Army Staff Sergeant Thomas Baysore Jr.

Staff Sergeant Thomas Baysore, 31, of Milton, Pennsylvania was a squad leader assigned to Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, at Fort Campbell. He was killed on September 26, 2013, in Paktya Province, Afghanistan when an enemy combatant wearing an Afghan National Army Uniform opened fire on a group of soldiers.

SSG Baysore was born in Shamokin, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Milton Area High School in 2000. He joined the Army in June 2001 and served as a driver, rifleman, automatic rifleman, fire-team leader, recruiter and squad leader. During his 12-year career, he deployed once to Iraq and three times to Afghanistan. SSG Baysore was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his ultimate sacrifice to his country.

SSG Baysore enjoyed motorcycles, guns, his BMW, snowboarding in the Alps, and traveling. Most of all, he enjoyed spending time with his son, playing with cars, planes and helicopters. His son recalls, “he was always teaching me about respect, honor and how to always believe in myself.”

SSG Baysore was survived by his wife and son.