If you’ve visited the Seaboard Lane Costco on a Friday at lunchtime, you’ve likely noticed a makeshift military mess hall in the dining area. The veterans who meet there call it “Camp Costco,” and they’ve been gathering since 2000, when two veterans first sat down for hot dogs after reconnecting in town.
The group now has more than 175 members with about fifty showing up each week for reminiscing and chow. They’re organized by retired marine Paul Napoli and call themselves the Middle Tennessee Veterans Support Group.
“I’m not exactly introverted and I needed a social life,” says Vietnam veteran Larry Sorce, 78. “Somebody told me about this group and I’ve been coming for six years.”
Costco assistant general manager Mark Stipe says the store enjoys having the veterans. “It’s always nice to hear customers thank them for their service.”
Every veteran in the group has a story – or two or three – to share. Charlie Crumpton talks about serving on the Intrepid, now a New York City museum. “I’m taking my son to see it on Veterans Day, he’s never been on it!”
Ed Pusey retired from the Army, Defense Department and CIA. “I never got shot but I got blown up twice,” he says. “The first time was in 1972 in Frankfurt. The second time was on September 11. I was in the Pentagon. Nothing happened to me which was very fortunate.”
Hilary Stapleton was born in the U.S. but grew up partly in Israel and gained Israeli citizenship. “I wasn’t picked for the Israeli draft,” she says, “and I joined the U.S. military when I was 21.” She served in the Army, where she met her husband, Shane, and served in the National Guard.
Jim Buford at age 96 is one of few WWII veterans we can still ask about his service in the Navy and Marine Corps. Jim says one of the highlights of his career was being selected for E9, the highest pay grade for enlisted personnel.
Crockett Rains and Michael Montgomery, both 76, met at the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in the 1960s. “It’s a funny story,” says Crockett. “I got transferred for two weeks on TAD – Temporary Assigned Duty – and I had this Pontiac GTO.” “They were hot cars then,” Michael explains. Crockett continues, “And I said, Mike, how about you keep my car while I’m gone? Here’s the keys, do what you want with it.” Michael took full advantage of the hot car and drove to East Carolina University, where he met his future wife, Blair. Crockett says, “I flew back in a C130 and was looking down over the base, and I saw my car just squealing down the road to the gate. When I got it back it had about 5,000 more miles on it.” Bruce Waterman, 86, a Navy veteran whom the guys jokingly call “Seabiscuit,” interjects: “Well, you told him to drive it!”
When Michael went to Vietnam he figured he’d never see Crockett again. Years later, Crockett, a Nashville native, had moved to Franklin with his family and Michael was transferred to Tennessee for work. The men agree that every veteran at Costco would sacrifice anything for the United States of America. “And every one of us, if we were called back to duty, we would go back,”
says Crockett. “There’s not one of us in here that would say no. It tears me up to talk about it. I love this country so much.”
“That’s the bottom line right there,” says Michael. Adds Bruce Waterman, “Every one of these guys here are patriots and we
would all go back.”
Middle Tennessee Veterans Support Group is open to all veterans and those who support them. Lunches are on Fridays at 11am at Costco, 98 Seaboard Lane, Brentwood.