Wright-Patterson Associates Help Out Veteran 300 Miles Away from Home
Darlene Lisby and Serdar Kochak
Darlene Lisby learned early in life that the military community is small and closely knit. Her father was a World War II Army Veteran, two brothers served in Vietnam, and she married into the service—her former spouse served 20 years in the Air Force.
“With all the PCS’ing and deployments our family have endured, I quickly discovered the unique bond that our military family shares as an individual unit and as an extended family support system,” said Lisby, who’s worked at the Wright-Patterson AFB’s Military Clothing store for 24 years. “I’m proud to be part of an organization that allows me to be directly involved with giving back to our service members.”
She also knows that Exchange associates like her are often the first impression many new service members get of the Exchange.
“The years of experience I have gathered help me put them at ease, and I hope to make their first Exchange experience a positive one,” Lisby said.
Treating a customer just like family
Lisby and concessionaire Serdar Kochak recently treated one customer in particular just like family.
The retired Air Force senior master sergeant, who lives in Butler, Pa., 300 miles away from Wright-Patterson, needed a new dress blues coat to wear to his son’s wedding, which was coming up in less than two weeks at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash.
Under such a tight deadline to find a coat and get fitted, he called the Military Clothing store and linked up with Lisby. She set aside two jackets she thought would fit him, and he set out on the four-and-a-half hour drive to Wright-Patterson.
When he arrived, Lisby’s warm personality took over. She quickly fitted him with a coat, getting the correct insignia to match his rank and ensuring a new pair of pants matched the coat, he said.
‘Same quality of warmth and professionalism’
Ten minutes later, the customer was in alterations, where Kochak works.
“I found the same quality of warmth and professionalism in Serdar,” he said. “He quickly fit my stripes to my coat and had them sewn on within 40 minutes.”
In less than an hour, the customer was on his way home in time to eat dinner with his family. He said he left the Military Clothing store happy and less stressed.
“I was touched by the customer’s letter,” said Kochak, an Exchange concessionaire since 1992. “I would like to thank everyone at the Exchange for having the right inventory so we can do our jobs every day.”
‘My motivation behind Family Serving Family’
Kochak’s son is a U.S. Navy Seal undergoing training in California.
“He is my motivation behind Family Serving Family,” he said.
Exchange General Manager Donald Walter said Lisby and Kochak helping the Veteran exemplified the Exchange’s “Family Serving Family” core value.
“It truly is a privilege to serve those who serve—and served—our great Nation: the best customers in the world,” he said.
