The Hard Rock Café, Grayling

Courtesy Photo | Sgt. First Class Allen Metzcar, food operations sergeant for the 1485th Transportation Company, watches as Spc. Marshall Conyers of East Lake, Ohio, prepares the evening's meal, June 11, at Camp Grayling, Mich. More than 2,200 Ohio Soldiers are conducting annual training at the Michigan National Guard post.  

UNITED STATES

06.11.2008

Courtesy Story

Ohio National Guard Public Affairs

By Spc. Zachary R. Fehrman
Ohio National Guard

CAMP GRAYLING, Mich.—The music booms from the kitchen of building 542MA on Camp Grayling, Mich., June 11, as Soldiers from the 1485th Transportation Company, dressed in cook whites, get ready to prepare the final meal of the day for Ohio Army National Guard Soldiers training at the post. Pfc. Sarah Martin changes the CD to Linkin Park and the kitchen staff gets to work.

It's not only the music that sets this chow hall apart from others.

"It's the atmosphere of a tight, cohesive unit that really strives to go above and beyond," said Sgt. 1st Class Allen Metzcar, the food operations sergeant. "We've got a variety of music so the Soldiers can enjoy the food in a relaxed environment and take their time eating."

Metzcar and his crew try to do their part each meal, to not only sustain the Soldiers, but motivate them as well.

"If I got extra I put it out there," said Metzcar, a Mineral City native. "It really helps the morale of the troops."

Spc. Marshall Conveys drums his hands against his thighs to the beat of the music as he waits for the broth to boil. Food services specialists Spc. Nicole Day, of Carollton, Ohio, and Pfc. Whitney Brown, of Shady Side, Ohio, slice turkey for the Thanksgiving style dinner.

The kitchen begins to move to the rhythm.

"It comes from the attitude of the people in kitchen," said Sgt. Victor Thomas, of Stow, Ohio. "If the food is crappy, the Soldier's day is crappy. If the food is good, it really helps the Soldiers have at least a decent day."

The crew starts everyday at 3 a.m. to prepare the first meal of the day and work into the evening with clean up.

"They pull long hours," said Thomas. "But they really do try to help the troops."

• Date Taken: 06.11.2008
• Date Posted: 06.17.2008 16:49
• Story ID: 20570
• Location: US