INSPIRASUNS

Today’s little blog is dedicated to a very special person. Sgt Thomas Gilbert was only 24 years old when he was killed in action in Iraq in 2006. Don’t let the age fool you, Tommy may have only been 24, but he was an “old soul”. He loved his family and he loved his country. You see, Tommy willingly gave his life for the country he loved.

When Tommy was deployed on his first round to Iraq, I organized a group of friends and coworkers to collect items to send to his unit. I remember filling boxes and boxes with everything from sunscreen to deodorant, beef jerky to bubble gum. We packed everything we could into those boxes. Our group sent several care packages over that first year. Shortly after Tom came home on leave I had lunch with him and his dad. He gave me a gift that day to say thanks for those wonderful care packages. It was a t-shirt from his unit that has been signed by him and his “buddies” as he called them. I remember how humbled I felt that day, receiving a thank you from a group of servicemen who were putting their lives on the line to protect MY freedom.

Tommy was killed on October 25, 2006. This was actually supposed to be his “day off” if there is such a thing during war. A call came in that some troops were under fire, one of the men who was going to respond was actually due to ship back home to his wife and child in a short time. Tommy told him to stay back and went in his place that day. An IED exploded under the vehicle Tom was in and he was gone.

I know that Father was with Tom that day. He was there when Tommy took the place of his fellow soldier, and then he sent his Son to escort him home when the explosion took place.

Tommy is a hero, but my guess is if you were able to tell him that today, he’d say he wasn’t. He was just doing his part. Well, Tom, you are a hero and will always be to me. Thank you my friend for your faithful service to Father and to this country. Until we meet again, know that you will never be forgotten.

Psalm 91:11
For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.