Two Newberry men had a surprise family reunion when they found themselves working on the same mission in Iraq recently.

Courtney Nance graduated from Newberry High School in 2006 and headed for the Army. In December 2007, the young recruit was sent to Iraq.

Courtney Nance’s uncle, Master Sgt. Ricky Nance, grew up in Newberry and has served 29 years in the Army.

In August, Courtney Nance was working on a mission in Iraq and co-workers began to talk about their boss Master Sgt. Nance. Courtney Nance became curious and began to asked about the boss.

Courtney Nance said he soon learned that the boss of the project was the uncle he had not seen since before he entered the Army.

The two soldiers were all smiles during the week they spent together in Iraq.

“We hung out together the week we were there,“ says Courtney Nance with a big smile. “It was something to have a relative right there to support me.“

Courtney Nance even called his parents from Iraq to tell them who he was spending time with.

After finishing their tours of duty, Courtney Nance returned to the States on Feb. 6 and his uncle about two weeks later.

Courtney will leave in the next week for Texas where he will be serving with a newly-established unit.

“I have no idea what I will be doing,“ said Courtney Nance.

Ricky Nance is in Missouri but will be headed to Newberry for a visit in April.