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With a recent return to the United States after a 10-month deployment to the Middle East, Hunter Thompson, a Captain with the U.S. Army, had the unique experience serving with the 823rd Movement Control Team from Missoula, Montana while supporting Operation Inherent Resolve across Iraq, Syria and surrounding countries.
The 823rd’s primary mission was to coordinate and execute critical logistic movements throughout theater while working with their NATO and Iraqi counterparts.
Hunter spent most of his time in Baghdad, Iraq working as the bridge between the U.S. Government and the Joint Operations Center-Iraq. In this position he worked with officials from the Iraqi Prime Ministers Office, the U.S. Embassy, and most frequently the Joint Operations Center-Iraq to ensure logistic movements were moving uninterrupted.
The Joint Operations Center-Iraq, known as the JOC-I, serves as the hub of military operations within the country. With his daily interactions including many of Iraq’s highest-ranking officers, Hunter earned their respect and trust early in the deployment. With a mantra of keeping business as a small portion of their conversations and the rest learning about each other and the cultures it paid dividends in building relationships.
One of his closest connections was a decorated Iraqi officer, Brigadier General Baha, who frequently shared local cuisine, stories, and what life was like in the Middle East.
While the majority of his family is from Ely and the
Ely Echo being a common read growing up, it presented a unique opportunity to share a little about Minnesota and his life back home.
Hunter received the Ely Echo in care packages from his parents, Todd and Renee Thompson, and passed on the happenings of the Iron Range to BG Baha who particularly enjoyed the translations of what the Ely Timberwolves had going on that week in sports.
As a former handball player on the Iraqi national team, he enjoyed learning about the ins and outs of the various sports; especially ice hockey.
As the deployment came to an end CPT Thompson assured the General he would be sent a copy showcasing their partnership in ‘the big newspaper.’
