Photo By Spc. Tobey White | U.S. Army Staff Sgt. John Thompson, a section chief from Headquarters and Headquarters...... read more read more
KHOWST PROVINCE, Afghanistan – In today’s world technology has made it possible for soldiers to instantly reach out to loved ones thousands of miles away.
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. John Thompson, a section chief from Headquarter and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Task Force Duke, used Skype tele-conferencing software to re-enlist as his wife watched from her home in the United States Dec. 10.
This is the Cleveland native’s third re-enlistment, but the first time his wife had been able to watch. The previous two times he re-enlisted in Iraq.
“It’s actually amazing,” said Jennifer, who was up at 3:30 a.m. to watch the ceremony. “I’ve never been able to see his promotions or re-enlistments. For me to be able to video cam it, I’ll have something to look back on years down the road.”
John said he came up with the idea while watching a scene from a movie where a soldier says hello to his new-born daughter for the first time over Skype.
“I thought, ‘Hey, why not re-enlist over here and have her watch it,’” John explained.
When John suggested she watch him re-enlist over Skype, Jennifer said she was a little nervous about being on camera where everybody could see her but she couldn’t see everybody else. However the opportunity to be part of something that meant a lot to her husband was too good to pass up.
“I’m proud of my husband and think he’s made an amazing choice,” she said.
Before re-enlisting, John took the time to weigh the pros and cons of another enlistment that would take him to retirement.
“I love what I do and enjoy the Army and teaching soldiers,” John explained. “It’s in my blood. My great-great grandfather fought in World War I and family members have fought in every war since then.”
| Date Taken: | 12.10.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 12.11.2011 15:26 |
| Story ID: | 81208 |
| Location: | KHOWST PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: | 387 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Wife attends husband’s re-enlistment via Skype, by SPC Tobey White, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
