Los Alamitos High graduate Thomas MacPherson was brought home to southern California last week in a Hero Mission homecoming. MacPherson was killed in Afghanistan while serving as an Army Ranger with the 75th Ranger Regiment. MacPherson was a team leader with Delta Company, 2nd Battalion. He was killed by small arms fire on Oct. 12 during a firefight in the Ghazni province of Afghanistan.
MacPherson was awarded a Bronze Star posthumously along with a Mertorious Service Medal and a Purple Heart. He was remembered on Friday at a memorial service at Cottonwood Church. Among those in attendance were his parents, his wife Claudia and their 17-month-old son, Brayden.
MacPherson is survived by his wife, Claudia MacPherson, and their son, Brayden of Tacoma, Wash., and his parents, Troy and Diona MacPherson of Long Beach.
The family of MacPherson met the plane upon arrival of the remains, with his wife and young son greeting the coffin as it was unloaded from the plane. Hundreds of members of the military and community stood off the tarmac to offer support to MacPherson and his family.
There were also hundreds of people who lined the streets of Los Alamitos as the hearse passed through the community en route to the Forest Lawn Mortuary in Cypress. On Friday, MacPherson was remembered in a service at Cottonwood Church.
Members of his family and fellow servicemen spoke of his dedication to his country and his fellow soldiers, remembering the man who laid down his life in defense of this country.
Los Alamitos Mayor Troy Edgar was among a group of local dignitaries who met the family at the Joint Forces Training Base when MacPherson arrived. Edgar said it was hard to keep his composure in the presence of the family. He said the community’s appreciation for MacPherson’s sacrifice was evident in the large number of people who showed up to honor the fallen hero.
“I have attended many Hero Mission ceremonies at the base representing the City, but this one was extremely difficult and very personal to our community. Working with LAUSD School Board member Jeff Barke, we combined efforts of the city and school district to get as many people out to honor our local hero and Los Alamitos High School graduate,” Edgar said.
