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Patriot Brigade Soldiers Honor Fallen Military Policeman
and Hero
(April 4, 2011) | 
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U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Travis M. Tompkins, a
31-year-old Lawton, OK native was a military policeman assigned to
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Brigade Special Troops
Battalion, Task Force Dagger, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain
Division, TF Patriot based at Fort Polk, La., who died as the result
of an enemy attack in Afghanistan, March 15, 2011. Courtesy Photo |
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LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan (Mar. 31, 2011) – Comrades remembered
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Travis M. Tompkins as a dedicated family man
and proud soldier with a long family tradition of military service,
during a ceremony on Forward Operating Base Shank, Afghanistan,
March 20.
Tompkins, military policeman assigned to
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Brigade Special Troops
Battalion, Task Force Dagger, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain
Division, TF Patriot, based at Fort Polk, La., died as the result of
an enemy attack in Afghanistan, March 15.
The 4th BSTB fallen
hero was a 31-year-old Lawton, Okla., native, attached to
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 5th Bn., 25th Field Artillery
Regiment, TF Thunder, when he was killed during a complex small-arms
and rocket-propelled grenade attack in Logar province.
“This
memorial is about Staff Sgt. Travis M. Tompkins, but it is for us --
Thunder, Dagger, Patriot, and more specifically for the soldiers of
Regulator Battery and the Law platoon -- those soldiers that have
been fighting alongside Travis for the past couple of months,” said
U.S. Army Lt. Col. William Chlebowski, TF Thunder commander from
Mount Pleasant, Pa., speaking to the assembly. “Travis was a
consummate soldier and man. As a fourth generation soldier, he
carried himself and performed his duty in a manner that all |
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respected and admired.” |
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Chlebowski said Tompkins was a great leader who could be hard and
demanding at times, but he always looked after his soldiers as if they
were his own children. Many soldiers would seek advice and guidance from
Tompkins, who often spoke of his love for his family and for outdoor
hobbies he enjoyed, said Chlebowski.
U.S. Army 1st Lt. Travis
Park, Tompkins platoon leader from California, La., said Tompkins served
proudly as an American soldier as he led his team. Remembering Tompkins
as a friend and brother in arms, Park asked those assembled a question
and provided them his answer.
“What defines us as men?” posed
Park. “It is by the way that we live our lives, the relationships we
have and the fruits of our labor. I look at how he has touched all of
us, what a friend he was to many [soldiers] in the platoon and what a
devoted father and husband he was.”
Park said “Sgt. T” loved to
tell stories. People who knew Tompkins and spent time with him
undoubtedly heard him speak about his father's military service, said
Park.
“Sgt. T proudly continued his family's tradition in the
military. Military life was a part of him,” said Park. “Another big part
of Sgt. T was his family. His fondest memories were always of his wife
Candice, his two little girls Madison and Gianna, and his father. They
were the light of his life. Whenever he talked about them he was
noticeably happier ....
“The speed in which he was taken makes it
seem unreal. One minute he is on mission with us and the next he is
gone,” said Park. “I walked through his empty room the other night, and
I stood there - everything hitting me at once. But, there is a hope that
I hold on to in this dark time that Sgt. T may be gone in body, but his
spirit lives on, and we will see him again one day.”
U.S. Army
Staff Sgt. Dustin Pounds from Bogalusa, La., said he could tell Tompkins
was a soldier when he first met him. After really getting to know
Tompkins, it was evident why Tompkins was a soldier, he said.
“He
came from a long line of soldiers. He was very proud of the fact that he
was a fourth generation soldier,” said Pounds. “He spoke very highly of
his father, and it was very evident that he wanted to make him proud. I
believe the man and soldier he had become accomplished that.”
As
did the other speakers, Pounds remembered Tompkins as an extremely
devoted family man. When not working or on a mission, Tompkins often
spoke about his wife and their two girls; they meant everything to
Tompkins, he said.
“Sgt. Tompkins had just celebrated his 10th
wedding anniversary, where he and Candy renewed their vows,” said
Pounds. “He and I talked about this quite a bit in all of our bouncing
around we had done since arriving in country. We had just talked about
it early that morning. He was very happy and very proud.
“Sgt.
Tompkins was my right hand. He was my brethren and a great friend, and
he was a great friend to many others,” continued Pounds. “We will miss
him dearly, but we will honor him by carrying on and continuing the
fight.”
U.S. Army Spc. William Stewart, Tompkins' team member
from Suwanee, Ga., said Tompkins represented many things to many
different people. To Stewart, Tompkins was “a good team leader and
mentor but most of all an amazing friend,” he said.
Stewart said
he tried to hide his emotions most of his life. While most people he met
could not tell when something is bothering Stewart, Tompkins always knew
and took time to talk with Stewart. Stewart said at first he feared
Tompkins because of his size, but he came to love and respect Tompkins
and never wanted to let him down.
“He was firm but he had a heart
of gold, which I saw in him after the first week of knowing him,” said
Stewart. “I am going to miss his stories and laughs. He would always
have me laughing, because he would say anything that was on his mind to
anybody.”
Chlebowski spoke about what Tompkins meant to his
family, Soldiers, leaders and his country and the sacrifice he made
while deployed.
“In the end, he gave everything that he had for
his soldiers and to provide a better life for the people of Afghanistan,
and in turn, eliminate potential threats to the American people and our
way of life,” said Chlebowski.
Tompkins awards and decorations
include: Bronze Star Medal; Purple
Heart Medal; Joint Service Commendation Medal; Army Commendation Medal;
Army Achievement Medal, fourth award; Army Good Conduct Medal, third
award; National Defense Service Medal; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal;
Afghan Campaign Medal, with one campaign star; Global War on Terror
Service Medal; Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon;
Army Service Ribbon; NATO Medal, with Bronze Star Device; Overseas
Service Ribbon, with Numeral 2; Combat Action Badge; Basic Marksman
Qualification Badge; Driver and Mechanic Badge. | |
By Combined Joint Task Force 101
Copyright 2011
Provided
through DVIDS
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