Sgt. Thompson, a Soldier's Soldier

Photo By Staff Sgt. Ruth McClary | Sgt. Joseph Thompson, of Bancroft, W.Va., measures wooden planks for a railing which will encase small water pipes at Joint Security Station Yusifiyah south of Baghdad. Thompson, of Troop B, 150th Armored Reconnaissance Squadron, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, is on his second deployment with the brigade and has fixed electrical outlets, light fixtures, air conditioning units and generators since moving out to the JSS at the beginning of July. Troop B is a West Virginia Army National Guard troop based out of Eleanor, W.Va.  

YUSUFIYAH, IRAQ

08.11.2009

Story by Spc. Ruth McClary 

30th Armored Brigade Combat Team

YUSIFIYAH, Iraq — An electric saw shoots sawdust as Sgt. Joseph Thompson, of Troop B, 150th Armored Reconnaissance Squadron, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, cuts a rail to encase water pumps at Joint Security Station Yusifiyah, south of Baghdad.

The Bancroft, W. Va., native, who also built the saw horse under the wood, loves the challenge of making the impossible possible.

Using a little ingenuity and hard work he has practically build up the JSS with his bare hands.

"Word got out to first sergeant that I knew something about electrical work and he asked if I would come out and do a few odd jobs at the JSS," said Thompson."He gave me a list of five projects and I had four of them done in three hours."

U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Stephen Deweese, of Scott Depot, W. Va., was amazed at the speed of his output. He said if he had known that Thompson was so efficient he would have gotten him out there much sooner.

"Basically, without Sgt. Thompson the overall quality of life out here would be much different," said Deweese. "He has been able to improve something every day, even if it was just hanging a light for Soldiers during limited visibility."

Thompson, who put up the railing to prevent contractors from stepping on the water pipes and loosening them, has fixed electrical outlets, light fixtures, air conditioners and generators since moving out to the JSS at the beginning of July.

The Soldier's Soldier doesn't mind assisting others when help is needed. He has fixed electrical problems or helped build-up individual rooms as well as fixtures in common areas.

"If they need it done, I get it done," said Thompson.

The Soldiers at the JSS almost had to fend for themselves, if Thompson had not demanded to come on this deployment. He had a quadruple bypass a year and a half ago and was nearly ordered not to deploy.

"I said 'the first [pre-deployment medical personnel] that tells me no [for the deployment],' was going to get a whooping," joked Thompson. "The guy signed the paperwork and pushed me through."

The Soldiers in the squadron refer to Thompson as Bulldog, Uncle Joey, Dad, Pops or Gramps and he answers to any one of those names.

"We are like a little happy family," said Thompson.

Thompson took a break to go inside for a cool drink at the dining facility. He explained that the refrigerator had been found upside down and covered in dust at another site.

A little re-wiring gave Thompson yet another notch on his tool belt.

"I love it out here," said Thompson referring to living at the JSS. "It's a closed-in area and we don't have to walk very far to get where we are going. Being out here is like being in the country."

• Date Taken: 08.11.2009
• Date Posted: 08.17.2009 07:13
• Story ID: 37569
• Location: YUSUFIYAH, IQ