Veterans: Passing On Memories

U.S. Army veteran Tony Volkening fed 950,000 soldiers from the mess hall he managed during World War II. The Wildwood resident, who attended the 9th annual Veterans Day observation at on Wednesday, told junior student Tyler Weber, all about it.

Weber said it was interesting to discover Volkening was a cook.

Volkening, who now is 85 years old, recalled when soldiers flew in and out of Seattle, WA, he and his KPs (kitchen police) would feed them at 2 a.m., 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. "We fixed steak, and 10 eggs for every one man," he said.

"I should've opened a restaurant," he said. "So many people running restaurants don't know what the hell they're doing."

Weber and Volkening ended up also discussing horoscopes, discovering that Volkening and Weber's girlfriend were both Leos.

Volkening's advice to today's young people is to remember the following four things:

1. Always do good.
2. Then do better.
3. Then do your best.
4. Never let it rest.

He said it is critical to keep trying to improve one's self. "Once you've done something, go back and do it again until you do it better."