Friday, March 30 2007 @ 07:56 AM EDT
Contributed by: tomw
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 Sun-Gazette -- HUGHESVILLE — A National Guard soldier killed Tuesday in Iraq had special ties to Ashkar Elementary School.
Sgt. 1st Class Sean M. Thomas, 33, of Howard in Centre County, was a borough native and an “adopted soldier” in Sue Murray’s fourth-grade class.
 Thomas died along with a U.S. contractor in a rocket attack in Baghdad’s Green Zone just before 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. The attack also injured five people.
Lt. Col. Chris Cleaver, a National Guard spokesman, presented information on the attack Thursday at a news conference held at an armory in Bellefonte, about 10 miles from Howard, where Thomas’ wife, Carrie, a sergeant in the National Guard, and their six-month-old daughter, Alexa, live.
In a telephone call from the school, Murray said she taught Thomas himself at Ashkar many years ago. Now, Thomas’ nephews, Mitchel and Sean, are in her class.
Last year, the class performed an “act of kindness” activity, collecting toys, games and prizes for children in Iraq.
Thomas visited during a break in late September and took took the gifts back with him to distribute to Iraqi children, Murray said.
“The kids were drawn to him because he was such a dynamic personality,” she said.
Students also liked the idea that he would be in contact with children in Baghdad, giving them a connection.
Thomas’ mother, Diana, said her son was planning to enter the teaching field. He was scheduled to return from Iraq in July.
Foresman spoke fondly of Thomas, saying he brought her students hundreds of photographs of Iraqi artifacts and life.
The Green Zone, where Thomas was killed, is where the U.S. Embassy and Iraqi government buildings are located and is considered the safest part of Baghdad. However, Cleaver said no place in a war zone is ever completely safe.
At the news conference, a heartbroken Daniel Thomas, Sean’s older brother, spoke lovingly about his brother’s visit to the school. Sean also has a brother named David, the Guard said.
Thomas will be buried in the Hughesville area, according to his older brother. The funeral is likely to be held at McCarty Thomas Funeral Home.
While immediate family members declined to comment at the conference, they stood silently together behind the television cameras and news reporters in the armory hall.
Gov. Ed Rendell ordered all state flags at state facilities be lowered to half staff on the day of Thomas’ funeral.
Sgt. Maj. Stephen Zappasodi and Thomas’ close friend, Gregory Sullivan, also offered their sympathies.
“He loved life,” said Zappasodi, who worked closely with Thomas in Iraq. “He talked about his wife and daughter. He liked playing cards on Tuesday nights ... Texas Hold’em,” Zappasodi said, “and made no bones about it when he won.”
As a supply sergeant, Thomas was effective, getting things done faster than average, Zappasodi said.
Thomas will be posthumously promoted to rank of master sergeant. He also will posthumously be awarded the Purple Heart and Combat Action Badge.
“Sean was a really great guy who had a lot of friends and touched a lot of people,” Sullivan said, before holding up a photograph of Thomas as a new father looking at his infant daughter and wife.
“He will truly be missed,” Sullivan said. “I just want to wish Carrie best of luck and hope that everything works out for you.”
Thomas was with the Harrisburg-based 28th Division Support Command. He served in the Army Reserves from 1992 to 1998, before joining the Guard, and attended Pennsylvania College of Technology, receiving an associate’s degree in 1995.
Cleaver said Thomas worked in supply at the Fort Indiantown Gap. He was deployed to Afghanistan in February of 2005 and left for Iraq the following year. |
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I would like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for our Country-not just in OIF, but also for your service in Afghanistain as well. And to your family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.
A grateful citizen