They Helped a Grieving Customer. They Didn’t Know He Was an Exchange Vice President.

When a customer contacted the Little Rock AFB Military Clothing store to ask about acquiring an Air Force uniform for his father’s funeral, Store Manager Lari Sasser treated him like she would any other customer in his situation—with grace and compassion.

The customer had to make a three-hour drive to the store, the closest MCS to him. All he had to go by was his father’s DD214. Sasser worked with the customer, making suggestions and doing research but allowing him to make the decisions. She then walked him over to the alterations shop, where seamstress Tenisha Fife sewed on his father’s stripes and offered her condolences.

What neither Sasser nor Fife realized was that the customer they were helping was Tommie Caudle—the Exchange’s vice president of Loss Prevention & Safety.

“Never once did I announce that I was an Exchange associate or part of the HQ/Corporate staff,” Caudle said. “I simply asked Lari if she could help me pull a uniform together.”

Caudle, who grew up with the Exchange and joined the organization in 2023, brought Sasser and Fife’s actions to the attention of Chief Operating Officer/EVP Marla Randolph, who in turn informed Director/CEO Tom Shull. During a surprise ceremony Tuesday morning, Shull and Randolph presented their challenge coins to Sasser and Fife.

“Lari and Tenisha, this is amazing what you did,” Shull told the associates. “At the end of our journey, especially for Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Guardians, the most important thing of all is to properly recognize their service. What you did for Tommie’s dad is truly remarkable. I can’t begin to describe how grateful we are for what you did. It truly embodies our core value of Family Serving Family.”

Randolph told Sasser and Fife how proud the senior leaders were of their actions.

“I know you think you’re just doing your job, but we want you to know that what you do doesn’t go unnoticed,” Randolph said. “Tommie said that you ladies helped him immensely without even knowing who he was—and that is huge. We want you to know that we thank you and we see you, and it meant a lot to Tommie and his family.”

Caudle was also present for the ceremony, along with Executive Vice President/Chief Administrative Officer Thomas Lozier, Central Region Senior Vice President Rebecca Santee and Mid Central Region Vice President Scott Bonner.

“I wanted to say thank you publicly,” Caudle told Sasser and Fife. “Lari, you had all the answers, you did the research and you just bent over backward. I told my wife as we walked away, ‘She does this every single day. It was just another day for her.’ But it was very impactful for us. Tenisha, you were so kind and generous. You offered your condolences.”

Along with the coins, Shull and Randolph presented the associates with plaques and a letter of appreciation. Little Rock AFB Exchange General Manager Barbara Commons presented each a bouquet of flowers.

“I want every one of my customers, especially when they’re dealing with a loss, to feel like I am going to do backflips for them,” Sasser said. “Because that’s what I’d want someone to do for me. That’s the way it’s supposed to be, so that’s what I’m going to do. To be recognized is really an honor.”

Santee also recognized the two associates for their actions.

“Your compassion, professionalism and willingness to go above and beyond are consistently reflected in the way you care for each customer,” Santee said. “You serve with dignity, empathy and excellence while supporting customers through every milestone.”

There is more to Sasser and Fife’s support for Caudle’s family that wasn’t mentioned during the ceremony.

As Caudle was gathering his father’s uniform at home to take to the cleaners, a coin fell out and landed by his feet. He picked it up to examine it.

“The coin’s inscription read ‘Forever Grateful’ and on the reverse side displayed the U.S. Seal (listing each of the Services),” he said. “It took me a couple of minutes to realize that someone had placed the coin in one of the uniform pockets to honor a Veteran who had served.

“That was emotional,” Caudle said. “And very cool.”

Exchange Director/CEO Tom Shull and Chief Operating Officer/EVP Marla Randolph honored Little Rock AFB Exchange Military Clothing Store Manager Lari Sasser, left, and seamstress Tenisha Fife for the compassion they showed to a customer–whom they didn’t know was vice president of Loss Prevention & Safety Tommie Caudle–while helping him acquire an Air Force uniform for his father’s funeral.