Special salutes and prayers for injured platoon leader

SHERRY LONG

slong@timesleader.com

PITTSTON – More than 600 family and friends wore small purple ribbons to honor U.S. Army 1st Lt. Thomas Joseph Hromisin for his bravery during a thanksgiving Mass Saturday afternoon at St. John the Evangelist Church.

Childhood classmates, University of Scranton Reserve Officer Training Corps buddies and family friends packed the William Street church to pray for the young soldier they know as “TJ,” who was injured May 29 after being shot in the head while serving in Iraq.

A platoon leader with the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team in the 2nd Infantry Division, Hromisin was sent to Kuwait April 7. A few days later he was stationed in Iraq.

Even Hromisin’s troops halfway around the world joined in the Mass as Monsignor John J. Bendik read a part of a special note posted by 4th Brigade Commander Capt. Patrick Roddy on the Web site maintained by Hromisin’s family to keep friends updated on TJ’s condition.

“On this Fourth of July, I wanted to personally thank your dedication to your men. Your dedication to the people who put their lives in your hands and trusted your decisions,” Roddy wrote.

“Very few people back there truly understand the burden that rested on your shoulders and with what professionalism and duty you handled those responsibilities.”

Bendik told the standing-room only crowd he often questioned himself as to why such a “bright” person as Hromisin would go to such a war-torn place as Iraq.

After reflection he said he determined Hromisin, a lamb of God, went into a place he knew would be filled with human “wolves” because he believed in what the United States was doing.

“They believe what they are doing is so essential,” Bendik said. “They believe our country can perform miracles.”

U.S. Army Reservist 1st Lt. Mike Joyce called his friend a poster child for the University of Scranton and the U.S. Army. He said Hromisin, who was always at the top of his class, wanted to serve in the infantry since the two first met in 2001 as freshman.

Citing Hromisin’s emotional, physical and psychological strength, Joyce believes his friend will make a full recovery.

“He is definitely the strongest guy I know and he has the family support to back him,” Joyce said.

Joyce and Hromisin were commissioned as 2nd lieutenants in the U.S. Army when they graduated from the University of Scranton in 2005.

After Hromisin was stabilized at a military hospital in Iraq, he was transferred to LandstuhlHospital in Germany before being relocated to Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland on June 1.

Earlier this month Hromisin was transferred closer to home to continue his recovery at Moss Rehabilitation in Elkins Park, near Philadelphia.

To help

Letters of support for TJ or his family can be sent to:

1st Lt. Thomas Hromisin

Moss Rehabilitation Room 498

Einstein at Elkins Park

60 Township Line Road

Elkins Park, PA 19027

Visit the Caring Bridge Web site about TJ maintained by his family at: http://caringbridge.org/cb/viewHome.do/

Sherry Long, a Times Leader staff writer, can be reached at 829-7159.