Thomas Hilbert remembered

Thomas L. Hilbert had already booked two hotel rooms in Las Vegas for his family to celebrate his return and 21st birthday in January.

"We were very close," said BillieJo Alexander, Hilbert's older sister. "He loved to have fun. He was very laid-back, and he wanted to make something of himself, something he could be proud of. He was my sidekick. I was supposed to be the one to protect him."

Theresa and Tom Hilbert said they want their son to be remembered as an American soldier and a hero who loved the military.

Hilbert, who joined the Army two years ago after graduating from Venus High School, was recently promoted, Alexander said.

"He was talking about re-enlisting," said Alexander, one of two sisters. "He was very proud to be a cavalry scout. We tried to talk him into changing his (military occupational specialty), and he said no. He was a scout, first in and last out. No matter what they say about the Marines, cavalry scouts are always the first in."

"We may not have always agreed with his decision, but it was his war and he was going to fight it," she said. "He was a hero. They all were."

From the El Paso Times

Related Link:
Thomas L. Hilbert dies 'from wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations'