‘Road Warrior’ mechanic becomes dad, sergeant

Courtesy Photo | Sgt. Derrick T. Felch, a mechanic with the 68th Transportation Company, 749th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, and a native of Bismarck, N.D., crouches under a truck as he removes the oil pan on Contingency Operating Base Adder, Iraq. (Photo by Spc. Virginia C. Bisiaux)  

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, IRAQ

06.27.2011

Courtesy Story

749th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion

By Spc. Virginia C. Bisiaux

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq – Three weeks before deploying in support of Operation New Dawn, a mechanic from the 68th Transportation Company, 749th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, became a first-time dad.

Sgt. Derrick T. Felch, a native of Bismarck, N.D., is a happy man indeed. His wife Erika, a native of Los Angeles, and a soldier in the signal corps, delivered their first child, Sophia, April 22.

“She’s my light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.

Felch, who joined the Army as a junior in high school, graduated Basic Combat Training between his junior and senior years and then Advanced Individual Training soon after his graduation.

Due to his ability and willingness to be placed in a leadership role, he was recently promoted to sergeant.

“I lead from the front,” Felch said. “I’m out here with the rest of the guys turning wrenches too.”

Felch has shown his hard work to his soldiers, ensuring that they see him as another soldier and an example for them to follow.

“Sgt. Felch is always, with no questions, ready to help any soldier,” said Spc Roland Alaniz, a mechanic with the 68th Trans. Co. and a native of San Antonio, Texas. “He is always ready for the next challenge and one of the hardest working NCOs in maintenance, and maybe even the company.”

At just 26 years old, Felch plays a big part in his company’s ability to roll out on missions every day. He inspects the vehicles with their respective operators for any damage, leaks or other problems that could derail the mission; or worse, leave soldiers stranded on the road.

Until the time comes for Felch and the other Road Warriors to head home to Fort Bliss, Texas, he along with his soldiers will be working hard under trucks, in oil and greased up, turning wrenches and keeping all the 68th Trans. Co.’s vehicles mission capable.

• Date Taken: 06.27.2011
• Date Posted: 07.03.2011 02:40
• Story ID: 73172
• Location: CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, IQ