THORNTON, CO, US
U.S. Marine Corps
LCPL, HQSVCCO, 1ST BN, 2D MAR, 2D MEB, DET A, CAMP LEJEUNE, NC
05/19/2007, AN NASIRIYAH, IRAQ
LCPL Thomas Jonathan Slocum, USMC. Dates of Service 1998 –KIA Iraq 3-23-03, awarded the Purple Heart, and the Navy Marine Corps Commendation with V for Valor.
He was born in Denver Colorado April 20, 1980, over 10lbs and 12 hours labor. He was a challenge right from the beginning, he never wanted to nap even as an infant, and if it wasn’t for the baby swing I would not been able to get anything done. He had blond hair and beautiful smile and grew up to be quite the charmer, and didn’t know a stranger. He was always pushing and testing his boundaries and my patience.
I was happy and proud when he joined the Marines. I believed he would benefit from their structure and honor.
When seeing at his boot camp graduation I met the man he was tuning into. I felt relieved until September 11 when the Twin Towers fell. I then knew that my Marine son was going to put all his training to use. I was truly proud and now fearful for my son, knowing his personality he was going to be in the front and in the most danger. We lost our dear Tommy March 23, 2003, the first Colorado casualty in An Nasiriyah, Iraq. My journey was just starting in making sure he was honored and not forgotten.