3rd HBCT Celebrates Coffee Shop Opening On FOB

Col. Wayne W. Grigsby, Jr., of Prince George’s County, Md., 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team commander, said facilities like the newly opened Green Beans coffee shop greatly enhance troop morale. The coffee shop opened at Forward Operating Base Hammer, Iraq, Aug. 6.

Lt. Col. Kelly Lawler, of Monticello, N.Y., 203rd Brigade Support Battalion commander, receives the first cup of coffee served in the new Green Beans coffee shop as Brigade Commander Col. Wayne W. Grigsby, Jr., of Prince George’s County, Md., looks over the menu on Forward Operating Base Hammer, Iraq, Aug. 6.

Story and photos by Staff Sgt. Sean Riley

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – The smell of roasted coffee beans filled the air as the first cup of Green Beans coffee was served to a 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team Soldier Aug. 6.

For the morning, coffee lovers from across the FOB rejoiced in air-conditioned splendor as fresh-brewed, hot coffee was made available from somewhere other than the dining facility or a dusty coffee pot in a command post.

Customers enjoyed their coffee after a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the event.

“You all know the way the FOB was like back in April,” said Col. Wayne W. Grigsby, of Prince George’s County, Md., 3rd HBCT commander. “One building with only three walls. Now, it’s incredible what we’ve done for the Soldiers of this brigade.”

The ‘Hammer Beans’ Green Beans coffee shop is open for business 24-hours, seven days a week.