SSG Adam Thomas was killed in action in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan on October 4, 2016. He was taking part in a joint Afghan – U.S. counter-terrorism mission against the Islamic State – Khorasan when his dismounted patrol was struck by an improvised explosive device (IED). Thomas, age 31, of Tacoma Park, Maryland, was a Special Forces Medical Sergeant and a member of Company B, 2nd Battalions, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Carson, Colorado.
SSG Thomas joined the Army in April of 2008. He had a previous deployment to Iraq in 2008-2009 and an Afghan deployment in 2011-2012.
During his service he earned a number of awards to include the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Basic Military Free Fall Parachute Badge, Special Forces tab, Ranger tab, Parachutist Badge, and four Army Commendation Medals.
Thomas was a 2003 graduate of Larking High School in Elgin, Illinois. He was to elementary school in the St. Peter area of Minnesota. He attended college at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. His parents still live in Minnesota. His mother is the Executive Director of the nonprofit Literacy Volunteers of Southwest Minnesota. His father is a professor at Southwest Minnesota State University.
Read more:
“Nangarhar Casualty Release”, Resolute Support Press Release, Oct 4, 2016.
“DoD Identifies Army Casualty”, DOD News Release, October 5, 2016.
“Fort Carson-based Special Forces soldier killed by IED explosion in Afghanistan”, The Denver Channel, October 5, 2016.
“DoD identifies soldier killed in Afghanistan”, Army Times, October 5, 2016.
“Army Staff Sgt. Who Grew Up in Minnesota Killed in Afghanistan”, CBS Minnesota, October 6, 2016.
“Larkin High School graduate killed on patrol in Afghanistan”, Chicago Tribune, October 7, 2016.
“Former Coach Remembers Minnesota Soldier Killed in Afghanistan”, CBS Local, October 8, 2016.
Websites Honoring SSG Adam Thomas
Fallen Heroes of Operation Enduring Freedom
www.fallenheroesmemorial.com/oef/profiles/thomasadaml.html
