For years, one of the most recognizable faces in military life was not that of the commander in chief, the secretary of defense or any other senior leader in the chain of command. It was the face of an airman who was (understandably) excited to eat a hot dog.
His visage graced Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) locations around the world, reminding American troops of what pure joy really looked like. And in the decades since it first appeared at the Exchange, U.S. service members and veterans have cultivated their own good-natured love affair with the hungry airman's photo, raising what was once just a piece of marketing material to military meme status.
That man was retired Chief Master Sgt. Robin Williams, responsible for the safety of the food that flowed through AAFES installations.
To be clear, the now-iconic image of Williams, who died of a heart attack on March 14, 2024, at age 60, was more than a meme. Now, the beloved chief is being (rightfully) eulogized by those military members who remember him so fondly both as a senior leader and, of course, as the “AAFES Hot Dog Guy.”
Robin Lawrence Williams was born in London on Nov. 4, 1963, and would attend high school in Miami. He joined the Air Force in May 1983 and embarked on what his obituary calls “a journey decorated by remarkable achievements and cherished moments shared with those around him.”
It's a journey reflected by his remarkable service record across 30…
