Fort Leonard Wood names installation's 2011 dining facility best

By U.S. ArmyMarch 12, 2012

Fort Leonard Wood food service leadership receives praise from top NCO
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. " Sgt. Maj. Robert Wells, Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood command sergeant major, speaks with Master Sgt. Baldwin, 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade senior food operation sergeant and Warrant officer ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
4th MEB food service receives 'best' title from post CG
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. " Sgt. 1st Class Joyce Parham, 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade dining facility manager, receives the 2011 Best Decorated Dining Facility plaque from the installation commanding general, Maj. Gen. Mark W. Yenter. Parham is a fo... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. -- Food service Soldiers from the Dauntless Diner, formerly known as Tony's dining facility, received praise and accolades from post leadership March 12 during a ceremony recognizing the achievements of outstanding dining facility workers from across the installation.

According to Bill Moffitt, the installation food service manager, more than 10 million meals were served here last year by food service specialists.

"They've got a lot of talent and training," said Moffitt.

"The amount of opportunities these Soldiers have is unbelievable," he said. "There are jobs at the Pentagon, at the White House; there is no doubt that food service is important."

Among those recognized was Robert Page, nominated by his peers as the dining hall manager of the year and Debbie Varela, food service clerk from dining hall 754 which received runner-up for best decorated dining facility during the Thanksgiving holiday.

Sgt. 1st Class Joyce Parham, a food service specialist assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 193rd Brigade Support Battalion and 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade dining facility manager, accepted the Best Decorated Dining Facility award on behalf of the Dauntless Diner food service specialists who participated in the competition last November.

The award was presented by Maj. Gen. Mark W. Yenter, Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood commanding general.

"This dining facility is an integrated team of teams," said Yenter. "It means a lot to be selected as best."

"In this profession, you do this every day for somebody else," he said. "When you serve quality food, on time, every day, it means an awful lot to Soldiers."

The general thanked the food service specialists for setting an outstanding example of selfless service and encouraged them to continue to strive for the best.

Since last October, the Dauntless Diner has been run entirely by 4th MEB Soldiers.

"It meant a lot to the Soldiers to see that their hard work did not go unrecognized," said Cpl. James Goolsby, a food service specialist assigned to Forward Support Company, 5th Engineer Battalion.

"This was our first year to show our skills and it's only the beginning," he said.