On Nov. 4, 1979, Iranian college students, who supported the Iranian Revolution, took over the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and held 52 American staff members who worked there hostage. The hostages were freed on Jan.…
July 18, 1866 – Congress does away with the corrupt “sutler” system, effective July 1, 1867. July 24, 1876 – The Secretary of War appoints one post trader at every military post, such as these…
During World War II, the Army Exchange Service—as the Exchange was known then—operated stores throughout Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia, serving American troops in the North Africa Theater of Operations. One of those…
Long before name-brand restaurants joined the Exchange family, we operated our own cafeterias, soda fountains and snack bars. We even invented our own “AAFES burger.”
“This steadfast and loyal team keeps the 124-year-old shopping benefit alive and well.”
See pictures dating back to the Civil War and read text of the Exchange and its predecessors in the Exchange History Flickr Album. Nearly 13,000 views so far!
The Exchange appeared in comics throughout its 124 years.
The first five years were definitely not easy. Just ask the prohibitionists.
Learn how the Exchange got its start and where. We still operate a store there.
Click to find out some of the things we did in the ’50s.