Army Pfc. Thomas C. Allers

Died May 23, 2011 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

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23, of Plainwell, Mich.; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; died May 23, at Forward Operating Base Bostick, Kunar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Also killed were Pfc. Andrew M. Krippner, Spc. William S. Blevins and Staff Sgt. Kristofferson B. Lorenzo.

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Michigan soldier among 4 killed in Afghan attack

The Associated Press

PLAINWELL, Mich. — A 23-year-old Army private from southwestern Michigan who was his parents' only child was one of four soldiers killed this week during an insurgent attack in Afghanistan, the Pentagon said.

Pfc. Thomas C. Allers of the Kalamazoo-area community of Plainwell was part of a unit that was attacked with an improvised explosive device Monday in Kunar province, according to the Defense Department. His remains were received with military honors Wednesday at Dover Air Force Base, Del.

Allers, who graduated from Plainwell High School in 2006, was on his first deployment to Afghanistan, the Kalamazoo Gazette reported.

"He was a great kid, very sweet," neighbor Tammy Austin said. "He was everything go his mom."

Allers was named for his father and often went fishing with his parents, Austin said.

"They just did everything together," she said.

Allers was later posthumously promoted to private first class.

The other soldiers killed in the attack were Staff Sgt. Kristofferson B. Lorenzo, 33, of Chula Vista, Calif.; Pfc. William S. Blevins, 21, of Sardinia, Ohio; and Pvt. Andrew M. Krippner, 20, of Garland, Texas.

The four soldiers were part of the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division. It's based at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

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Schofield private buried near Mich. hometown

The Associated Press

AUGUSTA, Mich. — Family, friends and supporters paid their final respects June 9 to a soldier from western Michigan who was killed in an insurgent attack in Afghanistan.

Pfc. Thomas Allers, 23, of Plainwell was buried at Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta. About 35 people were on hand, according to the Kalamazoo Gazette.

About 250 people gathered at Plainwell High School for a funeral earlier on June 9, during which schools Superintendent Sue Wakefield and others spoke.

Gov. Rick Snyder ordered U.S. flags statewide to be lowered to half-staff on the day of the funeral.

Allers and three comrades were killed May 23 by an improvised explosive device. They were part of a unit based at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Allers was the only child of Denise and Lance Allers.