Pfc. Kristofer D. Thomas died Feb. 18, 2007 in southeastern Afghanistan when a MH-47E helicopter crashed while conducting operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He was assigned to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning, Ga.

He was born Oct. 6, 1988 and his home of record is listed as Roseville, Calif.

After graduating from high school in Roseville, Calif., Thomas volunteered for military service and entered the Army Feb. 9, 2006. By September 2006, he had completed One Station Unit Training, airborne school and Ranger Indoctrination Program at Fort Benning.

Assigned to 2nd Platoon, Company B, 3rd Bn., in September 2006, Thomas served as a rifleman. He was serving as a member of a Site Security Team when he was killed.

His awards and decorations include the Army Service Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and Parachutist Badge. He was posthumously awarded the Good Conduct Medal.

Thomas is survived by his parents, Rodney Thomas of Lincoln, Calif., and Debby Getz of Roseville, Calif.

As a Ranger, Thomas distinguished himself as a member of the Army’s premier light infantry unit, traveled to all corners of the world in support of the Global War on Terrorism and fought valiantly to “uphold the prestige, honor and high ‘esprit de corps’” of the Ranger Regiment.