Thomas Gilbert remembered

(CBS) DOWNERS GROVE A Marine from the west suburbs has been killed during his second tour in Iraq.

CBS 2 West Suburban Bureau Chief Mike Puccinelli reports the community is in mourning. Students at Downers Grove North High School learned Thursday morning of the 111th Illinoisan to pay the ultimate price in Iraq.

At the high school where Sgt. Tom Gilbert graduated six years ago, the flag was lowered to half-staff.

Gilbert was killed Wednesday in combat operation in Al Anbar Province, according to the Department of Defense.

Outside the 24-year-old Marine's home and up and down his block, neighbors placed dozens of flags in a red, white and blue tribute to a life cut short.

"Very, very sad. He was highly committed. His dad was very proud of him. I know the family. It's a terrible loss," said neighbor Dave McArthur.

It is a loss that Gilbert's immediate family members were still too distraught to talk about, but it is clear he died doing what he loved.

In a statement the family wrote: "Tom had three great loves in his life -- his family, the outdoors and the Marines. This was his second tour of duty and he felt honored to serve his country."

"I met him when he came back from his first tour," McArthur said.

Army vet McArthur says Gilbert's willingness to repeatedly put his life on the line for the Marine Corp says something about his moral core.

"He was one who asked to go back to Iraq, did not have to do it," McArthur said.

Gilbert is one of the latest Americans to die in a month that has turned into one of the deadliest of the war for U.S. troops.

"Every time I hear about it on television, I just can't take it," said neighbor Borghild Berge.

And news of her neighbor's death was even harder to take, even though Berge didn't know Gilbert.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry to hear that. Because I have young people too, you know," Berge said.

But he did, becoming one of the latest Americans to die in what has turned into one of the deadliest month in the war for U.S. troops.

"A great human being. Tommy's character was unblemished," said Downers Grove football coach John Wander. "He was a great young man who had a good future ahead of him. The kid was a hard worker. He was probably not the most gifted athlete I've ever coached but one of the toughest."

From CBS 2

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Thomas M. Gilbert killed in combat