U.S. Army Ranger From Long Beach -- Sgt. Thomas MacPherson -- Is Killed in Afghanistan, Was Leading Assault On Enemy Position Amid Heavy Firefight

Sgt. MacPherson served one deployment in Iraq, this was his fourth deployment to Afghanistan

U.S. Army released photo

A release issued by the US Army's Special Operations Command says Sgt. MacPherson -- a Long Beach native -- was killed in a heavy firefight with enemy forces while leading an assault against an enemy position in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan

[US Army Special Operations Command release text] A U.S. Army Ranger was killed in action Oct. 12, 2012 during combat operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Sgt. Thomas R. MacPherson, 26, was assigned to Company D, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

MacPherson was killed by direct fire from enemy forces during a heavy firefight while conducting combat operations in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan.

A native of Long Beach, Calif., he enlisted in the U.S. Army in May 2007. For more than four years, MacPherson served as a mortarman and a Ranger Team Leader with 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.

The 75th Ranger Regiment has been continuously deployed to Afghanistan since October 2001.

"Sgt. Tom MacPherson lost his life courageously leading his Rangers into a close quarters fight with the enemy," said Lt. Col. Gregory Anderson, Commander of 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. "Tommy MacPherson never backed away from the dangers of combat, and his warrior spirit, personal example, and zeal for life continue to inspire all who knew him. We will honor his service to our Nation and the heroic example he set for all Rangers. Our thoughts and prayers are with the MacPherson Family."

MacPherson previously served one deployment to Iraq and this was his fourth deployment to Afghanistan.

"Sgt. Thomas MacPherson personified the traits of the consummate Ranger: commitment and courage," said Col. Mark W. Odom, Commander of the 75th Ranger Regiment. "He deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq multiple times and always seemed to be at the critical points on the battlefield."

MacPherson is survived by his wife, Claudia MacPherson, and their son, Brayden, of Tacoma, Wash., and his parents, Troy and Diona MacPherson of Long Beach, Calif.

In further information, the U.S. Army Command states:

[Sgt. MacPherson] 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, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. He previously served one deployment to Iraq and this was his fourth deployment to Afghanistan.

MacPherson was born July 20, 1986 in Long Beach, Calif. and graduated from Los Alamitos High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in May 2007 and completed One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, Ga., as an infantryman. After graduating from the Basic Airborne Course there, he was assigned to the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program also at Fort Benning. MacPherson graduated from the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program and was then assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Bn., 75th Ranger Regiment in December 2007, where he served as a mortarman. After three years, he was assigned to Company D where he served as a Fire Team Leader.

His military education includes the Basic Airborne Course, Ranger Assessment and Selection Program, U.S. Army Ranger School, Infantry Mortar Leader’s Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course (SERE), 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.

MacPherson has also been awarded 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.

He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service and Purple Heart...

As a Ranger, Sgt. Thomas R. MacPherson selflessly lived his life for others and distinguished himself as a member of the Army’s premier direct action raid force and fought valiantly as he served his fellow Rangers and our great Nation. -As of 13 October 2012

Further as we learn it on LBReport.com.

[LBReport.com conveys our sincere condolences to Sgt. MacPherson's family, friends and fellow servicemembers.]