RIP Tommy

[stevieb91]

I am sorry for the loss of your friend,and prayers to his family.This "war" affects a family in this area at least twice a month.On two occasions,families have had to bury their only child.

[Tetsuo]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0611030257nov03,1,7229391.story?coll=chi-newslocal-hed

Hundreds mourn son, friend, Marine
Before his death during his second tour in Iraq, Marine Sgt. Thomas Gilbert had hunted a mountain lion, kept his buddies in stitches and made his family proud.

By Sara Olkon
Tribune staff reporter
Published November 3, 2006


Marine Sgt. Thomas Gilbert talked of one day riding his Harley-Davidson to the Grand Canyon. And he cracked up friends using a bad Irish accent to try to win the hearts of young women at a bar.

But Gilbert, killed Oct. 25 in Anbar province in Iraq, also was remembered Thursday as being a caring soul, never too old to rest his head in his mother's lap.



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More than 500 family members and friends filled Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Downers Grove for the funeral of the 24-year-old serviceman killed on his second tour of duty. He was due to return in mid-April.

Outside the Main Street church in the blustery, winter-like conditions were about four dozen Patriot Riders, a biker group that attends military funerals to honor fallen service members and to protect families from protesters.

The crowd inside the church was silent until a lone bagpipe played, setting off sobs.

The Lee Greenwood song "God Bless the U.S.A." was sung as Marines escorted Gilbert's American flag-draped coffin into the church. A white funeral pall then replaced the flag.

"The thing that Tommy learned early on ... he was part of something bigger than himself," said Rev. Michael R. Rothaar, senior pastor at Gloria Dei, referring first to Gilbert's close-knit family, then to his chosen path as a Marine.

After the service, mourners traveled south on Main Street in a procession led by the Patriot Riders. They drove 38 miles to the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood. Along the way, strangers paid solemn tribute from the roadside. Among them was a group of children from Puffer Elementary School in Downers Grove, who stood with their hands over their hearts.

A 2000 graduate of Downers Grove North High School, Gilbert had been a marketing major at Western Michigan University. He joined the Marine Reserve in September 2000, and his unit--Company A, First Battalion 124th--was based out of Grand Rapids, Mich.

Friendships figured prominently in his life.

"When his buddy didn't have the right shoes to get in a bar, he sat on the street with him," Rothaar said.

Finding "his place" as a Marine, Gilbert was often among the first to assist other Marines in peril as a member of a rapid response team, the pastor said.

Gilbert was passionate about the outdoors. He enjoyed water skiing, wakeboarding and fishing with his grandfather. He also loved to hunt. A friend from high school said he once helped stalk a mountain lion for four or five days. He then offered her mountain lion stew.

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[Shotgun]

I'm so sorry, the world needs more people like your friend.

Keith

[Superfly]

Im very sorry for the loss of your friend Tets...

[Reverend Timmy]

So sorry for your loss.Much respect goes out to Thomas and all of families of servicemen and women who have given their life for this country.They will never be forgotten,especially in my household....................

[hippietim]

sorry man.

[shreddermon]

RIP. Sounds like your friend was a great guy. Thoughts and prayers for your loss.

We all owe him a debt of gratitude for our freedom. That's not just words.

[STLKINGV]

Tragic..............May peace be with you and his family.

A~

[charvelguy]

Sorry to hear of this, reading that.. he was a good man and won't be forgotten. My condolences to you and those close.

[Tetsuo]

Since I don't want to turn this into a political thread and Tommy was a happy dude I only got one question...


anyone want Mountain Lion Stew?

[charvelguy]

hmm..sounds interesting..I hope your not offended if I ask.. does it taste like chicken?

[Tetsuo]

No idea never had the chance to try it (not even sure if he actually butchered that game)

[charvelguy]

Ahh.. I get it dude. Ya know, we see this on the news everyday and we take some moments to ponder the loss of those locally around us that gets publicized and a situation so foreign but one that lives with us every day and hear about that we almost get desensitized about it.
Its good he had a friend such as yourself.. it makes me realize a little closer the reality of their sacrifice we should be very greatful for.. regardless of the political storm that goes on about it.

[Tetsuo]

Yeah one of the interesting things is we and all his friends hang out at a couple places. Another friend of mine who met Tommy a few times heard the news at the bar and started crying because he just had a friend get seriously injured (still alive) but seriously injured over there. Some idiot had the audacity to make fun of him for it. It is just a shame that the people dying over there are not the ones who deserve to die. Today I can finally smile laugh and joke about it. Every marque (spelling) in our towh has a message for Tommy today. It is nice. Thing is I wasn't by any means his best friend he had others who were much closer and well I deal with death pretty well but this one just hit me. He isn't one that would want anyone to be all doom and gloom about this. Respect was shown now it is time to go and live life to the fullest.

Nothing but respect for all the families out there. Hopefully we can finish this quickly or get out of there with no more casualties. I can hope can't I?