Army Ranger from Long Beach killed in Afghanistan firefight

An Army Ranger from Long Beach has been killed in combat in Afghanistan, the Department of Defense announced Sunday.

Sgt. Thomas MacPherson, 26, was killed during a firefight Friday in Ghazni province. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

MacPherson was on his fourth deployment to Afghanistan. He also deployed to Iraq.

A graduate of Los Alamitos High School, MacPherson enlisted in the Army in 2007. He served as a mortarman and team leader.

MacPherson is survived by his wife, Claudia, and son Brayden, of Tacoma, Wash., and his parents, Troy and Diona MacPherson of Long Beach.

MacPherson "personified the traits of the consummate Ranger: commitment and courage,” said Col. Mark W. Odom, commander of the 75th Ranger Regiment. 

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Photo: Sgt. Thomas MacPherson. Credit: U.S. Army