Eighth Army boosts morale with midnight chow

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Zane Craig | Spc. Charles Moore, a culinary specialist with Headquarters Service Company, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, Eighth Army and a Hampton, Va., native, begins cleanup of midnight chow March 10, at Yongsan Garrison, Seoul with Sgt. Gregory Alcala, a supply room technician in the same unit and a San Angelo, Texas native. Moore is the noncommissioned officer-in-charge of night shift for the small satellite chow hall catering to U.S. and Korean Soldiers working the swing shift during their annual training.  

SEOUL, 11, SOUTH KOREA

03.16.2016

Story by Sgt. Zane Craig 

109th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

YONGSAN GARRISON, South Korea –
Soldiers of Eighth Army provided relief and a morale boost by serving midnight chow to their fellow U.S. Soldiers training here during the first two weeks of March.

During the training exercise, many Soldiers conducted 24-hour operations and therefore required an extra meal. Eighth Army Soldiers, who otherwise worked outside of food service, were assigned to work in the dining facility as an extra duty.

“I actually enjoy this duty, it’s very different from my usual routine but serving all this delicious food makes me hungry,” said Pvt. Cheyenne Begay, a wheeled vehicle mechanic with Headquarters Support Company, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, Eighth Army and a White River, Arizona native.

“Seeing that the Soldiers can come in from their mission and get a meal, it’s important for their morale when running 24-hour operations.” said Spc. Charles Moore, an Eighth Army culinary specialist and a Hampton, Virginia native.

Moore, the noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the satellite DFAC for night shift, said the first day was the biggest challenge because he didn’t know exactly what to expect, and getting all the resources together to be able to serve the customers well is of prime importance. Normally, Moore manages the ‘Grab’n’Go’ trailer on post, which he says is not too different from midnight chow except that the head count is higher and the food is different.

Sgt. 1st Class Sarah Camarota, an explosive ordinance disposal technician with the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives Command and a Lakewood, Pennsylvania native, said midnight chow is definitely a morale booster during the swing shift, and everyone loves it.

Moore said the number of customers increased each night as word spread about the location, quality and convenience of the satellite DFAC spread until it reached and then exceeded the expected number of 100.
Though he said the long hours, managing personnel and coordinating the actual food service were a challenge, Moore said providing this essential service has been a rewarding experience.

• Date Taken: 03.16.2016
• Date Posted: 03.17.2016 00:46
• Story ID: 192650
• Location: SEOUL, 11, KR