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Knife from Marine gunny

MONTEREY, Calif.--Walk into Compagno's, a deli hidden away on a non-descript street far from the tourist bustle of Cannery Row in this coastal city two hours south of San Francisco, and you will instantly be transported into one man's full-blown appreciation of all things military.

Located just a block from Monterey's Presidio, home to the world-famous Defense Language Institute, Compagno's has for years been the go-to lunch (and early dinner) spot for military personnel of all stripes. And though Bennett Compagno, the owner, never served in the armed forces himself, he has become what might be the best friend a soldier, Marine, sailor, or airman ever had in a civilian.

In return for his unerring friendliness, warm welcome, and tasty food, the servicemembers and officers who come here nearly every day while they're posted to Monterey have bestowed upon Compagno an awe-inspiring collection of mementos, mostly given to him when they leave Monterey for their next duties.

From drill sergeant hats to signed photos to combat knives, members of the Marines, Air Force, Army, and Navy have made it clear that Compagno is their friend.

This is a combat knife given to Compagno by Master Gunny Sergeant Mike Dobbs with the inscription, "For your continual friendship and support to my Marines."

While in town for other stories related to Road Trip 2012, CNET reporter Daniel Terdiman discovered Compagno's, and realized that the store, what it contains, and its owner, were worth a story of their own.

Updated:July 2, 2012Caption:Daniel TerdimanPhoto:Daniel Terdiman/CNET

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Paul and Jessica Fine

Marine Lance Cpl. Jessica Fine (left) and her husband, Marine Pfc. Paul Fine, both students at the Defense Language Institute, eat frequently at Compagno's. According to Paul Fine, the food is "amazing" and Compagno makes soldiers "feel at home."

Updated:July 2, 2012Caption:Daniel TerdimanPhoto:Daniel Terdiman/CNET

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Drill sergeant hats

Throughout Compagno's, nearly every inch of the walls and ceilings are covered with mementos given to owner Bennett Compagno by enlisted men and women, officers, and drill sergeants alike. This set of drill sergeant hats is among Compagno's favorite gifts, as well as some of the first he got after he took over the deli from his father.

Updated:July 2, 2012Caption:Daniel TerdimanPhoto:Daniel Terdiman/CNET

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Company commander nameplates

One area of the ceiling near the front door is packed tight with the nameplates of various company commanders -- from the Marines, Army, and Air Force -- who have left their post at the Defense Language Institute.

Updated:July 2, 2012Caption:Daniel TerdimanPhoto:Daniel Terdiman/CNET

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All you do for the Marines

On the side of his nameplate, Marine commanding officer Major K.C. Rohr wrote "Bennett, Thank you for all that you do. The Marines are grateful."

Updated:July 2, 2012Caption:Daniel TerdimanPhoto:Daniel Terdiman/CNET

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Seal Hardy memorial

Because Compagno becomes very familiar with many of the servicemembers who visit his deli so frequently, he is fiercely loyal to them, and when tragedy strikes, he makes sure to memorialize them. This is a memory of Navy Seal Nathan Hardy, who was killed in combat in 2008.

Updated:July 2, 2012Caption:Daniel TerdimanPhoto:Daniel Terdiman/CNET

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T-shirts

In addition to hats, many of the servicemembers give Compagno T-shirts from their units.

Updated:July 2, 2012Caption:Daniel TerdimanPhoto:Daniel Terdiman/CNET

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Sailors' caps

Many Navy sailors spend time at the Defense Language Institute and therefore become regulars at Compagno's Deli. These are hats from many of the ships the sailors are posted to when not at DLI.

Updated:July 2, 2012Caption:Daniel TerdimanPhoto:Daniel Terdiman/CNET

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Soldiers at the pyramids

This photo shows two servicemen wearing Compagno's T-shirts while posing in front of the pyramids in Egypt.

Updated:July 2, 2012Caption:Daniel TerdimanPhoto:Daniel Terdiman/CNET

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Radar picture

Asked about his favorite memory from his years feeding and making friends with the servicemembers who eat at his deli, Compagno recalled a Navy sailor would come by at least two times a week, but never became a friend. The day before the sailor left Monterey, he came in to the store with a present: a photograph of "M*A*S*H" major character Radar O'Reilly. The photo was inscribed, "To Bennett, Thanks for taking such good care of my son Jordan" and signed by Gary Burghoff, the actor played Radar. Now, the framed picture sits on a table right by the entrance.

Updated:July 2, 2012Caption:Daniel TerdimanPhoto:Daniel Terdiman/CNET

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Signed caps

Several signed military caps hang from the ceiling of Compagno's Deli in Monterey, Calif.

Updated:July 2, 2012Caption:Daniel TerdimanPhoto:Daniel Terdiman/CNET

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Leaving American sector

A replica of the sign that used to be mounted at the boundary between West Berlin and East Berlin hangs on the wall at Compagno's.

Updated:July 2, 2012Caption:Daniel TerdimanPhoto:Daniel Terdiman/CNET

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Marine uniform

While some servicemembers leave behind hats, knives, or patches, some give Compagno their uniform, like this one, from a Marine with the last name Helling.

Updated:July 2, 2012Caption:Daniel TerdimanPhoto:Daniel Terdiman/CNET

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Air Force uniforms

Several Air Force uniforms also grace the walls of Compagno's.

Updated:July 2, 2012Caption:Daniel TerdimanPhoto:Daniel Terdiman/CNET

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GI Joe

Many servicemembers who leave Monterey give Compagno G.I. Joe toys as gifts, and over the years, he has assembled a fairly large collection of them, as well as various police and military patches.

Updated:July 2, 2012Caption:Daniel TerdimanPhoto:Daniel Terdiman/CNET

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Colin Powell

In addition to normal G.I. Joes he has received, someone gave Compagno a Colin Powell toy.

Updated:July 2, 2012Caption:Daniel TerdimanPhoto:Daniel Terdiman/CNET

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Seal wall

An entire corner of the deli is dedicated to the Navy Seals.

Updated:July 2, 2012Caption:Daniel TerdimanPhoto:Daniel Terdiman/CNET

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Lebanese beer

Because his deli is so close to the Defense Language Institute, Compagno knows that the servicemembers who visit so often have spent significant amounts of time in postings in a wide variety of countries. One way he began to make inroads into the military community in Monterey was by stocking a number of beers from some of those countries, such as Lebanon.

Updated:July 2, 2012Caption:Daniel TerdimanPhoto:Daniel Terdiman/CNET

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Menu

In honor of his military friends, Compagno has created a menu with a number of specialty sandwiches named after various branches of the armed forces.

Updated:July 2, 2012Caption:Daniel TerdimanPhoto:Daniel Terdiman/CNET

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Compagno's

Compagno's Deli, located on a hill above Monterey, Calif., a block from the Presidio, home of the world-famous Defense Language Institute

Updated:July 2, 2012Caption:Daniel TerdimanPhoto:Daniel Terdiman/CNET

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