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FRONT BURNER

Sendoff Pays Tribute to a Long Army Food Program Career

hief Warrant Officer 5 Russell and we started putting fresh fruit
CCampbell, the food pro- out for them. You can just see
gram manager at the Army the smile on some of those
Sustainment Command, Marines’ faces when [they]
was honored in a retire- grabbed an orange, some-
ment ceremony hosted by thing fresh instead of wa-
the command at Heritage ter and an MRE.”
Hall at Rock Island Arse- Retired Maj. Gen.
nal, Ill., that capped off Kevin O’Connell, former
his 30 years of service. commanding general of
Succeeding Campbell, ASC, presided over the re-
after his April 7 retirement tirement ceremony, which
ceremony, as the food pro- was attended by more than
gram manager at the Army 150 people, including Camp-
Sustainment Command is Chief bell’s immediate family, father,
Warrant Officer 4 Jeffery P. Lein. aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces,
Campbell credited his mentors nephews, in-laws and mentors.
and family for supporting and installing Retired Maj. Gen. Kevin O’Connell, left, O’Connell thanked Campbell for his
pride and patriotism in him. He praised former commanding general of the U.S. dedication to the nation and his leadership.
his wife, Diana, for standing by him for Army Sustainment Command, presents “He has trained thousands of soldiers. He
Chief Warrant Officer 5 Russell Campbell,
more than 30 years. ASC food program manager, a certificate of has fed millions of soldiers,” O’Connell
“Diana has been there by my side even retirement during a ceremony in Heritage said. “Russ has been a huge member of a
before my Army career,” Campbell said. “If Hall at Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, April 7. team of teams that make up a platoon,
there is a family program or any support (PHOTO BY JASON TRAN, ARMY SUSTAINMENT COM- company, battalion, brigade, the Army,
MAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE.)
needed … you will always see Diana there. and the Department of Defense.”
“You always give more than anyone O’Connell presented a retirement
expects,” Campbell said to his wife. “Your leadership in certificate and the Legion of Merit to Campbell for his
every community we have lived in has a lasting impact service. The Legion of Merit is awarded for meritorious
and legacy.” service and achievement. It is the sixth-highest award a
Campbell started working at a country club at 14, wash- soldier can receive.
ing dishes and making salads. He held almost every posi- In attaining the chief warrant officer 5 rank, Campbell
tion in Army dining facilities — cook, shift leader, ration belonged to a highly selective group, O’Connell said not-
administration, manager — before becoming a technical ing there are only 596 on active duty.
food service warrant officer. As a young soldier, he worked Chief warrant officers five are technical and tactical
long hours, and on weekends and holidays. experts and leaders who primarily provide direction, guid-
“I learned to live it, and it became my passion to feed ance and resources.
soldiers. Serving food can change the way that soldier Campbell joined the Army Reserve in 1987, then tran-
feels for the rest of the day,” Campbell said. “You may be sitioned to active-duty in 1990 while stationed in Fulda,
the only bright spot of their day, whether you are serving Germany, with the 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry
one meal or three meals a day.” Regiment. His other assignments include, 5th Battalion of
Although food service is highly desired, Campbell said 101st U.S. Recruiting Command; Division Artillery; 43rd
it is often underestimated and underappreciated. “Many Area Support Group; 3rd Brigade of 1st Infantry Division;
people think food is easy, but it’s often taken for granted,” and Joint Culinary Center of Excellence. In addition, he
he said. “However, food is what brings us together. Brings was deployed during Operation Desert Storm and Opera-
us together in our homes with our families. Together in tion Provide Comfort.
the dining facilities with our comrades. Brings us together “This job has been so much more than what was in
in the battlefield.” the brochure,” Campbell said during the ceremony. “[It’s]
Campbell recalled a fond memory he said he will never been the most satisfying and most rewarding job, being
forget that occurred during Operation Iraqi Freedom in able to touch and impact the Army in its food program.”
2003: “Just a few days into the war, I left Kuwait with a His next step is to work for Robert Irvine Foods as vice
convoy of food to set up a ration breakpoint where units president of food services operations, where he will be
can come get food. [Soldiers] have been fighting for three able to reshape food options for service members, as the
or four days now. We had some Marine element that came company has broad partnerships with the U.S. military.
by asking for MREs, Meals, Ready to Eat … [my soldier and “I get to stay connected with my brothers and sisters,”
I] put a bunch of fruit in the Humvee and started driving Campbell said. “That’s important, especially after wearing
around where these guys are setting up their positions, the uniform for so long.”
4 GOVERNMENT FOOD SERVICE • AUGUST 2017