Thomas P. Echols killed during combat operations

A St. Clair native has died while serving as a soldier in Iraq, family members said.

Lance Cpl. Thomas Echols, 21, was attached to the 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment stationed in Fallujah, Iraq.

His family was notified of his death about midnight Monday. The military has not released details.

Echols' grandfather, Don Wight, and grandmother, Mary Wight, live in Algonac. Don Wight said Echols was serving his second tour of duty in Iraq. His wife, Allyson, lives in Kentucky and is expecting the couple's first child in April.

Echols, the fifth soldier with Blue Water Area ties to be killed in Iraq, spent his childhood in St. Clair, moving to Sault Ste. Marie with his family as a teen. He later moved to Sheperdsville, Ky., with his family.

Echols' parents, Kurt and Rose Echols, live in Naples, Fla. His siblings, Rebecca Echols, 26, and Alex Echols, 24, live in Sheperdsville.

Echols was stationed at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

"He was a good kid, loved sports, a big Michigan fan," said Kurt Echols, who said he supported his son's decision to join the Marines after graduating from high school in 2004.

Thomas Echols drove Humvees during his first tour and most recently was serving as an infantryman.

Wight, talking about Echols' team spirit and determination, said his grandson once saved money for weeks to buy tickets for a University of Michigan football game, which they both attended. Even after leaving Michigan, Echols remained devoted to the Wolverines.

"I'm an MSU grad, he's a dyed-in-the-wool University of Michigan fan. Anything he could find that was U of M memorabilia, he had it. ... He was just a good, fun-loving young man," Wight said.

Tim Zamboroski, 18, of Port Huron and Echols were childhood friends. When he learned Echols had died, Zamboroski said he felt as if he had lost a brother. As children, the two enjoyed playing Nintendo, playing backyard baseball and being active outdoors. They communicated by e-mail and instant message while Echols was in Iraq.

"I think he was pretty happy with serving the country," Zamboroski said. "I'm gonna miss him."

Since the war in Iraq started in March 2003, 2,901 U.S. soldiers have died and 21,921 have been wounded. At least 68 U.S. military personnel were killed in November.

Wight said his grandson hoped serving in the Marines would help him find a career path.

Although he is proud of Echols' efforts, Wight said he is upset about the human cost of the war.

"I've been very frustrated as far as that's concerned," he said. "I felt there was no real improvement or advancement being made. It's gotten to the point where I don't think there is a point.

"I thought last night - let's not leave that area without gaining something. ... I hate to think we've wasted a lot of young men's lives. (Echols is) not the first, and he probably won't be the last."

From the Times Herald