Warrior of the Week: Mary Ann Smith

Mary Ann Smith, Grand Forks Air Force Base DeCA store associate, stocks fresh fruit in the produce section of the commissary on Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., Oct. 30, 2013. Smith was chosen as the Warrior of the Week for the fifth week of October 2013. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Susan L. Davis)

Warrior of the Week: Mary Ann Smith

Published Oct. 31, 2013
By Staff Sgt. Susan L. Davis
319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --

Unit: Defense Commissary Agency

Title: Store Associate, currently in Produce

Time on the job: 16 years

Hometown: Arvilla, N.D.

Age: 54

1. Why is working at DeCA important to you?
Working at DeCA is important to me because I get to support our military and have a good time doing it!

2. What moment or accomplishment as a DeCA member are you most proud of and why?
A customer who was moving away once made a point to come in to say good-bye. She told me I'd been the first person to welcome her to this base and she'd always appreciated the job I did in Produce.

3. What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of my job is customer service and being the "Candy Lady" to the children. I like to treat people the way I want to be treated. You never know how you make an impact on someone else.

4. What's the first thing that made you think Grand Forks Air Force Base was a cool place other than the temperature or weather?
After living in other states, this area has the best people.

5. Have you or has anyone close to you served in the military?
My husband served in Korea and Vietnam with the Army and Air Force; my father served in Korea with the Army; my brother-in-law is retired Army; I have one nephew who is active-duty Army, and another who is an active-duty Marine.