by Pfc. Paul J. Harris
3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team,
4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office
Al Muqdadia, Iraq (July 21, 2006) -- "The best way to describe Tom Turner would be a grizzly bear with a teddy bear's heart," said Staff Sgt. Matthew Loringer, during a memorial service for his fallen comrade and friend Friday at Forward Operating Base Normandy near Al Muqdadia, Iraq.
Loringer, a team leader for Charlie Troop, 1st Squadron, 32nd Cavalry Regiment attached to 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Task Force Band of Brothers continued by describing Turner’s likeable qualities. "The one that really shines was his humbleness. You could tell he was no stranger to hard work by his rugged, tough appearance."
Sgt. Thomas Boyd Turner Jr. died from injuries he sustained from a improvised explosive device July 14. Turner was a team leader for C Troop, 1st Sqdn., 32nd CAV. Prior to joining the Army he co-owned a logging company in Northern California. If ever asked why he gave up a successful business to join the Army he always replied with “I want to serve my country,” Loringer said.
While packing up Turner’s belongings Staff Sgt. Dustin Swanson, his platoon sergeant, noticed his notebook and saw a passage that was earmarked. "He was quite the deep thinker," Swanson said. "He would always try to write down powerful statements from brave and amazing people as well as passages from books and poems."
This inspired Swanson to read the passage from Shakespeare's Henry V during the ceremony knowing it would have meant a lot to Turner. "From this day to the ending of the world, but we in it shall be remembered; we few, we happy few, we band of brothers; for he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother."
This sentiment was exemplified by Turner's best friend Sgt. Gary Mette, who was in the same unit. "These past couple of days has been the saddest of my life. I loved you like a brother and will always consider you as one," he said. "Thank you for touching my life in so many ways. There will always be an empty place in my heart for you that no one will be able to fill."
Turner served in Operation Iraqi Freedom I with Company D, 3rd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment at Fort Campbell, Ky., where he participated in the battle that killed Uday and Qusay Hussein. Turner deployed to Iraq for the second time in September of 2005 with C Troop, 1st Sqdn., 32nd CAV and conducted multiple air assault missions and patrols helping to maintain the security of the eastern Diyala Province, Iraq.
Some of Turner's medals include the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Army Commendation Medal. He is preceded by his father, Thomas Sr. and survived by his mother, Frances, his wife Jennifer and his two children Sarah and Ethan.
"Sgt. Turner embodied what we in 1st Sqdn., 32nd CAV refer to as being 'switched on'," said Lt. Col. Arthur Kandarian, commander, 1st Sqdn., 32nd CAV. "He understood why we are here, he understood why our Army fights the current evil, and he understood the mission. I know he knew what was at stake for Iraq, for our nation and for his and our families back home."
Our hearts are with the family, friends, and comrades of this fallen Hero.
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