There Goes Mr. PX:’ Fort Jackson Associates Serve Troops for 50-Plus Years

Charles Denny

FORT JACKSON, S.C. – Back when Charles Denny and Woodrow Portee joined South Carolina’s Fort Jackson Exchange, things were just a little different from today.

Soldiers ate in a cafeteria run by the post exchange. The basic trainees could get their fill of hot dogs, hamburgers and beer at a stand not far from the troop store where Denny worked.

The hot-dog stand is long gone, but Denny, 71, and Portee, 73, are still serving the military community decades later.

Both men have more than 50 years’ experience serving generations of the troops at Fort Jackson. Portee began in 1961, while Denny started in 1967.

No plans on leaving

Portee said he plans on wearing his blue Exchange shirt until the day he is 6 feet under. Denny added he’s going to work at the troop store until he absolutely cannot work any longer.

“People in my neighborhood still recognize me from when they were in the Army at Fort Jackson,” Portee said. “They’ll say, ‘There goes Mr. PX.’ I’ve made a lot of friends from my years at Fort Jackson.”

Similar histories

The two men share similar histories. Portee began as a cafeteria bus boy, working his way up as a custodian, stock clerk, warehouse supervisor and stockroom manager, while Denny moved from the troop store to the warehouse over the course of his career. Both men retired at one point—Portee in 1997, Denny in 2002—but neither lasted more than a month before returning to the Exchange.

“I came to work at the PX because the people working there believed in helping people and making their lives better, the same beliefs that I had,” Portee said. “For all of my years here, I have felt really good about serving the troops, making sure their needs and their families’ needs are met.”

Personifying Family Serving Family

Woodrow Portee

Their dedication to serving those who serve have impressed generations of managers and associates, who use superlatives like “legendary” and “phenomenal” to describe these warehouse workers.

“These are very solid folks,” said Thomas Kuttamperoor, general manager at Fort Jackson. “They truly personify our mission and our core value of Family Serving Family.”

Denny has a son who served in the Navy, another son served in the Army, a daughter is a Marine and another daughter is a Sailor.

“I enjoy this job, especially the fact that the customers change every 13 months when a new batch of recruits rolls in,” Denny said. “They’re so fresh-faced and bright-eyed that you can’t help but do your best to give them everything they need and encourage them to be the best they can be.”

Admiring those volunteering to serve

Denny said he’s remained with the Exchange for so many years because he greatly admires the men and women who volunteer to protect the Nation. His managers called Denny the “gold standard” who lets his personality shine through his quality and quantity of work.

“I enjoy working with people who want things out of life,” Denny said. “And every person in the military family wants something out of life.”

History FunFact

Carhops at this Fort Jackson restaurant delivered food to your car. Check out the rest of the Exchange restaurants from the past in the Exchange History Flickr Album.