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Community leaders give back to joint base

Col. Rick Williamson, 305th Air Mobility Wing commander, and Joe Zarzaca, 32nd Air Refueling Squadron honorary squadron commander, pose in a group photo with deploying members of the 32nd ARS aboard a KC-10 Extender on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., March 26, 2013. Zarzaca delivered more than 1,000 bagels and doughnuts to each deploying KC-10. (U.S. Air Force photo by Russ Meseroll/Released)

Community leaders give back to joint base

Published April 11, 2013
By Airman 1st Class Ryan Throneberry
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- "Attention building, there are pretzels and bagels in the command section. Get 'em while they're still here."

Joe Zarzaca, the 32nd Air Refueling Squadron honorary commander and longtime base supporter, brought an assortment of pretzels and bagels to the men and women of the 32nd ARS here March 26, 2013.

Zarzaca delivers baked goods to the base on a weekly basis.

"It's a thrill and an honor to have the chance to help the men and women here," said Mr. Z, as he's known by members of the 305th. "If it brings the slightest feeling of comfort to them, that is all I need."

Zarzaca started delivering baked goods and other tasty treats to then McGuire Air Force Base and Fort Dix in 1995 as service members began mobilizing to deploy to Bosnia.

"There were a ton of young men and women at the processing centers at that time," said Zarzaca. "I was able to rally some local businesses to provide bagels, coffee and other things for them. That was how I got into this whole thing."

Zarzaca has brought an abundance of comfort in the form of food to the service members here since then. His service as an honorary commander has also afforded him the opportunity to interface with joint base service members in a meaningful way.

"Within minutes of hearing about the bagels, they are all practically gone," said Staff Sgt. Kyle Klinger, 32nd ARS flight engineer and Halifax, Pa., native. "Everyone here loves it."
Zarzaca uses his own money to provide this gift to the service members here; just one example of how the surrounding community supports Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

"He's here every week, usually on our staff meeting day, providing bagels and pretzels to the folks here and a couple other spots on base," said Col. Rick Williamson, 305th Air Mobility Wing commander. "He has even recently reached out to our deployed counterparts with the help of our KC-10s."

Zarzaca teamed up with rotating KC-10 Extender crews heading to and from deployed locations. He loads up the KC-10 with more than 1,000 bagels, pretzels and donuts. Each crew stays in the area of responsibility for a 60-day rotation and Zarzaca's treats provides them a small taste of home.

"Sixty days can seem like a long time when you are away from home," said Klinger. "What Mr. Zarzaca does for us is a great morale booster all around."

The 82-year-old plans to continue to deliver the goods as long as he can.

"I'm old and I don't have the agility I once had," said Zarzaca. "But I will keep doing this as long as my body allows."

Honorary commanders and community leaders, like Zarzaca, positively impact community and base interaction by building and strengthening community relationships.

"He really does all this out of the goodness of his heart," said Williamson. "He really appreciates what all the men and women here do for their country and the Air Force. That's all the thanks he ever wants."