There’s plenty of great barbecue to be had across America — but some of the best is served up by folks who also served America.

Here are five of the best veteran-affiliated barbecue joints in the United States.

1.) Fox’s BBQ. After serving in the Army for 24 years, Jessie Fox opened Fox’s BBQ in Clarksville, Tennessee, in 2001.

“In 2001, when 9/11 kicked off, a lot of soldiers were stranded on the side of the road at Fort Campbell [Kentucky]. It was a mess,” said Fox, who served overseas in Iraq, Afghanistan and Panama, among other stations. “Soldiers didn’t have anything to eat and would run out of gas trying to get on and off post. So we opened up a grill and fed the soldiers.”

[lz_ndn video=25108704]

Fox’s food was such a hit that eventually Fort Campbell solicited the former soldier to open up shop on post. “We were at Campbell for four years, and the response was overwhelming,” Fox said. “We needed more space, so we finally moved to Clarksville. We’ve been growing ever since.”

“My passion for barbecue goes back to my grandma,” Fox explained. “When my grandma was home, I’d have to walk to the coal yard, and then I’d start the fire for my grandma. That’s how I learned different woods, like hickory and apple wood. From that, I learned to watch her and tried different things. She gave me her secret recipe when she passed away.”

Fox serves up full and half racks of ribs smoked over hickory wood (wet or dry), as well as brisket, pork, and smoked sausage with his special barbecue sauce. A favorite at the restaurant is the loaded fries, topped with chicken or pork and drizzled in cheese, and splashed with Fox’s special sauce.

2.) Swig and Swine. Anthony DiBernardo left the Navy in 1994 in Charleston, South Carolina, when the culinary scene was just starting to take off. “I was a cook on the U.S.S. Batfish SSN681 for four years,” Philadelphia-born DiBernardo told Fox News. “I love cooking, so I decided to stay in Charleston.”

After working at fine dining establishments around Charleston, DiBernardo opened his first restaurant, Swig and Swine, in Charleston, which today has two locations in the city.

Who do you think would win the Presidency?

By completing the poll, you agree to receive emails from LifeZette, occasional offers from our partners and that you've read and agree to our privacy policy and legal statement.

“We’re one of the only places in South Carolina that cooks the whole pig, nose to tail, over wood,” he said. “It’s a dying art.”

At Swig and Swine, pitmasters roast the pigs over wood 24/7. “We man the smokers the whole time,” DiBernardo added. “It’s like being back on the submarine. There’s no downtime. And we make everything in-house, from pickles to pastries.”

Related: Five Healthier Food Options You Can’t Overlook

This year, DiBernardo is planning on opening his third Swig and Swine location in Charleston.

3.) Q Barbeque. A Marine Corps veteran who served from 1982 to 1986 and a professionally trained chef, Tuffy Stone was looking for a challenge after the military. But he’s always had a real love for barbecue.

“Barbecue is the most gregarious, friendly food. It doesn’t discriminate. It’s relaxed and casual,” Stone explained to Fox News. “Historically, it’s for feeding large groups of people, such as family picnics at the park.”

In 2008, Stone and his wife, Leslie, opened Q Barbeque in Richmond, Virginia, and today own three additional Q Barbeques in the Richmond area.

What makes Stone’s barbecue special, Stone said, is a combination of putting the right amount of smoke on the meats with a rub that has a savory pop. “We’re very good at holding our meats hot, once they’re finished cooking, which is a challenge for barbecue restaurants,” he said. A sample of these meats include Stone’s brisket burnt ends, the spicy sausage, and the Memphis baby back ribs.

“My experience as a Marine helped me immensely,” Stone explained. “Attention to detail, hard work, the chain of command and leadership all come into play with running a restaurant. Early mornings and long days are the norm when cooking barbecue and serving as a Marine.”

Related: The Barbecue Joint That Honors Our Veterans

In 2012, Stone went to Kuwait to cook for U.S. troops stationed overseas. “We fed more than 5,000 troops during the course of our visit, and many of the soldiers said that eating barbecue was the closest they had felt to home since they had been deployed.”

4.) Nordic Smoke BBQ. Kacy Tellesson served as an infantry machine gunner in the Marine Corps from 2005 to 2009. Four years later, Tellesson and his brother, Dusty, originally from Spangle, Washington, launched Nordic Smoke BBQ, a barbecue food truck and catering business out of Spokane. “We discovered we had a passion for it,” Tellesson told Fox News. “Our dad, Gary, always smoked meat, and that’s where I gained my base knowledge for how to manage a smoker.”

Tellesson says he was drawn to the mystery of figuring out how to cook different cuts of meat. (go to page 2 to continue reading) [lz_pagination]