Completing the mission

Photo By Sgt. Amber McLamb | Lt. Col. Kathy Fox, Staff Sgt. Frank Schaf, and Sgt. Kyle Thomas all look up at the "Leaning Tower of Taji." It is called this because the cables to the far right snapped due to corrosion.  

CAMP TAJI, IRAQ

06.30.2011

Story by Spc. Amber McLamb 

50th Signal Battalion (Expeditionary)

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - Sgt. Kyle Thomas of 50th Signal Battalion (Expeditionary) was deployed in support of the surge in Iraq and he is now a part of the closing of Iraq's mission.

Thomas of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 50th Signal Battalion (Expeditionary) is one of the many Soldiers who are deployed in support of Operation New Dawn, but were also a part of the war when the mission first started. Thomas was born in Hawaii on September 18, 1982. He was a child of the Army so you cannot say he grew up from just one town or city. He graduated from high school in Fayetteville, N.C., in 2002.

Thomas enlisted in the United States Army in 2003 as a Pvt. 1st Class. He attended basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C., and completed Multichannel Transmission Systems Operator-Maintainer (25Q) Advanced Individual Training at Fort Gordon, Ga. He then proceeded to Fort Benning, Ga., to complete Airborne School.

Thomas’ first duty assignment was Fort Bragg, N.C., where is he still currently stationed. Thomas was first deployed in support of OIF II with B Company, 327th Signal Battalion (Airborne) in 2004. He was a part of the SEN 32 team in Taji, Iraq. The SEN 32 team supported Air Force, Marines, U.S. Contractors, and DA Civilians. A few Army units that Thomas’ SEN 32 team supported were 3rd Infantry Division, 35th Signal Brigade, and 18th Airborne Corps. After completion of his tour he was awarded an Army Achievement Medal as a Pvt. 1st Class. Shortly afterwards he was awarded the rank of Specialist.

In 2008, Thomas was awarded the rank of Sgt. and then embarked on his second deployment in support of OEF with B Company, 50th Signal Battalion (Expeditionary) in 2009. Thomas was deployed in Kandahar, Afghanistan as the Tactical HUB Noncommissioned Officer in Charge. Thomas also handled COMSEC operations and was the Distribution NCOIC for RC East. His additional duties consisted of being the Company Retention NCO as well as the Mail Room NCOIC. Thomas’ entire job combined supported several thousand service members and civilians in Afghanistan who were a part of theater operations. After completion of his tour he was awarded an Army Accommodation Medal.

Currently, Thomas is deployed in support of Operation New Dawn at Victory Base Complex, Baghdad, Iraq with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 50th Signal Battalion (Expeditionary). Thomas is currently the Command Group NCOIC. Being a part of Command Group Sgt. Thomas was afforded the opportunity to go visit a place where he first started, Taji. As we rode around Taji, Thomas looked around with amazement at how things have changed, but yet are still the same. Buildings that were once full of life are now empty and lifeless. We stopped at an old, wooden building were his SEN 32 team once worked, Thomas said, “I can’t believe this place is still here. I figured it would have fallen down by now.”

After looking at the walls where Thomas once signed his name we moved on to his old billeting. The building where he stayed at one point was now vacant and only contained a cardboard cutout of a snowman and a lot of graffiti on the walls. As we continued to ride around Taji we stopped at the infamous Tank Graveyard. “I once took a picture as a PFC holding my weapon on top of one of these tanks thinking I may never return, now look where I stand,” said Thomas as we were walking around the Tank Graveyard.

It is an amazing sight to see someone who was in Iraq at the surge when it all started and is now here at the end when the mission is almost complete. Throughout Thomas’ career he has been awarded one Army Accommodation Medal, one Army Achievement Medal, two Army Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, the Global War on Terrorism (Expeditionary) Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, two Overseas Service Ribbons, one NATO medal, and two Certificates of Achievement. Thomas has also earned the Parachute Badge and the Driver’s Badge.

• Date Taken: 06.30.2011
• Date Posted: 07.16.2011 08:38
• Story ID: 73841
• Location: CAMP TAJI, IQ