Sad local news from the Pentagon this weekend: Sgt. Thomas MacPherson, a 26 year-old Long Beach native and married father of one, died on October 12 from wounds incurred during combat in Afghanistan.

MacPherson was a U.S. Army Ranger Team Leader killed while leading an assault against an enemy position in the Ghazni Province, Andar District. There was heavy firefight and MacPherson was mortally wounded by small arms fire.

“Sgt. Tom MacPherson lost his life courageously leading his Rangers into a close quarters fight with the enemy,” said Lt. Col. Gregory Anderson, the commander of MacPherson’s batallion, in an Army statement. “Tommy MacPherson never backed away from the dangers of combat, and his warrior spirit, personal example, and zeal for life continue to inspire all who knew him. We will honor his service to our Nation and the heroic example he set for all Rangers. Our thoughts and prayers are with the MacPherson Family.”

The Los Alamitos High School graduate enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2007 and was assigned to Company D, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. He had been deployed to Iraq once and was on his fourth deployment in Afghanistan, serving the military as a medal-earning mortarman, Fire Team Leader and Ranger Team Leader.

He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service and Purple Heart though his awards and decorations already included (among many) the Expert Infantryman’s Badge, the Parachutist Badge, the Bronze Star Medal with Valor, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with three Campaign Stars and the NATO Medal.

He is survived by his wife Claudia and son Braydon of Tacoma, Wash. as well as his parents, Troy and Diona MacPherson of Long Beach.