Gedunk bar

A Gedunk bar or geedunk bar is the canteen or snack bar of a large vessel of the United States Navy. A service member who works in the geedunk is traditionally referred only to as that "geedunk guy" or "geedunk girl", or more informally as a "geedunkaroo" The term was popular during World War II. The term was first recorded in Leatherneck Magazine in 1931.

Overview

The origin of the word is uncertain. One theory suggests the name is derived from the "gee-dunk" sound which
vending machines installed there made when operated. Another theory is that the term is derived from the comic strip Harold Teen, in which Harold eats Gedunk sundaes at the local soda shop.

The gedunk bar was usually open for longer hours than the mess. Such bars were stocked with a wide variety of consumables, such as snacks, soft drinks and fresh coffee.One may also find ship or command items in the geedunk. Such items include ballcaps, shirts, coins and patches that bear the insignia of the unit. In the bigger ships such as heavy cruisers and escort carriers, or battleships and fleet carriers, the gedunk bar also had several flavors of hard and soft ice cream made aboard ship.

Several museum ships such as USS "Salem" (CA-139) have recreated or restored gedunk bars, complete with examples of period dry goods.

In the 21st century, Sailors and Marines continue to call a place where snacks are for sale a "gedunk bar" or "gedunk machine" and refer to the snacks themselves as "gedunk".

The term also refers to the à la carte snack bar located in the Student Union at Grove City College, and is currently the name of the college's alumni magazine.

See also

* During the Vietnam War everyone who served in the Navy got a National Defense medal. Because these medals were issued regardless of any service beyond making it through bootcamp, it was called a Gedunk medal.

External references

* [http://www.gcc.edu/alumni/magazine/current/default.htm GeDunk: Grove City College Alumni Magazine]