyess AFB, Texas
JAMES YONKER, Fort Jackson, S.C.
10 years
LEA ACAMPORA, Aviano AB, Italy
LOURDES ALBA, McChord AFB, Wash.
SHELLY ANDERSON, Tinker AFB, Okla.
MARCIANA ANTON, SC Smokey Point, Wash.
DENISE ATKINS, NBK Bremerton, Wash.
QUIRINO BAMBA, Fort Sill, Okla.
LOIS BANKS, Fort Sam Houston, Texas
WILLIE BARNES, Fort Jackson, S.C.
WALTER HEINRICH BERGMANN,
Kaiserslautern CDC, Germany
HEIKE BINZ, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
RICHARD BIONDO JR., NSB New London,
Conn.
LOIS BONDS, Fort Sam Houston, Texas
CARLA BOOKMAN-TEMPLE, HQ DeCA, Va.
KIMBERLY BOULAND, NCBC Gulfport, Miss.
ANDREW BROOKES, Peterson AFB, Colo.
GREGORY BROUS, Fort Huachuca, Ariz.
FREDA BROWN, NSA Memphis, Tenn.
MAUREEN BURNETSKY, MCAS Cherry Point,
N.C.
TERESA CALLINS-ARMSTRONG, Fort Sill, Okla.
MARIA CAMACHO, Peterson AFB, Colo.
GRETA CARLON, Aviano AB, Italy
EMANUELA CATTARUZZA, Aviano AB, Italy
JAMES CHAPMAN, NAS JRB Fort Worth, Texas
KAREN COON, Eglin AFB, Fla.
DONALD CRAIG, NSA Memphis, Tenn.
EUGENE DEL ROSARIO, NAS Oceana, Va.
DIVINA DUCHESNE, Dyess AFB, Texas
JEFFERY EWERT, Buckley AFB, Colo.
KRISTI FARRIS, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
WILFREDO FERNANDEZ, Langley AFB, Va.
DOMINGO FERRER JR., Langley AFB, Va.
CELESTINE FINNEY, Fort Jackson, S.C.
BÄRBEL FISCHER, Vogelweh, Germany
WALTER FORD, NSF Dahlgren, Va.
LORY FRANCO, Nellis AFB, Nev.
PATRICIA FRENCH, Fort Knox, Ky.
VIOLETA GALANTE, Nellis AFB, Nev.
BARBARA GRAY, Sheppard AFB, Texas
KIM GREEN, Eglin AFB, Fla.
SUNGVIEN HAACKER, Fort Jackson, S.C.
JOY HAWKINS, Lackland AFB, Texas
TED HAYES, McClellan, Calif.
ERMIES HERNANDEZ, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
!
CHONDA HEWLETT, NAS Patuxent River, Md.
BETH HOLDEN, NIOC Sugar Grove, W.Va.
ROBERT HOOKER, Scott AFB, Ill.
ALLYN HUNT, Buckley AFB, Colo.
MAXIE JACKSON, NB Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
STROTHER JACKSON, Fort Sill, Okla.
RICHARD JONES, Fort Bragg North, N.C.
AMBER LAWRENCE, Fort Drum, N.Y.
VELDA LEBRON, Patrick AFB, Fla.
EVANGELINA LEHMAN, NOLF Imperial Beach,
Calif.
JULIE LOFTUS, Hill AFB, Utah
VENUS MAGSINO, Luke AFB, Ariz.
LORRIE MARTINEZ, Hill AFB, Utah
DAVID McFANN, NAWS China Lake, Calif.
MITHAT MERCAN, Izmir, Turkey
MARIA MIQUI, MacDill AFB, Fla.
ODILLE MITCHELL, Peterson AFB, Colo.
JERRY MOORE, NAS JRB Fort Worth, Texas
MARIA MORADA, Fort Carson, Colo.
MALIA MUENNIG, MacDill AFB, Fla.
SHINJI NAGATA, FA Sasebo, Japan
ESTRELLA NAMIT, Fort Bliss, Texas
VICKI NARLOCK, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
JON NEWBERRY, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
RICHARD O’CONNOR, MCB Kaneohe Bay,
Hawaii
MARIANN PADAYAO, Walter Reed AMC, Md.
PAK CHIN-U, Yongsan, South Korea
ANGELA PAYNE, Fort Carson, Colo.
ROSA PEREZ, Fort Sam Houston, Texas
DAWN PITTMAN-MACON, HQ DeCA, Va.
ROBERT PRESTO, Andersen AFB, Guam
DONNA PRYOR, Fort Detrick, Md.
OFELIA RAMOS, Randolph AFB, Texas
YONG RITCHIE, Fort Bragg North, N.C.
ANGELA RODRIGUEZ, Fort Buchanan, Puerto
Rico
MARGARET RODRIGUEZ, Fort Sam Houston,
Texas
MARIE SANTILLAN, Buckley AFB, Colo.
RICHARD RAY SAPP, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
GLADYS SAUNDERS, Langley AFB, Va.
ANJA SCHWEHM, Vogelweh, Germany
GLENNIE SCOTT, Fort Jackson, S.C.
FRED SELF, Randolph AFB, Texas
KAREN SHORB, NCBC Gulfport, Miss.
DAWN SINGLETON, Fort Jackson, S.C.
HARYN SINGLETON, Bolling AFB, D.C.
KARY SOTO, NS Great Lakes, Ill.
ANITA STEPHENS, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
CHERYL SUITER, Langley AFB, Va.
ANTONIO TAGUD, Andersen AFB, Guam
DENNIS THOMPSON, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
PETRA TITTEBRANDT, Spangdahlem AB,
Germany
MICHAEL VELEZ, Fort Hamilton, N.Y.
SANDRA GABRIELA VIEIRA, Lajes Field,
Portugal
MELITA WALKER, McConnell AFB, Kan.
CAROLYN WASHBURN, Fort Carson, Colo.
DENNIS WATSON, Fort Carson, Colo.
DONALD WILLIAMS, Fort Campbell, Ky.
VALERIE WOODS, NS Great Lakes, Ill.
GINA YATES, Fort Gordon, Ga.
5 years
CHARLES CHO, Yongsan, South Korea
KIM NAK-KYUN, Osan CDC, South Korea
YUN HWA-SIK, Osan CDC, South Korea
DeCA warriors
Cathy Blair
Isela Hernandez
Rita Norris
DeCA West:
CATHY BLAIR, sales
store checker, Offutt
Commissary, Neb.
Military rank,
specialty, service:
Petty officer 1 st
class, medical/
licensed prosthetistorthotist,
U.S. Navy
Duty location: Balad
AB, Iraq, November
2008-June 2009
ISELA HERNANDEZ,
sales store checker,
Offutt Commissary,
Neb.
Military rank,
specialty, service:
Specialist, supply
specialist, U.S. Army
Reserve
Duty location: Camp
Bucca, Iraq, January
2008-January 2009
RITA NORRIS,
customer service
supervisor, Offutt
Commissary, Neb.
Military rank,
specialty, service:
Sergeant, personnel
administration, U.S.
Army Reserve
Duty location: Camp
Ashraf, Iraq, January
2003-March 2004;
Camp Bucca,
Iraq, January
2008-January 2009
top employees
Tetsuya Ikeuchi
Motokazu Ishikawa
Employees of the Year 2009
* TETSUYA IKEUCHI, NFA Yokosuka, Japan
* MOTOKAZU ISHIKAWA, Camp Foster, Okinawa
Employees of the Quarter
4 th Quarter 2009
YUKO ARCHER, Okinawa CDC
JACKSON FRAZIER, March ARB, Calif. w
43

HIROMI HIGA, Okinawa
CDC
TETSUYA IKEUCHI, NFA
Yokosuka, Japan
MOTOKAZU ISHIKAWA,
Camp Foster,
Okinawa
DEBORAH JOYCE,
Peterson AFB, Colo.
TADASHI MATSUMOTO,
Iwakuni CDC, Japan
EDWIN O’DELL, Los
Angeles AFB, Calif.
PETER ROACH, Holloman
AFB, N.M.
NICOLAS RODRIGO,
NAF Atsugi, Japan
ERI SHINDO, Misawa AB,
Japan
HIRONORI SUNAGAWA,
Okinawa CDC
TETSUYA TAKIGUCHI,
Sagamihara, Japan
SHOTA YAMASHIRO,
Okinawa CDC
3 rd Quarter 2009
YONG BISHIR, Yongsan,
South Korea
CHOL BLEVINS,
Anchorage Area,
Alaska
RUFUS BOGAN,
McConnell AFB, Kan.
CHRISTINA BOYD,
McChord AFB, Wash.
KYLE BROGDON,
McConnell AFB, Kan.
PATIJO BURDEN, Fort Irwin, Calif.
LISA CAMPBELL, McChord AFB, Wash.
ALBERTO CARAGAN, NAWS China Lake,
Calif.
BRANDI CRAIG, MCLB Barstow, Calif.
DAYNE CRAYTOR III, McConnell AFB, Kan.
KENT CUFFEY, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
HELEN FLEISHER, Taegu Camp Walker, South
Korea
MARGARET GLASSNER, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
LYNN HILL, McChord AFB, Wash.
TOGUCHI HITOSHI, Camp Foster, Okinawa
AMY HULETT, NAS Whidbey Island, Wash.
VICKI KASK, Fort Huachuca, Ariz.
KIM AE-SOP, Kunsan AB, South Korea
KIM HYE-I, Osan CDC, South Korea
KIM MIN-TAE, Osan AB, South Korea
KIM YANG-KYUN, Camp Red Cloud, South Korea
JURI KOUDA, Sagamihara, Japan
LEONA LAMAR, McChord AFB, Wash.
MARILYN LATADA, Eielson AFB, Alaska
JOHN LEONARD, Yongsan CDC, South Korea
EVELYN MALIC, Fort Irwin, Calif.
BERNIE MESA, McChord AFB, Wash.
BEVERLY MILLER, McChord AFB, Wash.
ROBERT MORGAN, McConnell AFB, Kan.
JOHN NEVINS, NSB Kings Bay, Ga.
LORNA NEWTON, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
PAK SUN-HO, Camp Casey, South Korea
ILMA RECASAS, NOLF Imperial Beach, Calif.
CATHY RENSHAW, McChord AFB, Wash.
ANGELA RIVERA, NSB Kings Bay, Ga.
IRMA ROBLES, McChord AFB, Wash.
THURGOOD ROGERS, McConnell AFB, Kan.
SON KWANG-YON, Osan CDC, South Korea
SONG PYONG-KWON, Camp Humphreys,
South Korea
EDEN SULLIVAN, NFA Yokosuka, Japan
44 45 decavision 2009!Vol. 18, No. 4
!
pWINNING STREAK CONTINUES: Mountain Home Commissary, Idaho, set an
unprecedented winning streak in the Heinz Golden Ketchup display contest,
winning in Sales Band 4 for the sixth consecutive year. DeCA photo: Mike Howell
HITOSHI TOGUCHI, Camp Foster, Okinawa
ANGILA TORRES, Camp Zama, Japan
SUN CHA WALLACE, Hannam Village, South
Korea
DEBBIE WHITE, NAS Whidbey Island, Wash.
NORIAKI YAMAMOTO, Camp Kure, Japan
YANG SUNG-HWAN, Yongsan, South Korea
YIM CHONG-NAK, Camp Humphreys, South
Korea
3 rd Quarter Safety Award
DEBORAH CRESTONI, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
GARY GALUSHA, Vance AFB, Okla.
BRENDA PIERCE, McChord AFB, Wash.
CAROL SINCLAIR, NAS Whidbey Island, Wash.
2 nd Quarter 2009
TERESA CARTWRIGHT, USAF Academy, Colo.
MICHAEL CASKEY, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
GREG GILSTRAP, Eielson AFB, Alaska
LORI BELL HORTER, NB San Diego, Calif.
1 st Quarter 2009
IDA GAPAS, Minot AFB, N.D.
TRACY HOLDAWAY, Minot AFB, N.D.
JOSE ORNELAS, NB San Diego, Calif.
Employees of the Month
September 2009
ANGELA BOWING, Offutt AFB, Neb.
TAKASHI CHINEN, Okinawa CDC
JENNA COLEMAN, NAF Atsugi, Japan
MONIQUE FUETTLER, Offutt AFB, Neb.
MIKE HARTMAN, Kanto Plain CDC, Japan
ERIC HENDERSON, Kanto Plain CDC, Japan
HIROMI HIGA, Okinawa CDC
MOTOKAZU ISHIKAWA, Camp Foster,
Okinawa
BRANDON MOHLER, Iwakuni CDC, Japan
IRMA PEREZ, Yokota AB, Japan
KIMBERLEY REGLER, Offutt AFB, Neb.
FRANK SAMPSON, Offutt AFB, Neb.
CARL SMITH, MCAS Iwakuni, Japan
DANE STILWELL, Misawa AB, Japan
QUINTON STOVALL, FA Sasebo, Japan
HIRONORI SUNAGAWA, Okinawa CDC
TETSUYA TAKIGUCHI, Sagamihara, Japan
NORIAKI YAMAMOTO, Camp Kure, Japan
LILLIAN YAMASHIRO, MCB Camp Kinser,
Okinawa
SHOTA YAMASHIRO, Okinawa CDC
August Cashier of the Month
KAREN PLANT, FA Sasebo, Japan
ZANES PULLIN, NFA Yokosuka, Japan
August 2009
JAMES BUHLER, NFA Yokosuka, Japan
CLYDE CEARNEL, Camp Courtney, Okinawa
CHOE SUNG-WON, Osan AB, South Korea
CHONG SUNG-KON, Osan AB, South Korea
NICOLE CONOLLY, Yongsan, South Korea
RICHARD DUNCANSON, FA Sasebo, Japan

HIROMI HIGA, Okinawa CDC
CHUN IM, Kunsan AB, South Korea
CURTIS JONES, NAF Atsugi, Japan
KANG CAHAE-HUI, Camp Casey, South Korea
KIM HYONG-CHUNG, Osan AB, South Korea
KIM MYONG-SU, Camp Red Cloud, South
Korea
EDWARD KING, Hario Village, Japan
MAKOTO KINJO, Camp Kinser, Okinawa
KUM HONG-SOP, Osan CDC, South Korea
MASAKO MATSUMOTO, MCAS Iwakuni, Japan
PAK CHIN-U, Yongsan, South Korea
HYUN PARK, Camp Stanley, South Korea
CHRISTINA QUESADA, Kadena AB, Okinawa
SUSAN RICKER, Hannam Village, South Korea
SUSAN RILEY, Edwards AFB, Calif.
SATSUE SASAKI, Misawa AB, Japan
SIN CHU-HYON, Yongsan, South Korea
SONG HAE-CHUN, Camp Casey, South Korea
SONG HO-KYONG, Osan AB, South Korea
HIRONORI SUNAGAWA, Okinawa CDC
TOMOMI TAKAO, Yokota AB, Japan
RIKA TOMA, Camp Foster, Okinawa
MICHAEL TRUJILLO, Sagamihara, Japan
RIE UTSUGI, Kanto Plain CDC, Japan
MAIE WYCHE, Camp Humphreys, South Korea
NORIAKI YAMAMOTO, Camp Kure, Japan
SHOTA YAMASHIRO, Okinawa CDC
HIROTOSHI YASUI, Okinawa CDC
YI UI-YONG, Osan CDC, South Korea
July 2009
NOZOMI AKAMINE, Kadena AB, Okinawa
AN CHONG-HWAN, Yongsan, South Korea
YUKO ARCHER, Okinawa CDC
CHANG SONG-YIM, Kunsan AB, South Korea
CHOE SUNG-WON, Osan AB, South Korea
CHONG SUNG-KON, Osan AB, South Korea
CHRIS CRUZ, FA Sasebo, Japan
!
JASMINE DAVIS, Peterson AFB, Colo.
LAURA DUNN, NBK Bremerton, Wash.
MELANIE GARDNER, Yokota AB, Japan
WILLIAM GRAHAM, Kanto Plain CDC, Japan
KIYOTAKA GUSHI, Okinawa CDC
IMELDA HEADRICH, Yokota AB, Japan
NAEKO HIGA, Okinawa CDC
SHINTETSU ISA, Camp Foster, Okinawa
ANWAR JONES, MCAS Iwakuni, Japan
JUNEI KAWAKAMI, Camp Courtney, Okinawa
GREGORY KELLSTROM, Yongsan CDC, South
Korea
KIM MYONG-SU, Camp Red Cloud, South
Korea
KIM TAE-YON, Yongsan, South Korea
KIM UN-CHONG, Osan AB, South Korea
MAKOTO KINJO, Camp Kinser, Okinawa
DOLORES MAGALLANES, Kanto Plain CDC,
Japan
TAITO MIYAZATO, Okinawa CDC
RODORIGO NICOLAS, NAF Atsugi, Japan
NORMAN OKADA, Hario Village, Japan
ROSEMARIE OSBORNE, NBK Bremerton,
Wash.
PAK SIN-KYU, Hannam Village, South Korea
DAMON RAUH, Iwakuni CDC, Japan
ROSIE SALDIVAR, Edwards AFB, Calif.
ERI SHINDO, Misawa AB, Japan
SIN CHU-HYON, Yongsan, South Korea
APRIL STUCKEY, Camp Casey, South Korea
SUE THOMSON, Camp Stanley, South Korea
NORIAKI YAMAMOTO, Camp Kure, Japan
SATOSHI YOGI, Kadena AB, Okinawa
Cashier of the Month July
DEAN BLAISDELL, NFA Yokosuka, Japan
AURORA REYES, Hario Village, Japan
AMY RODNEY, Hario Village, Japan
ROSE VANCE, FA Sasebo, Japan
pBACK TO SCHOOL: For their annual school supply donation to local children,
staff at Whiteman Commissary, Mo., joined industry partners to raise more than
$1,800. DeCA photo: Debbie Dilbeck
June 2009
AN CHONG-HWAN, Yongsan, South Korea
KANG CHAE-HUI, Camp Casey, South Korea
KIM CHOL, Camp Casey, South Korea
KIM CHUNG-HWAN, Hannam Village, South
Korea
KIM UN-CHONG, Osan AB, South Korea
KUM HONG-SOP, Osan CDC, South Korea
CLARA LATKA, Osan CDC, South Korea
JOHN LEONARD, Yongsan CDC, South Korea
YONG LONG, Taegu Camp Walker, South
Korea
PARK HYUN-YI, Camp Stanley, South Korea
MARY JANE SAMONTE, NAS Fallon, Nev.
SIN CHU-HYON, Yongsan, South Korea
SONG HAE-CHUN, Camp Casey, South Korea
YI CHI-HYONG, Osan AB, South Korea
pro honors
(Other winners from listed contests may have
been published previously)
Alder Foods “Every Penny Counts” Contest
DeCA East: McGUIRE AFB, N.J.
Coca-Cola NASCAR Display
DeCA East: C.E. KELLY, Pa.; LANGLEY AFB,
Va.; ROBINS AFB, Ga.
DeCA West: NSB BANGOR, Wash.
General Mills Cinco de Mayo Display
DeCA West: YOKOTA AB, Japan; MOUNTAIN
HOME AFB, Idaho, honorable mention
General Mills Just Add Milk Display
DeCA East: FORT McCOY, Wis.; LANGLEY
AFB, Va.; NAS PENSACOLA, Fla.
DeCA West: CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa;
VANDENBERG AFB, Calif.
General Mills Warm Up America Display
DeCA West: PORT HUENEME, Calif., honorable
mention
Heinz Golden Ketchup Display
DeCA East: FORT MEADE, Md.; HURLBURT
FIELD, MacDILL AFB, NS MAYPORT, PATRICK
AFB, Fla.; NSB KINGS BAY, Ga.; LANGLEY
AFB, Va.; LITTLE ROCK AFB, Ark.; WRIGHT-
PATTERSON AFB, Ohio. Honorable mention:
FORT CAMPBELL, Ky.; FORT LEE, Va.; NAS
KEY WEST, NAS PENSACOLA, Fla.; McGUIRE
AFB, N.J.; SCOTT AFB, Ill.
DeCA Europe: INCIRLIK AB, IZMIR AS, Turkey.
Honorable mention: VINCENZA, Italy
DeCA West: LAUGHLIN AFB, Texas;
MOUNTAIN HOME AFB, Idaho (six
consecutive). Honorable mention: FORT
HOOD I, Texas; FORT LEWIS, Wash.; ORD
COMMUNITY, Calif.; PETERSON AFB, Colo.;
YONGSAN, South Korea
Kashi Top Gun Award
DeCA East: FORT MYER, Va.; NSB NEW
LONDON, Conn.
DeCA West: DAVIS-MONTHAN AFB, Ariz.;
McCHORD AFB, Wash.; NAS NORTH ISLAND,
Calif.
Keebler Hollow Tree Display
DeCA East: ARNOLD AFB, Tenn; NAS
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.; NSA MEMPHIS, Tenn.
w
45

DeCA West: NAF ATSUGI,
Japan; NAF EL CENTRO,
MCAS MIRAMAR, NB
SAN DIEGO, TWENTYNINE
PALMS, Calif.; FORT RILEY,
Kan.; FORT SILL, TINKER
AFB, Okla.; NB PEARL
HARBOR, SCHOFIELD
BARRACKS, Hawaii
Kellogg’s Case Cutter Display
DeCA West: KADENA AB,
Okinawa
Kellogg’s Crystal K
DeCA East: ARNOLD AFB,
Tenn.
Kellogg’s NASCAR Display
DeCA East: EGLIN AFB, Fla.;
FORT CAMPBELL, Ky.
DeCA West: NOLF IMPERIAL
BEACH, Calif.
Kraft Excellence in Execution
DeCA East: BARKSDALE AFB, FORT POLK,
La.; MCAS CHERRY POINT, N.C.; FORT
CAMPBELL, ZONE 27, Ky.; FORT DETRICK
(second consecutive), Md.; FORT GILLEM, Ga.;
FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo.; KEESLER AFB,
Miss. (3 rd consecutive); NAB LITTLE CREEK,
NB NORFOLK (second consecutive), Va.; NS
NEWPORT, R.I.; MCAS NEW RIVER, N.C.;
REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala.; NSU SARATOGA
SPRINGS, N.Y.; TOBYHANNA AD, Pa.;
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio; ZONE 26, Ill.
DeCA West: DYESS AFB, Texas; FORT
CARSON, Colo.; FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, NB
SAN DIEGO, TWENTYNINE PALMS, ZONE
16, Calif.; MCB KANEOHE BAY (second
consecutive), SCHOFIELD BARRACKS (second
consecutive), Hawaii; MINOT AFB, N.D.; WHITE
SANDS MR, N.M.
Land O’ Lakes Display
DeCA Europe: SPANGDAHLEM AB, Germany
DeCA West: HILL AFB, Utah
Milk-Bone Canine Assistants Display
DeCA East: NWS CHARLESTON, S.C.; FORT
LEE, Va.; NS GREAT LAKES, Ill.
DeCA West: NAS JRB FORT WORTH,
SHEPPARD AFB, Texas; HILL AFB, Utah;
NELLIS AFB, Nev.; NB PEARL HARBOR,
Hawaii; TINKER AFB, Okla.
National Apple Month Display
DeCA West: VANCE AFB, Okla.
Otis Spunkmeyer Customer Appreciation Display
DeCA East: NAS PATUXENT RIVER, Md.
DeCA West: CANNON AFB, N.M.; NAWS
CHINA LAKE, Calif.;
Quaker-Tropicana Fuel Your Morning with
Breakfast Display
DeCA East: FORT MEADE, Md.; NSA
MEMPHIS, Tenn.; USMA WEST POINT, N.Y.
DeCA West: FAIRCHILD AFB, Wash.
Red Blossom Strawberry Display
DeCA West: MALMSTROM AFB, Mont.
Smucker’s April Showers of Savings Display
DeCA West: HILL AFB, Utah
46 47 decavision 2009!Vol. 18, No. 4
pSAVINGS EXPRESS: McClellan Commissary, Calif., keeps this display train
busy, merchandising a variety of items year-round. DeCA photo
Smucker’s Celebrating Freedom Display
DeCA West: YONGSAN, South Korea
Snapple Display
DeCA West: CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa;
VANCE AFB, Okla. (second consecutive year);
YONGSAN, South Korea
14 th Annual StarKist “Charlie” Display
DeCA East: BOLLING AFB, D.C.; NSF
DAHLGREN, Va.; FORT BENNING, Ga.; NAS
PENSACOLA, Fla.; ZONE 25, Md.
DeCA West: NAF ATSUGI, Japan; CAMP
HUMPHREYS, OSAN AB, YONGSAN, South
Korea, sales band and Far East; FORT HOOD
II, Texas; TINKER AFB, Okla.; WHITE SANDS
MR, N.M.
Sunkist Citrus Display
DeCA West: MALMSTROM AFB, Mont.
Unilever Mom’s Taste of Home Display
DeCA West: ANDERSEN AFB, Okinawa
Webco ConAgra Crystal Truckload Display
DeCA East: NAS PENSACOLA, Fla.
DeCA West: FORT RILEY, Kan.; OSAN AB,
South Korea
Wisk Field of Dreams Contest
DeCA East: FORT POLK, La.; MacDILL AFB, Fla.
DeCA West: FORT HOOD I, Texas; F.E.
WARREN AFB, Wyo.
Organizational honors
BITBURG AB, Germany, presented American
flag flown in combat aboard B-1B bomber
over Afghanistan by 37 th Expeditionary Bomb
Squadron, for dedication and support of
Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom.
NAF EL CENTRO, Calif., commander’s coins to
Velma Siler, store director, and Lisa Martinez,
industry representative, from both Southwest
Region master chief and installation command
master chief, following official tour.
FORT HOOD I, Texas, certificate of
appreciation for outstanding support and
participation, 2009 Combined Federal
Campaign (CFC); Betty Carey, general
manager, individual award for collecting
$3,296.
HEIDELBERG, Germany, commander’s coin to
Thomas Muehlbauer, deputy store director,
and Edyta Verdejo, deli-bakery manager,
from new Baden-Württemberg garrison
commander, in appreciation of operating
an outstanding commissary with exceptional
customer service.
KADENA AB, Okinawa, two plaques from
Misato Children’s Home, in appreciation for
supporting annual Misato Fun Day.
RAF LAKENHEATH, England, pasta bar
won installation’s Public Health Facility of
the Quarter Award, 3rd Quarter, small food
facility category.
PORT HUENEME, Calif., letter of appreciation
from commanding officer, for support of 2009
Family Readiness and Warrior Recognition Day.
TINKER AFB, Okla., certificate of
appreciation from Gray Eagles Retiree
Association, for DeCA and industry support of
annual Gray Eagles Golf Tournament, funding
scholarships to military youth; plaque from
Kellogg’s, for support of summer fun program.
Individual honors
EDWIN BACA, secretary, Kirtland AFB, N.M.,
Bachelor of Arts in organizational psychology,
summa cum laude, College of Santa Fe,
Albuquerque, N.M.
KATHY BEATTY, store director, F.E. Warren, Wyo.,
commander’s coin pin from Army and Air Force
Exchange System deputy commanding general, for
outstanding store presentation during tour.
BILLY BENNER, store director, Port Hueneme,
Calif., American flag flown over Camp Moreell
and Ali Al Salem AB, Kuwait, Sept. 11, 2009,
from U.S. Navy Seabees, for supporting war on
terrorism during Operation Iraqi Freedom and
Operation Enduring Freedom.
GLENN CAPISTRANT, Okinawa CDC manager,
certificate of appreciation from 835 th
Transportation Battalion commander, for long,
continued support for military community.

Top 10 commissaries in sales
(Fiscal 2009)
1. Fort Belvoir Commissary, Va. $104,106,301
2. San Diego Commissary, Calif. $ 88,926,673
3. Pearl Harbor Commissary, Hawaii $ 85,626,370
4. Oceana Commissary, Va. $ 79,787,023
5. Fort Meade Commissary, Md. $ 74,600,616
6. Fort Bragg South Commissary, N.C. $ 72,692,277
7. Fort Campbell Commissary, Ky. $ 72,475,586
8. Fort Lewis Commissary, Wash. $ 72,201,857
9. Langley Commissary, Va. $ 68,388,128
10. Miramar Commissary, Calif. $ 67,673,619
* PAM CROLL,
government purchase
card agency
program coordinator,
HQ DeCA, Va.,
achieved Program
Management
Office Individual
Contribution Award
for innovative ideas
and dedication to
enhancing GPC
program worldwide
since 2003.
Pam Croll
VERONICA DICE,
produce manager,
Fort Knox, Ky., recognized by American
Federation of Government Employees Local
2302, for support provided to bargaining unit
under her supervision.
!
RUBY ERVIN, store director, Randolph AFB,
Texas, U.S. Army Freedom Team Salute
Commendation in recognition of contributions
to Army community; letter of appreciation from
president of Kiolbassa Sausage Company,
San Antonio, for efforts in getting local
sausage product line in commissary; letter of
appreciation and Army lapel pin from U.S.
Army Freedom Salute Team, in thanks for
support of Army families and communities.
GABE LUGO, store director, Heidelberg,
Germany, awarded DeCA Meritorious Civilian
Service Award, for long, dedicated service,
departing for new store director position at
NAS Pensacola, Fla.
EDWARD PACKER, assistant store director,
Ellsworth AFB, S.D., Master of Business
Administration, summa cum laude, National
American University, Rapid City, S.D.
JACOB RODRIGUEZ, storeworker, Luke AFB,
Ariz., Bachelor of Science in political science,
Arizona State University, Tempe, Ariz.
ALDO SANCHEZ, storeworker, Altus AFB, Okla.,
Associate of Arts in radiology and science,
Western Oklahoma State College, Altus, Okla.
PEARLINE SELLMAN, store associate, Andrews
AFB, Md., letter of appreciation for meritorious
service from 464 th Transportation Company,
Fort Belvoir, Va., for years of outstanding
customer service.
STEPHEN SESSIONS, storeworker, Luke AFB,
Ariz., Bachelor of Science in business, Arizona
State University, Tempe, Ariz.
MARIA SIMS, storeworker, Vicenza, Italy, certificate
of appreciation from garrison commander, for
participating in retiree social events.
NELSON TORRES, store administrator, Fort Hood
II, Texas, garrison commander’s coin, for service
to military community as he departed to become
store director at Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
DONNA WALLS, store manager, Hill AFB, Utah,
commander’s coin from 75 th Communications
Squadron, for continued support of Hill airmen.n
47

DeCA DISABLED
EMPLOYEE
OF THE YEAR:
Phillip Gregg,
store associate,
Fort Sill, Okla.,
will represent
DeCA for
Department
of Defense
disabled
employee
honors in
December.
Gregg overcame
a severe brain
injury, earning
his bachelor’s
degree in
elementary
education. U.S.
Army photo:
Jeffrey Crawley