Tom Trotter Joined the Marine Corps straight out of high school in September of 2003. He graduated Military Police School in May of 2004 and was assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron 373 in July of 2004. He deployed to Iraq one month later from August 2004-March 2005. His unit provided dedicated security to a Marine (EOD) Explosive Ordnance Disposal team operating in the area between Ramadi and Fallujah, primarily clearing IED’s along route Michigan. He was nearly killed by a 60mm Mortar during that deployment as well, but made it away with only scratches. He deployed to Iraq again to the same area from January 2006-August 2006. He then decided to become an EOD Technician, and left for EOD School in August 2007. He graduated EOD School in June of 2008, and was assigned to 8^thEngineer Support Battalion, 2^ndExplosive Ordnance Disposal Company, and Camp Lejeune NC. He deployed with the 22^nd(MEU) Marine Expeditionary Unit from May 2009-Dec 2009 to the Mediterranean where he conducted training and support for Infantry Units from 3/2. After returning home from that deployment they were recalled back to deployment in order to deploy to Haiti in support of the Earthquake disaster relief from January 2010-April 2010. On his last deployment he was sent to Sangin, Afghanistan as an EOD Tech attached to 2^ndRecon Battalion from April 2011-June2011.

On June 14, 2011 Tom Trotter was conducting a walking patrol in the upper Sangin Valley with a Recon platoon when there patrol was ambushed with machine gun fire and RPGs. He was shot by an AK-74 on his left side, hitting him in the left tricep and coming to rest in his forearm. The round instantly severed his radial nerve and brachial Artery. He was medevac’d out of country due to the long-term recovery of the radial nerve. The bullet lodged in his forearm and was removed back in the states. He suffered from radial nerve palsy or wrist drop, which prevented him from opening his fingers on his own. After 6 months of physical therapy his fingers woke up and began to function. Other than his thumb never kicking on, he still has muscular and joint problems as a result of the trauma, but he is doing great now.

Tom Trotter has two daughters who live with him in Florida. Mackenzie and Cheyenne are 6 and 4, respectively. Tom is going to school full time utilizing his GI Bill and is enjoying life after the Marine Corps.