Exchange History Articles

#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

#FlashbackFriday: For World Water Day, Some Drops of History About Exchange Water Plants

By Robert Philpot / March 22, 2024 /

One of the biggest water events in Exchange history happened in summer 1998 ,,,,

Read More

#FlashbackFriday: She Was the Exchange’s First Female GM—And That Was Just One of Her ‘Firsts’

By Robert Philpot / March 15, 2024 /

For Women’s History Month, meet Annabelle Fleming, a woman who made a lot of Exchange history.

Read More

#FlashbackFriday: 79 Years Ago: After the Battle of Manila Ends, an Exchange Quickly Opens in the Philippines

By Robert Philpot / March 8, 2024 /

On March 11, 1945, the Luzon Base Section Main Exchange opened in Manila. It was the beginning of what became the Philippine Exchange system.

Read More

#FlashbackFriday: Women Whose Jobs Made News at the Exchange in the ’50s

By Robert Philpot / March 1, 2024 /

For Women’s History Month, which begins today, Flashback Friday flashes back to the ‘50s for some mid-20th century history about women at the Exchange.

Read More

#FlashbackFriday: February 2003—After a Fire in Afghanistan, an Exchange Quickly Rises From the Ashes

By Robert Philpot / February 23, 2024 /

On Feb. 21, 2003, a fire burned through Exchange facilities in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Within 36 hours, the store team had a temporary Exchange up and running.

Read More

#FlashbackFriday: The Link Between a Georgia Recreation Center and a 40-Year Exchange Associate

By Robert Philpot / February 16, 2024 /

For For Black History Month, Flashback Friday looks into the name behind the Frank Chester Recreation Center in Columbus, Georgia. Chester was a longtime city official–but before that, he spent decades at the Exchange.

In Columbus, Georgia, there is a building called the Frank Chester Recreation Center

Read More

Flashback Friday: For National Pizza Day, a Pictorial Serving of Exchange Pizza History

By Robert Philpot / February 9, 2024 /

Pizza had a prominent place at the Exchange, but its history may not be as long as you think it is.

Read More