History

#FlashbackFriday: 1993—‘Granny Rambo’ returns from Somalia

By Robert Philpot / June 7, 2024 /

Pat Wood, the main store operations manager at Fort Hood at the time, earned the nickname “Granny Rambo” after she volunteered to the troubled East African country in February 1993.

Read More

#FlashbackFriday: An Exchange Initiative Helps Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan Phone Home

By Robert Philpot / May 31, 2024 /

In 2004, the Exchange launched an ambitious plan to deliver military Exchange Global Prepaid Phone cards to U.S Military men and women serving in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.

Read More

#FlashbackFriday: The Exchange at the Oldest Continuously Active Air Force Installation

By Robert Philpot / May 24, 2024 /

The Wyoming installation has been an Air Force Base for more than 70 years. But its history goes back to before there were airplanes.

Read More

#Flashback Friday: The Exchange in New Guinea During World War II

By Robert Philpot / May 17, 2024 /

New Guinea was one of many South Pacific locations where the Army Exchange Service opened PXs to support U.S. troops in World War II.

Read More

#FlashbackFriday: Photos From The Exchange’s 1st Celebration of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week

By Robert Philpot / May 10, 2024 /

May is Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month. Its roots go back to the late ’70s, when it started as one week in May. The Exchange quickly embraced the celebration.

Read More

#FlashbackFriday: He Overcame Multiple Obstacles to Become a 27-Year Exchange Associate

By Robert Philpot / May 3, 2024 /

For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, here’s a story about a Japan-born associate who became a U.S. citizen—overcoming multiple challenges before he began a more than 25-year career at the Exchange.

Read More

#FlashbackFriday: 30 Years Ago, HQ Associates Rallied to Support Teammates Hit by Tornado

By Robert Philpot / April 26, 2024 /

On April 25, 1994, an EF-4 tornado struck Lancaster, a Dallas-area town not far from Exchange headquarters. One associate who was affected by the storm–and is still with the Exchange–shares her memories of how teammates helped her family out afterward.

Read More

#FlashbackFriday: A Pictorial Album of the Exchange’s Vinyl Record Past

By Robert Philpot / April 19, 2024 /

Although the Exchange does not currently sell vinyl albums or CDs, it once had its own record store and record-distribution center in addition to record departments at stores worldwide.

Read More

#FlashbackFriday: In 1960, the Exchange Started an Airline Catering Service. Meet Its Founder.

By Robert Philpot / April 12, 2024 /

A 28-year-old cafeteria manager saw an opportunity to launch a service that provided food for flights Tachikawa Air Base in Japan. He remained involved with the catering service until 1996, and the service still exists today.

Read More

#FlashbackFriday: The Exchange Associate Who Was a Bataan Death March Survivor

By Robert Philpot / April 5, 2024 /

April 9 will mark the 82nd anniversary of the beginning of the Bataan Death March, the forcible 65-mile march of 60,000 to 80,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war to Japanese confinement camps throughout the Philippines during World War II. More than 1,000 Americans and 9,000 Filipinos died during the march. One of the POWs…

Read More