Sgt. Thomas R. Macpherson, 26, of Long Beach, Calif., died Oct. 12, in Andar District, Afghanistan, from small arms fire while on patrol during combat operations. He was assigned to the 2d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. He enlisted in the Army in May 2007 and completed basic training at Fort Benning, Ga. After graduating from the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program he initially served as a mortarman with the 75th Ranger Regiment. After three years, he was assigned to Company D where he served as a fire team leader. His military education included the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course and the Warrior Leader Course. His awards and decorations include, the Ranger Tab, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Expert Infantryman's Badge, the Parachutist Badge, and the U.S. Army Expert Rifle Marksmanship Qualification Badge, the Bronze Star Medal with Valor, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with three Campaign Stars, Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and the NATO Medal. Sgt MacPherson was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service and Purple Heart. Thomas is survived by his wife, Claudia; 17 month old son, Brayden; and his mother and father; Troy and Diona MacPherson.
Sgt. Thomas R. Macpherson, 26, of Long Beach, Calif., died Oct. 12, in Andar District, Afghanistan, from small arms fire while on patrol during combat operations. He was assigned to the 2d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. He enlisted in the Army in May 2007 and completed basic training at Fort Benning, Ga. After graduating from the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program he initially served as a mortarman with the 75th Ranger Regiment. After three years, he was assigned to Company D where he served as a fire team leader. His military education included the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course and the Warrior Leader Course. His awards and decorations include, the Ranger Tab, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Expert Infantryman's Badge, the Parachutist Badge, and the U.S. Army Expert Rifle Marksmanship Qualification Badge, the Bronze Star Medal with Valor, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with three Campaign Stars, Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and the NATO Medal. Sgt MacPherson was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service and Purple Heart. Thomas is survived by his wife, Claudia; 17 month old son, Brayden; and his mother and father; Troy and Diona MacPherson.
