Bradford native and U.S. Army Master Sgt. Thomas D. Maholic was
killed by enemy fire in Afghanistan on Saturday, while serving as
part of Operation Enduring Freedom.
The U.S. Department of Defense announced Monday that Maholic
died in Ghecko, Afghanistan, when his patrol unit came in contact
with enemy forces using small arms fire during a cordon and search
mission.
Maholic, 38, was part of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces
Group (Airborne) of Fort Bragg, N.C.
On the U.S. Army Special Operations Command News Service Web
site, a statement by the Maholic family said Monday they thank
friends and members of the Special Operations Community for
sympathy and support, calling Maholic a “loving husband, devoted
father, a caring son and selfless soldier.”
“He gave his life for this country – protecting our freedoms,
our families and America’s way of life,” the family statement read.
“Those with whom he served are willing to do the same. Thom has
always expressed the utmost respect and pride for his fellow
brothers-in-arms.”
An article posted on the USASOC Web site Monday said Maholic
enlisted in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard in 1986 as an
infantryman and attended Basic Combat Training and Advanced
Individual Training at Fort Benning, Ga.
An infantryman for five years with the Pennsylvania National
Guard, he transferred to active duty in July 1991. He served two
years with the 1st Battalion, 508th Infantry Battalion at Fort
Kobbe, Panama. Then in 1993, he volunteered to be a Special Forces
soldier. In 1995, he completed Special Forces training and was
assigned to 1st Battalion 7th SFG, as a Special Forces medical
sergeant.
In 2003, after serving more than seven years at that post, he
was assigned to the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare
Center and School at Fort Bragg, where he served as an advanced
noncommissioned officer course instructor. In April of 2005, he
moved to the 2nd Battalion, 7th SFG and served as an operational
detachment-Alpha team, until his death.
Maholic’s awards and decorations include a Meritorious Service
Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement, Army
Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense
Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism
Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service
Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Expert Field Medical Badge,
Special Operations Dive Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Air
Assault Badge and Special Forces Tab.
He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Combat
Infantryman Badge.
Surviving are his wife, Wendy, and son, Andrew, both of Fort
Bragg; his mother, Dorothy Maholic of Bradford; a sister, Ann
Davis; and brothers, David of Cleveland, Ohio, John and Michael of
Bradford, and Robert of Bellefonte, Pa.
