NAVAL AIR STATION-JOINT RESERVE BASE FORT WORTH, Texas -- Chow Time; that little slice of time given to all servicemembers to, either eat lunch, work out or just take care of business. Today, a small group of Marines from Fort Worth based Marine Air Control Squadron 24, Detachment “A” did all three.
In an effort to raise funds for a Texas-sized homecoming for MACS-24 in its second consecutive, seven-month combat tour, the remaining few in charge of holding the fort back home held two simultaneous fund raisers – a grilled steak fajita lunch and a sponsored 10 kilometer run.
The lunch, prepared by acting supply, logistics and embark chief, Staff Sgt. Eugene Willette, was offered to any hungry servicemember at the squadron’s group headquarters, Marine Aircraft Group 41. For three dollars a plate, members from each of MAG-41’s six squadrons, as well as members of the base’s air traffic control center, lined up for fresh tortillas, sizzling steak, and Willette’s special recipe of guacamole and pico de gallo.
“Next time we’re buying more meat,” said Willette, who recently joined the unit, “we might have started out a little slow, but once people could smell the fajitas, it was a complete sell out.”
The lunch was a repeat of the successful hot dog, chili and cheese cook out that Willette and his crew prepared during MAG-41’s Reserve weekend last week. Today, with the assistance of aviation supply clerk, Sgt. Jorge A. Echeverria, Willette dished out 11 pounds of fajita steak within an hour. The lunch was so successful, the Marines are thinking of doing it once again before their squadron returns from Iraq.
With fajita steak still permeating the air, twelve other MACS-24 Marines started their 10K run to collect even more money. Fellow MAG-41 Marines and sailors from the base’s air traffic control center dug deep to donate cash for the future homecoming. Sponsored by the kilometer, the dozen devil dogs trekked the majority of Naval Air Station-Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth gravel path recently widen for MAG-41’s popular Marine Mud Run held every October. Cpl. Tyson R. Nolte was the first to complete the course at a flat 38 minutes; others trickled in from 50 minutes on, but all completed the race.
By the close of chow, the resourceful squadronmates collected nearly $2,000. All donations will be utilized as the group begins the planning stages of the upcoming event. They plan on renting out a local sports bar in Fort Worth and are searching for live entertainment for dancing.
“They’ve been away from there families for the better part of two years, we want give them a welcome home that shows we really appreciate what they’ve done,” said MACS-24’s acting assistant staff non-commissioned officer, Staff Sgt. Joseph Renner.
MACS-24 is due home in mid-February.