Although no specific appeal was made for a donation to pay for this, Mike Gilbert, one of our newest members of LZ Russell Association, contacted our President, Kenny Heins, and offered to pay for the whole thing ($3,200).

Shortly after that, two Marines in Dress Blues came to Mike's home.  They didn't have to tell Mike why they were there, because Mikes son, Tom Gilbert, was serving with the Marines in Iraq.

It is hard to imagine the tragic shock Mike must have endured with his wife and family over the Christmas Season, only to bring in the New Year without their son.  Yet despite this enormous loss, Mike still took the time to send a check to Kenny Heins to pay for the computer, so the money wouldn't have to come out of our general funds.  His only request is that the donation be accepted in honor of his son's sacrifice in service to our nation.  During what has to be the most tragic time in his life, Mike thought of his brothers in LZ Russell.

Sgt. Thomas M. Gilbert, USMC

24 years old.

Marine Forces Reserves, 1st Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Grand Rapids, MI

Died October 25, 2006 Operation Iraqi Freedom during combat operations in Anbar Province, Iraq.

While neighbors lined the Gilbert family's street with small American flags, students and staff members at Downers Grove North High School observed a moment of silence Thursday for Sgt. Gilbert, who graduated in 2000.

An American flag flew at half staff in the front yard of Sgt. Gilbert's home, which saw a steady stream of visitors throughout the day.

Neighbor Dave McArthur said he met Sgt. Gilbert after his first tour in Iraq. He "was very committed; it was a terrible loss," McArthur said. "These fellows would follow their leaders in most cases to hell and back."

John Wander coached Sgt. Gilbert on the football team at Downers Grove North.

"A great human being -- Tommy's character was unblemished. He was a great young man who had a good future ahead of him. The kid was a hard worker. He was probably not the most gifted athlete I've ever coached, but one of the toughest."

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The Members of LZ Russell Association extend our deepest sympathies to the Gilbert family and our heart felt thanks for considering our needs in your time of sorrow.  It is easy to see that honor and courage is a family trait.

"Yeah, we joke around with Santa hats and this weird stuff, but it ends up being just another day," Zofchak, 26, said.

"I guess I could sit and dwell on it, but I have 10 other guys depending on me," he said.

Marines pause to honor Sgt. Gilbert

Then he introduced his buddies: Lance Cpl. Andrew Music, 24, of Chicago; Cpl. Jason Meade, 24, of Grand Rapids and Lance Cpl. Andrew Johnson, 24, of Flint.

"We're the Fab Five," Zofchak said. "We came out here for each other."

And the fifth?

"Sgt. Thomas Gilbert," he said, pointing to a portrait photo of a young Marine from the Chicago area in his dress blues.

"We lost him Oct. 25," he said.

Gilbert wanted to be a Chicago firefighter, said Music.

"This thing is so frustrating; you don't get to see the end result," he said. "That's why I liked working construction with Tommy. You could see results."

The LZ Russell Association would like to thank Tom Tilque, webmaster of the "3/12 Network", where this web site got it's beginning. 

Thanks also to the Second Battalion, 4th Marines Association for helping us find so many of our comardes in arms.