Cpl. Thomas Saba of Toms River, NJ., was a 1994 graduate of Susan Wagner High School and moved with his family to Toms River in the late 1990s. He attended the College of Staten Island, pursuing studies in liberal arts and also worked in Fortunoff, Woodbridge, and as an assistant manager at United Artists' former Travis Theater. He made a five-year commitment to the Marine Corps shortly after 9/11, enlisting on April, 21, 2002. For most of that time, he was assigned to the Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262, The Flying Tigers, in Okinawa, Japan. The January deployment to Iraq was the first combat deployment of the squadron since the Vietnam war. He was posthumously awarded both the Purple Heart and the Combat Action Ribbon. Thomas was honored on November 14 2007 with the unveiling of a park bench in his memory at the Lake Ridge adult community where his parents live. The granite bench with an inscribed dedication is placed in front of the community's clubhouse. He was killed when his helicopter was shot down in Baghdad at age 30.
Marines
Medium Helicopter Squadron 262
Marine Aircraft Group 36
1st Marine Aircraft Wing
III Marine Expeditionary Force
Okinawa, Japan
Marines
Medium Helicopter Squadron 262
Marine Aircraft Group 36
1st Marine Aircraft Wing
III Marine Expeditionary Force
Okinawa, Japan
Cpl. Thomas Saba of Toms River, NJ., was a 1994 graduate of Susan Wagner High School and moved with his family to Toms River in the late 1990s. He attended the College of Staten Island, pursuing studies in liberal arts and also worked in Fortunoff, Woodbridge, and as an assistant manager at United Artists' former Travis Theater. He made a five-year commitment to the Marine Corps shortly after 9/11, enlisting on April, 21, 2002. For most of that time, he was assigned to the Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262, The Flying Tigers, in Okinawa, Japan. The January deployment to Iraq was the first combat deployment of the squadron since the Vietnam war. He was posthumously awarded both the Purple Heart and the Combat Action Ribbon. Thomas was honored on November 14 2007 with the unveiling of a park bench in his memory at the Lake Ridge adult community where his parents live. The granite bench with an inscribed dedication is placed in front of the community's clubhouse. He was killed when his helicopter was shot down in Baghdad at age 30.
Marines
Medium Helicopter Squadron 262
Marine Aircraft Group 36
1st Marine Aircraft Wing
III Marine Expeditionary Force
Okinawa, Japan
Marines
Medium Helicopter Squadron 262
Marine Aircraft Group 36
1st Marine Aircraft Wing
III Marine Expeditionary Force
Okinawa, Japan
Bio by: Elizabeth Reed
