Sharing his smile

Hundreds attended the memorial services for Sgt. Troy Orion Tom, 21, the latest Diné to die in the Middle East wars.

On Aug. 18, Tom stepped on an Improvised Explosive Device while setting up camp after clearing Taliban fighters out of an area in mountainous Kandahar Province in Afghanistan. Four other U.S. soldiers also died in the blast.

He is the son of Council Delegate David L. Tom (Beclabito/Gadii'ahi) and his wife Carolyn, of Beclabito, N.M. Troy also leaves behind two brothers, Seve Tom, 24, and Leon Harvey, 13, and a sister, Carrizoe Tom, 19.

Hundreds of friends and relatives attended the service, held in the Miriam M. Taylor Theater in the Farmington Civic Center. Together they celebrated the life of a young Navajo who, from stories shared, enjoyed spreading happiness.

Nearly 300 honor riders, many from the Navajo Nation, made the journey to honor Tom and his family, as well as officers of the New Mexico State Police, San Juan County Sheriff's Department, Navajo Nation Police, and Farmington Police and Fire departments.

"He was an amazing young man," said Army Gen. Kirk Story. "He truly personified the ethos and every word of the soldier's decree. It touched my soul to the very core the respect his peers and leaders had for him."

Story shared some written statements from Tom's peers and leaders who remember him for his calmness and always helping in tense situations by sharing a smile.

"I ask that you think of Troy not only in his passing but in his glorious spirit," Story said, as audience members applauded.

Tom, a 2006 graduate of Aztec High School, was posthumously promoted from specialist to sergeant.

Charles Long, staff assistant to Speaker Lawrence T. Morgan (Iyanbito/Pinedale), attended on Morgan's behalf. Long said the best source of comfort for the Tom family is prayer.

"It is our prayers that help us through the bad times," he said. "There isn't anything that we can say or do to help you with your loss but offer our prayers to you."

President Joe Shirley Jr. then spoke before presenting the Tom family with a Navajo Nation proclamation and plaque.

"It was a sad day indeed when we heard we lost another soldier, especially for the family, friends and relatives that he left behind," Shirley said. "We have to remember that it was his choice to defend our country, our freedoms that we enjoy everyday.

"He made the ultimate sacrifice that brings to mind our freedom is not free," he said. "It comes with the price that our soldiers pay, that ultimate sacrifice. It comes with a great price."

The audience applauded as Shirley spoke directly to the family, saying, "There is nothing that we, or anyone, can give to fill your hearts in the passing of your son. But on behalf of the Navajo Nation I want to say thank you, 'ahéhee'."

Shirley presented the family with an official proclamation directing that all flags on the Navajo Nation be lowered to half-staff in honor of their son from Aug. 26 to 29. The plaque of honor recognized Tom's dedication and commitment to serve in the frontlines.

Tom's aunt, Lena Dorme, spoke next about her nephew's decision to enlist, a young man seeking to expand his horizons. She said she tried to persuade him not to enlist.

"He had four reasons why he wanted to serve in the Army. Number 1, he wanted to do something that would be a challenge to him physically and mentally," Dorme said. "He also wanted to travel the world and experience new things. And lastly he wanted to attend college on the GI Bill because he didn't want to burden his family with expenses."

She then shared a story about his middle name, saying she hoped it might bring some comfort to his family.

Dorme said "Orion" means "the hunter," and is the name of a character in Greek mythology and a constellation of stars. He can be seen at night when you look up at the stars, she said, his bow drawn and his arrow forever pointed upward towards the future.

"There are three bright stars in a row," she said. "That is Orion's belt."

As the memorial service was about to conclude, photographs documenting Tom's life from infancy to his time in the Army were screened.

Nearly everyone in the audience shed a tear as Tom's brief life sped past, the photographs showcasing what people are now remembering him for - his smile.

Troy Tom was laid to rest in Memory Gardens Cemetery in Farmington.

David L. Tom remembers a time when his son would go out of his way to give out change or candy to unfortunate people.

"He would say, 'See, I made him smile,'" David recalled. "He always had a smile on his face. He never had got mad about anything because it wasn't worth being mad. He smiled a lot and he was always polite to people."

That is how Tom, his wife Carolyn, and Troy's brothers and sister remember him.

"He's always teasing his siblings and he was always smiling," said his father.

"He was a smart boy," David Tom recalled. "He graduated and made the honor roll with a 4.6 GPA. He begged us to let him go into the Army early, before he even turned 18."

Troy Tom had attended Beclabito Day School and T'iis Nazbas Community School in Teec Nos Pos, Ariz.

Three months ago he was deployed to Afghanistan. The last time he came home for a visit was during the July 4th weekend.

Family members said Troy Tom was happy to be serving in the Army and it was a dream he had for long time.

"We tried to talk him out of it but he really wanted to join," David Tom said.

On Tuesday Troy's commanding officer called from Afghanistan and explained how he died.

"He said it was a mountainous area with irrigated fields where U.S. soldiers had chased out the enemy," said David Tom.

"Later that day they were setting up camp and that's when Troy stepped on the IED."

"We really miss him," he said. 'I am very proud of my son. I miss him. We're all very sad right now. We miss him but we're very proud of him.   

"He served his country and he sacrificed to have us enjoy our freedom."

Troy Tom was Tábaahá (Edge Water Clan), born for Naakaii Dine'é (Mexican People Clan). His maternal grandfather's clan is Táchii'nii (Red Running into Water Clan) and his paternal grandfather's clan is Bit'ahnii (Folded Arms Clan).

Tom is the fifth New Mexican to die this year from combat action in Iraq or Afghanistan, and the ninth combat fatality from the Navajo Nation since the U.S. went to war in the Middle East in 2003, according to NMDVS and President Shirley's office.

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