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As I recall, construction on the Taipei Air Station dining facility began in 1966. I was stationed at Taipei Air Station during construction and for some period after it's doors opened.
I never had an opportunity to eat there. I don't recall why, could it be that only personnel residing in the barracks were allowed to eat in the facility?
Can someone help with information about the facility.
How did the name "Charger Inn" become associated with the dining hall? Maybe the Mess Sergeant was from San Diego, OK, maybe he liked Dodge automobiles? Alright, someone help with the correct answer.....
The Hennessy Trophy was awarded to the "Charger Inn" in 1972.
Shu Linkou Air Station had an outstanding dining facility. They captured the Hennessy Trophy in 1968 and 1969, two years in a row. After Taipei Air Station won the trophy in 1972, Shu Linkou came right back and took home the trophy again in 1973 and 1974, another two year run.
I guess you could say, "The best Air Force Chow Halls in the Pacific in the late 1960's and early 1970's were in Taiwan."
Taiwan - our home away from home, serving delicious food just like Mom cooked!
Update - Saturday 26 July 2008: Les Duffin remarked: "The dining hall at SLK was always a highlight. One year when they didn’t win the Hennessy Trophy, they were so embarrassed they remodeled the whole place (new fountain & fish pond among other things) and added a row of Hibachi cookers out back so, when you went through the line you were asked if you wanted your meat cooked or smoked." That's a "bet you didn't know" story, few were aware of, but so interesting. Thanks Les.
7 comments:
I was stationed at Shu Lin Kou in 1966 when the chow hall was being remodeled, because we lost the Hennesy award in 1965. Unfortunately, we lost again in 1966.
There were some guys that came TDY from Korea in late '66 and we when took them to lunch on Thursday(steak day) and again on Friday (Lobster day) they asked what the special occasion was. When we replied that this is standard they informed us of the fact that they won the Hennesy award that year. Apparently, someone found out when the Hennesy inspection team was going to be in Korea and the chow hall went all out. The servicemen ate like kings....for a week. After the team left, the food was back to the normal everyday faire.
Another tidbit I remember is that the chow hall temperature was usually on the chilly side. The base doctor determined that with the fish pond, which separated the officers from the enlisted dining areas, the temperature had to be lowered to prevent misquitoes. It was a small price to pay for the best food in the service. I actually got tired of eating shrimp cocktails and lobster thermador.
With envy from those of us at Linkou in '56-'57 when the cooks used field ranges in the corrugated metal mess hall to feed the troops. Well aged cold cuts on stale white bread and hot mushy potatoe salad for Sunday dinner--every Sunday. The sheer delight of eating C rations for dasy after a typhoon hit. Ah, those were the real days at Linkou.
Larry Tormey
ex 1st Lt 176 USASACO
The sports teams from TAS were named Chargers. I think this may have had something to do with the dining halls name.
Stationed at SLK Jan 64. - Apr 65 ...gained 10#...previous duty Peshawar FOOD WAS TERRIBLE not the cooks fault ....we were at the end of the supply chain...ate lots of hotdogs....SLK food was supplied by navy
Served there from Oct 63 to 1964. Best chow hall I ever ate in. Worked .mixed shifts so we could possibly eat 5 meals a day. Some were delivered to you at work. Worked in the old and new compound. Loved my tour there.
RJS SERVED AT SLK MAY-NOV 56; RELATIVELY SMALL AF AND ARMY GROUP.
Served at SLK all of 1958 and remember the chow hall as a rather unpleasant place. tried to eat downtown whenever possible. Early times at SLK were a little primitive.
RAM
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