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| Sergeant Thomas R. MacPherson KIA October 12, 2012 Sgt. Thomas R. MacPherson, 26, was killed by enemy forces during a heavy firefight while conducting combat operations in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan. He was leading an assault against an enemy position when he was mortally wounded by small arms fire. MacPherson was a team leader assigned to Company D, Second Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. He previously served one deployment to Iraq and this was his 4th deployment to Afghanistan. MacPherson is survived by his wife, Claudia MacPherson, and their son, Brayden, of Tacoma, WA and his parents Troy and Diona MacPherson of Long Beach. |
The whole thing with Tommy is that he embodies everything that’s right about Ranger Battalion. He held the position of Ranger Team Leader which is literally the tip of the spear. He was the consummate, quiet professional—he expected absolutely zero recognition for what he did. He loved his job because he was a born protector. He was perfectly content to carry out his life’s work under the cover of darkness, with his and his comrades’ actions to remain forever under the cloak of shadows. He died doing what he loved; protecting all of us. What stood out about Tommy the most was his maturity beyond his years. I believe it was the fact that he was the older brother of younger siblings, but like another Sgt. said “Tommy wasn’t one of those guys who joined the Army and grew into a man. He joined as a man and grew others.” He left behind his beautiful wife, Claudia MacPherson, and their son, Brayden.
