Robert B. Thrasher slain by sniper

Sgt. Robert B. Thrasher did his best to see the world while in the Army -- skiing in Austria, touring London and stockpiling cases of wine from trips to France and Italy.

"He could have gone to college, but he wanted to see the world first, and the Army appealed to him," said Thrasher's grandmother, Elsie Pfister, 69, of Orangevale (Sacramento County). "He was just a very inquisitive young man -- all-American."

Thrasher, 23, was killed Sunday in Baghdad when his unit came under fire while on patrol, the Defense Department said. Pfister said her grandson was shot by a sniper and died instantly.

The young man from Folsom was on his second tour of duty in Iraq.

Thrasher joined the Army upon graduating from Folsom High School in 2002 and was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division based out of Fort Bliss, Texas.

He loved Rollerblades and cars, including a bright blue sports car that earned him plenty of speeding tickets while in high school, Pfister said. He was trained as a tank driver in the Army.

"He had lots of friends, and lots of tickets," Pfister said, chuckling. "He liked driving, and tanks were the ones that appealed to him."

Thrasher met his future wife, Christine, in the sixth grade, and the two began dating in high school, Pfister said. They married in late 2002, just before his first 13-month deployment. Christine Thrasher later enlisted in the Army as well and is now based in Texas, Pfister said.

Between stints in Iraq, Robert Thrasher was drawn to European history and architecture while based in Germany, his grandmother said.

"He was very impressed with the historical elements of the countries he was in, and he liked the French wine," she said. "He was very much interested in history, and he was very good with children. ... I think he would've probably become a history teacher."

Robert Thrasher redeployed to Iraq on Dec. 14. Before he left, Pfister gave him a special hug.

"He always said if he comes back, fine. If he doesn't, that's OK too," Pfister said. "Of course I said, 'Don't talk like that. Of course you'll come back.'

"He said, 'Don't worry grandma,' " Pfister recalled. " 'Of course I'll be careful.' "

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