Community Corner

Fallen Marine's Gifts Delivered to Afghan Girl

Thomas Boyle's wish to deliver a doll and stuffed animal to an Afghan girl was granted last week by military colleagues.

 

Those who knew Tom Boyle of Barrington would say he was a selfless man. He spent his life working in the military and police forces, working to protect and serve others.

He was killed in June while working as a security contractor in Afghanistan.

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Boyle, 62, was a Marine and a two-tour veteran of Vietnam who earned the Cross of Gallantry. He also worked for the Chicago Police Department for 30 years, and after he retired Boyle began working for a private detective agency and a security contractor overseas.

The day his wife Pauline was informed of his death, she mailed him a doll and a stuffed animal he had requested for a young girl who had touched his heart in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

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The box was lost for three months. Just last week, it was suddenly found and finally delivered to its intended recipient: six-year-old Tamanah.

"When I was informed of this (that the box had been found), I asked Lt. Col. McKinley if it was still possible to honor Tom's last request and in true military fashion to honor a fallen brother,” Pauline Boyle said in an email to Patch. “He jumped to the task.”

It was a joyous occasion when the gifts were delivered on Oct. 27, to little Tamanah in Afghanistan. Lt. Col. Matt McKinley wrote to Pauline explaining how Tom’s wish to deliver the items to the little girl finally come true. 

“At long last, we were able to deliver the gifts that you had sent to Tom for the little girl named Tamanah,” the letter to Pauline Boyle read.

“The timing was also very good, as she is celebrating Eid-al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice. Appropriate on many levels. It is a time of celebration in Afghanistan and I can tell you that it was a great celebration at Provincial Reserve tonight in Tom's honor.”

Learning that Tom’s wish had been honored by his military colleagues was wonderful news to Pauline.

“This is a bittersweet ending to many dark days we have had - and this does indeed bring comfort to our family,” she said. "I hope all of you remember not only those who serve and those who have died for our country, but also the real victims in any war - our children."


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