Fort Bliss Monitor

Spc. Mark Miranda

Brig. Gen. Francis G. Mahon and Command Sgt. Maj. Julio A. Torres taste test
the Air Defense Artillery Grog to determine whether the concoction is fit for consumption.

Swift and Sure Dining Out

Spc. Mark Miranda
32nd AAMDC Public Affairs

A 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command Dining Out was held Oct. 5 at El Paso’s Vista Del Sol Conference Center. It was an opportunity for Soldiers within the command to interact in a social setting outside the workplace and to present awards to those unable to attend the upcoming Order of St. Barbara and Molly Pitcher ceremonies. In attendance were several of the unit’s foreign allies, Fort Bliss VIPs and unit leaders from 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade.

Guests greeted one another during the social gathering prior to the formal Assembly of the Mess.
Following the National Anthem and an Invocation by Chaplain (Col.) Stephen J. Heetland, toasts were given to the United States, President George W. Bush, the U.S. Army, the 32nd AAMDC, and to our Allies. Additional toasts were proposed to Soldiers and to the spouses.

Brig. Gen. Francis G. Mahon gave the welcoming remarks, and then a brief history of the Dining Out was explained along with the Rules of the Mess. These rules covered areas such as proper table manners, obnoxious behavior, and uniform deficiencies and ranged from anything thought up by guests that would warrant a trip to the punch bowl to drink a cup of Air Defense Artillery Grog.

Each ingredient presented was given a brief history as to its significance within the 32nd AAMDC history.
“The final ingredient was desert sand from my boot,” said Pfc. Justin Jurgens. “The idea was to use something that actually looked a lot like sand. It was really brown sugar, but I’m not sure it made the drink taste any better.”

Capt. Anthony B. Falcon took on the role of the Dining Out’s “Mr. Vice,” assessing fines or penalties to whoever violated the Rules of the Mess.

“The character of Mr. Vice is the representative of the President of the Mess – for this event, [Brig. Gen.] Mahon. If any rules were in dispute, we were to refer to Rule Number One: ‘the President of the Mess is always correct,’” said Falcon.

Fines were small monetary amounts that were really contributions towards some of the unit’s community aid projects such as the Agua Viva children’s home, Family Readiness Group and the post Junior Enlisted Family Center. Penalties assessed included having to tell jokes, perform a dance routine or taking a drink from the Air Defense Artillery grog bowl.

The dinner hour coincided with a multimedia presentation highlighting events of the past year. An induction for the Honorable Order of St. Barbara followed, which welcomed Col. Robert Bell, Col. Stephen Heetland, Lt. Col. Jeffrey Hunt, Master Sgts. Timothy Anklam, Linda Kessinger, and Staff Sgt. Kenneth Beeler into the order while Lusica Hankins was inducted into the Honorable Order of Molly Pitcher.

“It’s the first time I’ve been to an event like this,” said Spc. Marcus Laino, a logistics specialist. “I wasn’t quite sure what to think, I was just sort of sitting back and watching events as they were unfolding. It was funny that I was sent to the bowl for having a good uniform, which I’d been working on throughout the week,” Laino added. “With formal events like this, it’s always good to get junior Soldiers involved – whether it’s the young officer, junior enlisted or junior noncommissioned officer; it adds to an individual’s professional development,” said 32nd AAMDC Chief of Staff Col. Joseph DeAntona.



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	Oct. 19, 2006

	Spc. Mark Miranda Brig. Gen. Francis G. Mahon and Command Sgt. Maj. Julio A. Torres taste test the Air Defense Artillery Grog to determine whether the concoction is fit for consumption. Swift and Sure Dining Out Spc. Mark Miranda 32nd AAMDC Public Affairs A 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command Dining Out was held Oct. 5 at El Paso’s Vista Del Sol Conference Center. It was an opportunity for Soldiers within the command to interact in a social setting outside the workplace and to present awards to those unable to attend the upcoming Order of St. Barbara and Molly Pitcher ceremonies. In attendance were several of the unit’s foreign allies, Fort Bliss VIPs and unit leaders from 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade. Guests greeted one another during the social gathering prior to the formal Assembly of the Mess. Following the National Anthem and an Invocation by Chaplain (Col.) Stephen J. Heetland, toasts were given to the United States, President George W. Bush, the U.S. Army, the 32nd AAMDC, and to our Allies. Additional toasts were proposed to Soldiers and to the spouses. Brig. Gen. Francis G. Mahon gave the welcoming remarks, and then a brief history of the Dining Out was explained along with the Rules of the Mess. These rules covered areas such as proper table manners, obnoxious behavior, and uniform deficiencies and ranged from anything thought up by guests that would warrant a trip to the punch bowl to drink a cup of Air Defense Artillery Grog. Each ingredient presented was given a brief history as to its significance within the 32nd AAMDC history. “The final ingredient was desert sand from my boot,” said Pfc. Justin Jurgens. “The idea was to use something that actually looked a lot like sand. It was really brown sugar, but I’m not sure it made the drink taste any better.” Capt. Anthony B. Falcon took on the role of the Dining Out’s “Mr. Vice,” assessing fines or penalties to whoever violated the Rules of the Mess. “The character of Mr. Vice is the representative of the President of the Mess – for this event, [Brig. Gen.] Mahon. If any rules were in dispute, we were to refer to Rule Number One: ‘the President of the Mess is always correct,’” said Falcon. Fines were small monetary amounts that were really contributions towards some of the unit’s community aid projects such as the Agua Viva children’s home, Family Readiness Group and the post Junior Enlisted Family Center. Penalties assessed included having to tell jokes, perform a dance routine or taking a drink from the Air Defense Artillery grog bowl. The dinner hour coincided with a multimedia presentation highlighting events of the past year. An induction for the Honorable Order of St. Barbara followed, which welcomed Col. Robert Bell, Col. Stephen Heetland, Lt. Col. Jeffrey Hunt, Master Sgts. Timothy Anklam, Linda Kessinger, and Staff Sgt. Kenneth Beeler into the order while Lusica Hankins was inducted into the Honorable Order of Molly Pitcher. “It’s the first time I’ve been to an event like this,” said Spc. Marcus Laino, a logistics specialist. “I wasn’t quite sure what to think, I was just sort of sitting back and watching events as they were unfolding. It was funny that I was sent to the bowl for having a good uniform, which I’d been working on throughout the week,” Laino added. “With formal events like this, it’s always good to get junior Soldiers involved – whether it’s the young officer, junior enlisted or junior noncommissioned officer; it adds to an individual’s professional development,” said 32nd AAMDC Chief of Staff Col. Joseph DeAntona.