Thomas Spitzer was born on February 28, 1991, at Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego, California. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on August 17, 2009, and completed basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California, in November 2009. Spitzer next attended Infantryman and Mortarman training at the School of Infantry at Camp Pendleton, California, from December 2009 to February 2010, followed by service as a Mortarman with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment of the 1st Marine Division at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, from February 2010 to August 2013. During this time he deployed with his unit in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan from March to October 2012. Sgt Spitzer next served as a Sniper with Sniper Platoon, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment of the 1st Marine Division at Twentynine Palms from August 2013 until he was killed in action while on his second deployment to Afghanistan on June 25, 2014. Thomas Spitzer was buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas. Thomas and his financé, Casey Neef, were engaged to be married on April 18, 2015.

Rifleman's Creed:

This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life. Without me my rifle is useless. Without my rifle, I am useless. I must fire my rifle true. I must shoot straighter than the enemy who is trying to kill me. I must shoot him before he shoots me. I will. My rifle and I know that what counts in war is not the rounds we fire, the noise of our burst, or the smoke we make. We know that it is the hits that count. We will hit.

My rifle is human, even as I am human, because it is my life. Thus, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weaknesses, its strengths, its parts, its accessories, its sights and its barrel. I will keep my rifle clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready. We will become part of each other.

Before God I swear this creed. My rifle and I are the defenders of my country. We are the masters of our enemy. We are the saviors of my life.

So be it, until victory is America's and there is no enemy.