March 10, 2015
2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion – Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
Master Sergeant Thomas Saunders served as a team chief for 2d Marine Special Operations Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Master Sergeant Saunders was born in Bonn, Germany. After graduating High School in Virginia, he enlisted in the Marine Corps and attended basic training in June of 1999. Following basic training, he attended the School of Infantry and was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines aboard Camp Lejeune, NC. While with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines, then Lance Corporal Saunders deployed twice with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) and participated in Operation Dynamic Response in Kosovo. He deployed with the 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), participating in Operation Enduring Freedom. Upon return from deployment, Sergeant Saunders was selected to go to Special Operations Command-Central and was then assigned to a special operations task force participating in combat operations in western Iraq for the early portion of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Sergeant Saunders returned to 2d Battalion, 6th Marines and then deployed to Okinawa, Japan for 10 months. He then received orders to 1st Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team (FAST) in Norfolk, Virginia after attending the Basic Security Guard Course in 2004. While in 1st FAST, Sergeant Saunders deployed
to NAVEUR and Iraq in support of contingency operations and held Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant, Operations Chief, and Company Gunnery Sergeant Billets.
In December of 2007, Staff Sergeant Saunders was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines in Camp Pendleton, California, where he held the billets Platoon Sergeant, Joint Terminal Attack Controller, and Platoon Commander. He deployed to Iraq in 2009.
In 2010, Gunnery Sergeant Saunders was assigned to the Marine Special Operations Regiment and was designated a critical skills operator after spending eight months as a liaison to US Army Special Operations Command. In February of 2011, he was assigned to 2nd Marine Special Operations Command. In September 2013, he was promoted to the rank of Master Sergeant and deployed later that month as team chief. Shortly after returning from deployment, Master Sergeant Saunders was selected as the CSO of the Year in 2014 in recognition of his outstanding performance, leadership abilities, and steadfast devotion to the mission of Marine
Forces Special Operations Command.
On March 10, 2015, during a training exercise, MSgt. Saunders died in a Blackhawk Helicopter crash near Navarre Beach, FL.
Master Sergeant Saunders decorations include (1) Bronze Star with Valor device, (1) Joint Service Commendation Medal, (2) Navy Marine Commendation Medals, (5) Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, the Combat Infantry Badge, and (5) Good Conduct
Medals.
