Marine Is Liaison at Army's Joint Munitions Command

By Ms. Linda K Loebach (AMC)May 2, 2011

Marine Is Liaison at Army's Joint Munitions Command
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Staff Sgt. Tony Thompson is one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. Sounds like a cliche, but in this case, it's a fact.

At the Joint Munitions Command's headquarters, Thompson works as a Marine liaison vessel planner. Through scheduling and logistics, he moves ammunition from the continental United States to ports all over the world to support warfighters. One ship may stop in several ports on its route, and will transport ammo for several branches of service. Thompson ensures that ammo is ready for warfighters of the Air Force, Navy, Army and his own Marines.

"I have been very appreciative of Tony's contributions to this organization," said Allen Rus, chief of the logistics integration transportation division. "When he started working here, it was very apparent that he had the desire and capability to learn quickly, contribute and take responsibility."

"Tony is part of our vessel planning and container management team which means he is heavily involved in the planning and execution of sustainment munitions via sealift for all the services' requirements. He also has extensive field experience and that is always beneficial in that he can share real world issues with staff members who have not been in similar situations," Rus commented.

Thompson's journey as a Marine working at the Army's JMC has been eventful, and at times, arduous.

As a teenager in his home town of St. Louis, Thompson and his best friend had big plans for their futures. They wanted to start a business together. But along came 9/11 and his buddy decided to become a firefighter. Thompson realized that he wanted to do something meaningful, too.

"I wanted a challenge," the soft-spoken Thompson said. "I wanted to make a difference, something positive, something bigger than me."

Growing up, he had listened to military stories from his father, who served in the Air Force, and from his grandfather, who served in the Army during World War II. In 2002, right after he graduated from high school, Thompson spoke with a recruiter about joining the Marines. Two weeks later, he enlisted.

Thompson completed basic training at Camp Pendleton, in California, and his first duty station was at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina where he began working with ammunition as an ammo tech, filling ammo requests.

From 2004 to 2005, Thompson served in Iraq in an infantry unit that moved ammo to resupply bases. One day on base, an enemy mortar landed among a group of Marines, and Thompson took shrapnel to his legs and jaw.

Thompson endured several surgeries to his legs and a six hour surgery to restore his jaw. His flawless chin now covers not bone, but titanium. In order to heal well, Thompson's jaw was wired shut for two months during which he subsisted on a liquid supplement that he squirted into his closed mouth with a syringe, and subsequently lost 50 pounds.

Thompson's Marine buddies supported him during his surgeries and through three years of rehabilitation.

"The Marines really is a brotherhood," he stressed.

In 2005, after completing part of his rehab, the Marine Corps sent Thompson to New Orleans to help set up an assistance center for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. There, he distributed food and clothing, cut up trees that had fallen on houses, and cleaned up debris.

From New Orleans, Thompson proceeded to Hawaii where he withstood more operations and rehab. Because of his previous experience with ammunition, Thompson was assigned to attend classes to become a marksman instructor.

During his three years in Hawaii, between work and rehab, Thompson somehow found time to volunteer at the American Cancer Society, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and to serve as a kids' soccer coach. For his volunteer efforts President Bush awarded him the Presidential Volunteer Service Medal.

In 2008, Thompson returned to North Carolina as a platoon sergeant overseeing 97 young Marines. Not surprisingly, he made it a priority to volunteer there, too, and received another Presidential Volunteer Service Medal, this time from President Obama.

In October of 2010, Thompson received a phone call saying, "We need you here at JMC."

The Marine who works for the Army, arrived at Rock Island Arsenal in December.

"Before I came here, I didn't know this place, or JMC, even existed," said Thompson.

"The transportation directorate is a good group of people to work with. They have made me feel a part of their team and I can never learn enough from them," stated Thompson.

"I learn something new on a daily basis here," said Thompson.

It's a sure bet that his co-workers are learning something from this nice guy, too.