Mother, son reunite in Afghanistan for a Thanksgiving to remember

CAMP LEATHERNECK, AFGHANISTAN

12.01.2011

Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class Monique LaRouche 

Regional Command Southwest

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - When Lance Cpl. Louis E. Rhodes was told he would be deploying to Afghanistan; he never expected he’d be having Thanksgiving Day dinner with his mom.

Rhodes, a Marine reservist from Darlington, Md., is deployed with the 4th Combat Engineer Battalion. He has been deployed for six months and in the field nearly the entire time. His mother, Margaret Rhodes, a contractor with the United States Department of Agriculture, is currently working at Camp Leatherneck.

The 4th CEB was slated to redeploy and the unit was to be home a week before Thanksgiving. However, plans were modified and the battalion ended up flying into Camp Leatherneck just before Thanksgiving Day. Margaret was able to surprise her son on the flight line.

Margaret explains seeing her son and being able to talk to him halfway around the world on Thanksgiving Day was a surreal experience. “It was the best Thanksgiving I could have.”

Mother and son exchanged “war” stories while enjoying a complete holiday meal including roast turkey at Camp Leatherneck.

While they talked, Rhodes said he felt uncomfortable with his mom being in Afghanistan. “I did not like her going outside the wire,” Rhodes said.

As an agricultural adviser, Margaret Rhodes provides technical assistance to the Afghan people in order to improve their crop production and water quality. She works alongside the military and often her job requires leaving the safety of Camp Leatherneck in order to consult with Afghans in their communities and on their farms.

“I was surprised to hear the things she was doing and seeing. I think she is doing a lot more than a lot of people. It’s nice to have the reverse role and for me to be proud of her,” Rhodes said.

Lance Cpl. Rhodes was able to enjoy Thanksgiving afternoon with his mom before he left for the U.S. Margaret Rhodes will return home early next year and then they will be able to spend much more time together.

“The men and women that come back from Afghanistan and Iraq said this has been the most rewarding experience of their careers,” Margaret said, adding “I really wanted to be a part of the military mission.

“We’re going to have such stories around the kitchen table.”

• Date Taken: 12.01.2011
• Date Posted: 12.03.2011 00:29
• Story ID: 80863
• Location: CAMP LEATHERNECK, AF