'Hoo-rah' Marine uncle attends 1st ACB Soldier's reenlistment

Photo By Sgt. Derrick Doyle | Spc. Mark Thompson, left, a native of Ventura, Calif., from Company B, 615th Aviation Support Battalion, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, poses with his uncle, Rockwell City, Iowa, native, Marine Master Sgt. James Feldhans, of 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 163, after re-enlisting Aug. 13 at Camp Taji, Iraq.  

TAJI, IRAQ

08.17.2007

Story by Sgt. Derrick Doyle 

615th Aviation Support Battalion

By Sgt. Derrick Doyle
615th Aviation Support Battalion

CAMP TAJI, Iraq – A Soldier from 615th Aviation Support Battalion (ASB), 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, re-enlisted with his Marine uncle – whom he had never met before – in attendance at Taji, Iraq, Aug. 13.

Prior to his re-enlistment ceremony, Spc. Mark Thompson, Company B, 615th ASB's unit armorer, sat down with friends and the newly acquainted uncle in the battalion re-enlistment office and explained how the family reunion in Iraq was arranged.

"I sent an e-mail out to my family about my decision to re-enlist, and I also talked to my mom about it," said Thompson, of Ventura, Calif. "She then told me that my uncle was in Iraq and that she would contact him and ask if he could be a part of the ceremony."

"That's neat," said Marine Master Sgt. James Feldhans of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, HMM 163, and a native of Rockwell City, Iowa, upon discovering the news that his brother's son-in-law was in Iraq, and that he was invited to be a part of his re-enlistment ceremony. "I didn't know he was here."

Feldhans, who has been in Iraq since June and is currently based out of Sadr City, talked about meeting Thompson's immediate family but never getting the opportunity to meet him face-to-face.

"I've met his wife and kids twice, but never met him," said Feldhans, who at one time lived in Thompson's hometown of Ventura. "I've only seen him in photos."

After the re-enlistment ceremony was over, Feldhans revealed that because of flight delays that resulted in more than 28 hours of traveling just to get to Camp Taji, he had a new departure flight and got to hang out a little longer with Thompson.

"Originally, I was supposed to be here for only one day," Feldhans said. "But, now it looks like I will be here for four. So, we'll have plenty of time to catch up."

• Date Taken: 08.17.2007
• Date Posted: 08.17.2007 07:29
• Story ID: 11861
• Location: TAJI, IQ