History

#FlashbackFriday: Blasting Off Through the Exchange’s Connections to the Space Program

By Robert Philpot / July 19, 2024 /

From a 1950s commander whose son was a pioneering astronaut to modern-day clothing with the U.S. Space Force photo, the Exchange has several links to the space program in its history.

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#FlashbackFriday: We Go Where You Go—The Exchange in Thailand

By Robert Philpot / July 12, 2024 /

The Exchange operated in Thailand during the Vietnam War. Elephants, Santa and an astronaut visited.

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#FlashbackFriday: Remembering Maj. Gen. Albin G. Wheeler, 1991-’93 Exchange Commander

By Robert Philpot / June 28, 2024 /

Wheeler, who was also AAFES-Europe commander from 1983 to 1983, passed away June 10.

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#FlashbackFriday: 1994—The First Exchange-Operated Dental Office Opens

By Robert Philpot / June 21, 2024 /

Fairbanks Dental Clinic, which opened at what was then Fort Hood, increased convenience for military families who previously had to go off-post for routine care.

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#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.

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#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.

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#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.

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#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.

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#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.

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#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.

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