Ssg Tompkins was a Military Policeman assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, Task Force Dagger, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Task Force Patriot from Fort Polk, who died as the result of an enemy attack in Afghanistan March 15th 2011.
The 4th BSTB fallen hero was a 31 year old Lawton, OK. native. He was attached to Headquarters Battery, 5th Battalion, 25th Artillery Regiment's Task Force Thunder when he was killed in a complex small-arms and rocket-propelled grenade attack in Logar Province.
"This memorial is about Ssg Travis Tompkins, but it is for us ---- Thunder, Dagger, Patriot, and more specifically for the soldier's of Law Platoon ---- those soldier's that have been serving and fighting alongside of Travis these past months," said Lt. Col. William Chlebowski, TF Thunder commander, speaking to the assembly. "Ssg Tompkins was a consummate soldier. As a fourth generation soldier, he carried himself and performed his duty in a manner that all respected and admired."
Lt. Col. Chlebowski said Ssg Tompkins was a great leader who could be hard and demanding at times, but he always looked after his soldier's as if they were his own children. Many would seek advice and guidence from Sgt Tompkins, who often spoke of his love for his family and for the outdoor hobbies he enjoyed.
1st Lt. Park, his Platoon Leader, said Sgt Tompkins served proudly as he lead his soldier's.
"What defins us as men?" Park asked those attending the memorial. " It is by the way we live our lives, the relationships we have and the fruits of our labor. I look at how he touched all of us, what a friend he was to many soldier's in the platoon and what a devoted father and husband he was."
Lt. Park said "Sgt. T" loved to tell stories. People who knew him and spent much time with him undoubtedly heard him speak about his family's tradition in the Army. " Ssg Tompkins proudly continued his family tradition in the military. Military life was a part of him." said Park. "Another big part of Sgt "T" was his family---- His fondest memories were of his wife, Candy, and his two little girls, Madison and Gianna. They were the lights of his life. Whenever he talked of them he was noticeably happier.....
"The speed in which he was taken makes it seem unreal. One minute he is on mission with us; then the next he is gone," continued Lt. Park. "I walked through his empty room the next night, and I stood there----- everything hitting me at once. But there is a hope that I hold onto in this dark time that "Sgt. T" may be gone in body, but his spirit lives on."
Ssg Dustin Pounds said he could tell that Tompkins was a soldier the frist time he met him. After really getting to know to know Ssg Tompkins, it was evident why, he said. " He came from a long line of soldiers. He was proud that he was a fourth generation soldier," said Pounds. Pounds remembered Tompkins as an extremely devoted Family man. When not working or on missions, Sgt. T was always talking about his wife and two little girls, they ment everything to him.
" Ssg Tompkins had just been home, where he and Candy had celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary by renewing their vows," said Pounds. " He and I talked about this quite a bit in all of our bouncing around we have done since getting in country. We had just talked about it earlier that day. He was so happy and proud of it."