FONTANA, CA, U.S.A.
U.S. ARMY
SSG, HHC, 1ST BN, 36TH INF REG, 1STBCT, FORT BLISS, TX
09/13/2013, FORT SAM HOUSTON
On November 4, 1988 Robert Jr. was the 2nd child born to Robert E. Thomas Sr. and Jennifer M. McLean. Since his life began, he has gained 2 younger brothers and 6 younger sisters. Robert has one older sister as well.
Robert was very athletic through his school years. He played a lot of basketball, and he played softball for his church.
In 2006 he graduated from Etiwanda High School and then began his career in the U.S. Army. He took his job very seriously right from the beginning. He loved what he did! In the time frame of about 6 years, he had worked very hard and became a SSG, E6. That was VERY exciting for him.
Robert had served a tour in Iraq in 2007. He was deployed to Afghanistan in 2010 and then again to Afghanistan in 2012. This tour is where he was injured, on April 21, 2013. He fought a long hard battle having been burned over 87.5% of his body. Robert remained very strong for the first couple months of his injury, but after awhile he was not able to fight the infections, seizures and strokes any longer. He left us on September 13, 2013.
During his military career he married his beautiful wife Kristina in 2011, and they had a daughter Hailey who is now 21 months old. Robert absolutely enjoyed his daughter to no end. He never complained about having to leave, though I can only imagine how difficult it was to leave his wife and daughter behind.
He was by far one of the nicest young men you could meet. Always smiling. More than likely he had a joke for you as well. He had an amazing sense of humor! His laughter filled any room he was in. That is by far one of the many things we will miss about him. He was always willing to help anyone at anytime. He made the best of every situation! A very well rounded individual!
Heaven has certainly gained a fabulous angel when they took him!
Robert loved to play basketball, softball and he loved the Green Bay Packers. He loved to play golf and poker with his Dad, brother and Uncles as well as video games with them too!
Thank you for thinking of our family, Katie Thomas, stepmom to SSG Robert E. Thomas Jr.