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While Mugs and the kids are sitting around eating bowls of chocolate frosted sugar bombs cereal while watching the Food Network, I’m dining on the fine cuisine of the FOB Diamondback DFAC. The Army DFAC is typically referred to as the Mess Hall for very valid reasons. On a normal Army installation, soldiers that live in the barracks are allowed to eat in the Mess Hall for free. Even with this authorization, most soldiers choose to eat off post as often as possible. There is always one person in the crowd that enjoys the Mess Hall. One such individual is Chris Coleman, a friend of ours from when we were stationed in Germany. He and Mugs were Platoon Leaders in the same company when we were Lieutenants. Once when we were on the subject of food, Chris commented that he loved eating at Waffle House. Seeing the looks of shock on our faces, he went on to explain that he preferred Waffle House because “It’s the quantity of food that matters, not the quality.” Hopefully that helps you put his enjoyment of the Mess Hall in perspective.

Anyway, the DFAC here in Mosul does not deserve the Mess Hall moniker. This is the most impressive DFAC I have ever seen. Due to OPSEC, I am unable to post any pictures of this magnificent structure. You may recall the explosion in a DFAC in Iraq around Christmas in 2004. The blast killed 22 soldiers and wounded 66 others. That occurred here in Mosul on FOB Marez, right across the road from FOB Diamondback. Because many soldiers congregate at DFACs, these facilities are considered high-value targets. So we take every possible measure to ensure the safety of our soldiers in the DFAC. I will not discuss anything here that violates or compromises OPSEC.

In the FOB Diamondback DFAC, the options are endless. At every meal the mainline has a couple of options for the main dish as well as several alternatives for side dishes. For example, at breakfast this morning, from the mainline, I got bacon, hashbrowns, and a biscuit with creamed beef gravy. While at lunch, I had General Tso’s chicken over rice, also from the mainline. But if the pickings on the mainline are not to your liking, other choices abound throughout the facility. In the morning, when I have a little more time on my hands, I wander over to the omelet bar and have a made-to-order omelet. For the fast food junkies, burgers, hot dogs, fries, onion rings, and even cheese sauce are in abundance. Some days it’s even possible to get jalapeño hot poppers.

But wait, that’s not all. If you call in the next 5 minutes, I’ll also throw in the Ginsu knives!

I’m running out of room and haven’t even mentioned the taco bar, pasta bar, potato bar, soup bar, salad bar. Have I left out any other possible bars? I guess the only bar not in this DFAC is the kind of bar not authorized for US troops in Iraq. But at least there’s Coors non-alcoholic beer in every cooler in the DFAC. I laugh every time I see someone with their near beer.