MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, S.C. -- Marines of the Air Station can celebrate the fact they are eating in the best mess hall in the East. Marine Corps Air Station mess hall 2080 was nominated for the William Pendleton Thompson Hill award, which is awarded to the best Marine and civilian mess hall in the Marine Corps.
“Every Marine and civilian made a difference here,” said Staff Sgt. Larry Thomas, the food operations chief with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron. “Their hard work and attention to detail make running the mess hall much easier.”
In years past, the Air Station mess hall has come close to being nominated as the best Marine and civilian mess hall on the East Coast, but was never selected. According to Thomas, the addition of the new facility pushed the chow hall to the top this year.
“We’ve always had the service and professionalism needed to be the best in the East,” Thomas said. “If we would have had the facility we do now, we would have won in previous years.”
Now the Marines and civilians of the Air Station mess hall have the facility they need, they look forward to having future successes.
“This is just the beginning for us,” said Sgt. Jarmon Ward, a culinary specialist with H&HS. “We have a great facility now and are in a better position for more competitions in the future.”
Although the Marines and civilians are competing with other mess halls across the Marine Corps, they remember to keep food service first, and the awards will follow.
“Great service is what got us here,” said Sgt. Brandon Wesson, a food service chief with H&HS. “It’s the main ingredient in our success as a mess hall and in competition.”
With their eyes on the prize, the Marines and civilians of the mess hall prepare for future competitions by doing their job each and every day.
“They show pride and care day in and day out,” Thomas said. “I’m proud of the Marines and civilians. This is their career.”