Phoenix Police Officer / Staff Sergeant Thomas Rabjohn died from wounds sustained during combat actions

 

Support the family of Thomas Rabjohn

Phoenix Police Officer Thomas Rabjohn #7803 was known to his Central City Precinct colleagues as quiet and even-tempered and calm.  At 39, he was one of the older officers on his squad and enjoyed mentoring younger officers.  Thomas Rabjohn knew he wanted to serve his country and, after his graduation from Tolleson High School, he joined the Marines.  After serving his country, he returned to the valley and soonafter, joined the Phoenix Police Department.  Despite his age and his job in law enforcmeent, the man who married his high school sweetheart and always seemed driven to protect others, joined the Coolidge-based Army National Guard and eventually was deployed.
 
On Saturday, October 3, 2009, while serving as a team leader with the 363rd Explosives Ordinance Detection Company assigned with the 82nd Airborne Division, 741st Battalion, Regional Command East, in the Wardak Province, Afghanistan, Staff Sergeant Thomas Rabjohn died from wounds sustained during combat actions.
 
Command Sergeant Major Robert Parr called from Afghanistan to share that he knew Tom personally and had spent several hours talking with him the day before the tragic incident.  He explained the events of October 3rd during the phone call that Tom's unit was assigned to a forward operating base supporting a field artillery unit.  They were located south of Kabul; his unit responded to assist the field artillery unit with trip wires that were arranged across a roadway.  Attempts  to use the EOD robot and a hook/pulley line were unsuccessful, so Tom donned the bomb suit and disabled the devices he and his team had located.  He removed his suit to conduct a post blast assessment and located an additional explosive device.  He was able to warn two of his team members who were able to create enough distance to survive the bomb blast that occurred seconds after Tom's warning.  Tom was killed immediately.  The details of the incident are still being investigated, but Sgt. Major Parr indicated, "Tom Rabjohn is being called a hero for his efforts to save his co-workers."
 
All who knew Tom Rabjohn agree he was a man who cared deeply for his family, his community, and his country and wanted nothing more than to protect them all.  He returned home from Afghanistan with the eight soldiers that were killed in the Taliban attack on U.S. forces October 3, 2009.  Officer Rabjohn is survived by his wife, 3 daughters, parents, 2 sisters, and his brother.