TOBYHANNA ARMY DEPOT, Pa. - Weeks before his 100th birthday, Edward Whitehead joined hundreds of his comrades at the Tobyhanna Army Depot's annual Military Retiree Day on Aug. 8. Depot commander Col. Charles C. Gibson presented a commander's coin to Whitehead, who retired from military service more than 30 years ago.
"I was pleased and honored, especially to meet the colonel and his wife, yet wondered, 'why me'', he said, noting that the recognition was unexpected.
Gibson answered the "why me'" query, explaining that the coin was presented on behalf of the depot "because of his dedicated service to our nation throughout his years in the Army, and for being one of, if not the oldest, retiree in our community."
During his speech, Gibson noted significant events throughout the years Edward spent in the Army Air Forces and Army Reserve.
It all began in 1943, when Edward was drafted into the Army Air Forces at the age of 34.
During World War II, he was a cook among 50 troops to travel to Holland to provide repair support for a glider group. He said the men talked about the Germans trying to shoot down the gliders as they were being towed in for repair. He remembers the country's welcoming families and, despite everything being rationed, he was invited to dinner by "lovely people."
"I wrote my wife and told her about the Klutzmans, and they began writing also," he said, noting that they stayed in contact and sent gifts for his daughter, Faith, while she was growing up.
While based in Cotsmore, England, he cooked for 3,000 Soldiers. Nine cooks per shift worked six shifts in a row, and then had six shifts off.
In 1953, Edward transferred to the Army Reserve, where he worked as a mess steward. "I've never made such large quantities [of food] before, or since," he recalls, noting that they would have to mix 20 pounds of meat in a sink.
He says one of the biggest challenges during his military career was knowing what to do and finding the equipment to do it.
"During war you had to make due," he says. "We washed potato bags and used them to brew coffee, like a tea bag."
He notes that the task of mixing vats of potatoes to make mashed potatoes for the troops was also difficult.
"Just getting them cooked evenly was a challenge," he says. "If we didn't have a paddle to stir, we had to make one out of wood or [use] a ramrod to mash [them]."
"What a new experience cooking for so many," he notes. "I used to have to help cook at home while growing up, but it was nothing like this."
His cooking skills boiled over into his domestic chores and even though Eleanor prepared meals, he says he always lent a hand. To this day, Edward can be seen on the first day of each year cooking up a traditional New Year's dinner of pork, sauerkraut and mashed potatoes.
Edward says the most important lessons he learned from his years in the service were to be an observer, and to do things a certain way or "do it the best way you know how."
He says the military shaped his character and taught him to "make the best of what you have or improvise, because sometimes you have to do what you are supposed to do even if you don't agree with it."
Edward retired from the military in 1970, achieving the rank of sergeant first class. After 20 years of combined military service, he tells young servicemen and women that they should take advantage of the opportunities to learn new things, but "don't be satisfied with where you are."
Gibson expressed that it was "an honor to present Edward a commander's coin as he served with distinction as a noncommissioned officer in our Army and was fitting being that this is the "Year of the NCO" for our Army."
Edward says the commander's coin has a place of honor on the dining room table. When asked what he would change about his life if he were able to go back in time, Edward simply says, "I never gave it a thought. I am satisfied and contented with my life."
Whitehead was born in Roxborough on Sept. 10, 1909. In 1932 he asked Eleanor, a girl who rode the train with his friend, to accompany him on a hayride. They wed eight years later and recently celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary, on March 30.
During the ceremony Gibson's wife, Michele, presented flowers to Eleanor and Faith, and afterward the family was treated to lunch.
Tobyhanna Army Depot is the Defense Department's largest center for the repair, overhaul and fabrication of a wide variety of electronics systems and components, from tactical field radios to the ground terminals for the defense satellite communications network. Tobyhanna's missions support all branches of the Armed Forces.
About 5,600 personnel are employed at Tobyhanna, which is located in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania.
Tobyhanna Army Depot is part of the U.S. Army CECOM Life Cycle Management Command. Headquartered at Fort Monmouth, N.J., the command's mission is to research, develop, acquire, field and sustain communications, command, control computer, intelligence, electronic warfare and sensors capabilities for the Armed Forces.
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