European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 4, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse Magazine it s not easy being mess daddy by Don Tate staff writers stomachs growl. The smell of slovak cooking spices the army air. H s almost unc Lime on payday. Cooks Scurry around As boots come romping toward the mess Hall Only it s not a mess Hall anymore. An official piece of paper on the Wall identities it As a dining fancy language chirps a female Cook on the serving line. Everybody i know Calls in mess because they eat the same old mess queries a visitor. Did t say says the Cook. Upstairs in his office in the dining facility of the 547th Engineer anal Kelley Barracks in Darmstadt Germany sits not one of your beloved of timey mess sergeants but a modern dining facility manager. In real life chuckles Sec Lonnie Miller he s More Likely to be called mess daddy or something really outstanding Joe Cooks Dan t get no respect Rodney Dangerfield would say. Lonnie Miller would say he gets respect but that Cooks As a group still have a hard time. It s not easy being a Cook i was t easy being what he was before either. Miller won the Silver Star in Vietnam in a night Jungle Battle that got Down to knives fists and bayonets. Hts Vietnam souvenirs included 10 pieces of shrapnel in his legs and a Viet Cong Bayonet in his Back he was in the infantry then. After a break in service he came Back in the army but this time because of bad legs he was redassilied94 Bravo Cook. I liked the army and told my wife i d give in a shot. And \ did t like flipping eggs i d from Jungle lighter to deep fat Fryer. From battling Viet Cong in the mud and the crud to keeping the Kitchen clean. From airborne trooper to Slraight legging it through the pots and pans. Pretty tame duty huh met daddy 47, shakes his head yeah a lot of people think Cooks aia at the Flat Bottom of the Barret. In Vietnam i did t respect them much either. I respect them a hell of a lot More now Cooks Are under a let of pressure. It s said they have Iho highest alcoholic Rale in the army. Weird hours. Long hours. Lots of hassle. Everything else can Slop but me Chow lines keep on is thai old saying an army travels on us stomach still True Damn right some say that 75 percent of a Soldier s morale is the food he eats you Don t want to Boft of the troops Wilh Crummy food while he s talking. Miller a big Tellow who s not getting any smaller hanging around kitchens a s All these Dang calories i Biel he is yield my one Pesky problem Afler another just enough to keep his pot boiling. A German repairman Steps in and says a couple of pieces of Kitchen equipment Are Kapu Lor the Day. replies Miller Wilh Good humor Lei s go gel stun Kapuler soon Bact in his Oll co he glance up to Sec a blushing Young Soldier poking his head in what the Heck you want son change of a in canny dining facility manner Lonnie Miller right Tram Jungle fighter to
