DFAC dedicated to fallen Guard Soldier opens for business

Photo By Spc. James Wilton | U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Richard Williams, of Kinston, N.C., and Combined Joint Task Force – 101, operations sergeant major, signs a guestbook at the grand opening ceremony of the Grady Dining Facility on Bagram Air field Jan. 22. The book will be sent to the family of U.S. Army Spc. Ryan “Big Smooth” Grady, for whom the building is named, a Bristow, Okla., native and an engineer with Company A, Special Troops Battalion, 1st Squadron, 172nd Cavalry Division, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, who was killed in action in Parwan province last year.  

PARWAN PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

01.22.2011

Story by Spc. James Wilton 

Combined Joint Task Force 101

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – The grand opening ceremony for the Grady Dining Facility was held at Bagram Airfield’s Camp Warrior Jan. 22.

The facility is named after U.S. Army Spc. Ryan “Big Smooth” Grady of Bristow, Okla., an engineer with Company A, Special Troops Battalion, 1st Squadron, 172nd Cavalry Division, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, who was killed in action in Parwan province last year.

“Spc. Ryan Grady represents to us what the modern National Guard is,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Raymond Carpenter, the acting director of the Army National Guard. “He joined the Guard because he wanted to serve his country.”

Carpenter joined U.S. Army Lt. Col. John J. Perkins, a Johnston, Iowa, native and the 334th Brigade Support Battalion, Task Force Archer, commander and master of ceremonies for the event in cutting the ribbon across the entrance to the facility and spoke at the ceremony.

“I believe that he [would] truly appreciate that a facility like this one is available for his fellow soldiers in a place where so very few creature comforts are available,” Carpenter said. “I can only hope that you and the many service members who cross the threshold into this building for years to come can enjoy a reprieve from the seemingly endless mission that we have here in Afghanistan. Today, remember those who came before you and those like Ryan, who paid the ultimate price for what we all hold dear.”

The dining facility was under construction during Grady’s tour in Afghanistan and received the official name a few months back. The theme of the dining facility is Americana and includes signs reminiscent of the U.S. including “Warrior Bucks” over the coffee station and “Warrior Way” over the sandwich bar.

The ceremony included a meal of steak and lobster for those in attendance and those having lunch after the ceremony. It closed with a dedication to all those who have paid the ultimate price.

“If everyone would stand, I would like to propose a toast,” Perkins said. “This is to not only Grady but all the service members who have made the ultimate sacrifice. To our fallen comrades.”

• Date Taken: 01.22.2011
• Date Posted: 01.23.2011 05:12
• Story ID: 64043
• Location: PARWAN PROVINCE, AF