E-4 Specialist Niki Thompson

Niki Thompson is one of many honored veterans who are members of the McElroy’s team. We offer our sincere thanks to every one of our veterans, as well as United States veterans throughout the world. On this Veterans Day, we’d like to share a little extra about Niki.

Work on Vehicles

When Niki bought her first car at age 15, a 1984 Cougar, her father made sure she’d be able to do simple repairs. “He taught me to change the oil and filters, rotate the tires, and other basic maintenance,” Niki said. “I enjoyed it, and wanted to work on vehicles for a living. Even though I was good at it, I couldn’t find a job because I wasn’t experienced enough.” Niki found other work, until late 2005, when she got a call from a cousin who had just joined the U.S. Army to be a mechanic. Niki joined up too, and went to basic training right after Christmas.

Operation Iraqi Freedom

Following Advanced Individual Training in mechanics, Niki was stationed at Fort Riley, in Kansas. After Thanksgiving 2006, she attended the National Training Center at Fort Irwin to prepare for combat zones. While there, she received a commendation for replacing the ball joints on 23 Humvees in a single week. Deployed in February 2007 to Forward Operating Base (FOB) Falcon, south of Baghdad, Niki was one of three females in the 30-person motor pool. The relatively small base received enemy fire nearly every day.

Proven Capabilities

“To handle supplies, we had a large number of forklifts on base,” Niki said. “They weren’t designed for the desert environment, or to be safe from enemy fire. It was one of our jobs to upgrade and armor them, and add larger engines for the additional weight.” Niki excelled at the work. There were times when the men’s arms and hands couldn’t get into tight spaces, so they called on Niki. “I could reach spots the men couldn’t. So – as if I had rubber arms – my nickname became Gumby.” After 15 months in Iraq, Niki’s battalion returned to Fort Riley.

Six Years of Service

At Fort Riley, Niki and her non-military husband conceived their first child. When the battalion was redeployed, Niki remained at Fort Riley where her commander tasked her with HR duties at which she excelled. “It was work usually done by a sergeant first class, and I was an E-4 specialist,” Niki said. “I was glad to do it.” After her daughter, Alexia, was born, Niki re-enlisted and went to Fort Sill Oklahoma. “While I planned to remain in the Army, my marriage wasn’t working out.” After filing for divorce, Niki tried but was unable to arrange for a suitable caregiver for her daughter. She received an honorable discharge after six years of service.

Still Fixing Things

Niki still enjoys maintaining her own vehicles at her home in Ottawa, Kansas. In fact, there’s not much around her house that she doesn’t fix. Niki gets automotive mechanical help from Alexia who is now 16 and has learned the same basics that Niki had at that age. Niki’s son Nicolas, age 12, hasn’t shown an interest in cars yet.

warehouse purchaser

Niki is now a part of the McElroy’s warehouse team, serving as a purchaser. “The military gave me good life experiences and a strong sense of purpose,” Niki said. “I tried a few jobs after leaving the service, but the best fit I’ve found is here at McElroy’s. I care about our field technicians, and I enjoy making sure they have the tools, parts and materials they need to do their jobs. Purchasing those things for them quickly, accurately, and at the best price is fulfilling. It gives me a feeling of camaraderie and day-to-day purpose I like.”

Veterans on the McElroy’s Team

Niki’s story is one example of our many distinguished veterans who bring their pride, honor and professionalism to McElroy’s. We take this moment to express our gratitude to these men and women for their selfless service, and our appreciation for everything they do. Thank you to all our esteemed veterans!

David Abbey         U.S. Army Staff Sergeant                                 7 Yrs Service

Paul Brown           U.S. Navy Seaman                                             2 Yrs Service

Keith Feldhaus      U.S. Army Sergeant                                           5 Yrs Service

Jacob Iverson        U.S. Army Sergeant                                          6 Yrs Service

Steven Jester         U.S. Army E-4 Specialist                                  4 Yrs Service

                                 U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class     4 Yrs Service

Quentin Latta         U.S. Army E-4 Specialist                                   3 Yrs Service

Nick Newsom        U.S. Marine Corps Corporal                             4 Yrs Service

Joseph Rank          U.S. Army E-4 Specialist                                   3 Yrs Service

Tanner Schirmer    U.S. Navy E-5                                                      8 Yrs Service

Phillip Snyder         U.S. Army Sergeant                                            6 Yrs Service

Niki Thompson       U.S. Army E-4 Specialist                                   6 Yrs Service