Indiana National Guard Soldier Died at Fort Hood

Indiana National Guard soldier dies at Fort Hood in Texas
By: The Associated Press 
Published: Sunday, January 07, 2018

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana National Guard says one of its soldiers has died after arriving for training at Fort Hood in Texas.

Indiana Guard officials said 43-year-old Sgt. 1st Class Mark Boner of Fort Wayne died early Saturday. The Guard didn't release information about the circumstances of his death, saying it was under investigation.

Boner was a member of the Kokomo-based 38th Sustainment Brigade. About 250 members of the unit left last week for training at Fort Hood ahead of a deployment to Kuwait.
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Death of Fort Riley Soldier Under Investigation

Fort Riley soldier found dead off post
Military Times
Charlsy Panzino
January 17, 2018

A Fort Riley soldier was found dead in an off-post residence on Monday, according to the Army.

Spc. Hunter Schmidtke, an infantryman with Company B, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, was found unresponsive in the home in Junction City, Kansas.
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Indiana National Guard Soldier's Death Under Investigation

Indiana National Guard soldier dies at Fort Hood in Texas

Associated Press

January 7, 2017

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana National Guard says one of its soldiers has died after arriving for training at Fort Hood in Texas.

Indiana Guard officials said 43-year-old Sgt. 1st Class Mark Boner of Fort Wayne died early Saturday. The Guard didn't release information about the circumstances of his death, saying it was under investigation.

Boner was a member of the Kokomo-based 38th Sustainment Brigade. About 250 members of the unit left last week for training at Fort Hood ahead of a deployment to Kuwait.

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Fort Riley Deaths Investigated

Details in soldier deaths show cases of hanging, gunshot wound

The Mercury

Stephanie Casanova

December 31, 2017

The U.S. Army has provided details on investigations into three Fort Riley soldier deaths that occurred in 2017, two of which appear to have been self-inflicted.

Records indicate the cases are still under investigation by local agencies, and the Army continues to say the cause of each death is undetermined. The Mercury requested information on seven of the 12 non-combat-related soldier deaths that have occurred since June 2017, those that appear to have been suicides. The Army so far has returned documents on three.

In the first, a Junction City Police Department detective found Staff Sgt. Garett Swift, 37, “hanging in the backyard of his residence” in Junction City at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 4, according to one report.

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Fort Bliss Soldier's Death in Iraq Under Investigation

Fort Bliss Soldier Dies in Non-Combat Incident in Iraq
Military.com
By Richard Sisk
December 22, 2017

A 20-year-old soldier with the 1st Armored Division has died in Iraq in a "non-combat incident," the Defense Department announced Friday.

Army Spc. Avadon Chavez. (Facebook)

In a release, the DoD identified the soldier as Spc. Avadon A. Chaves, 20, of Turlock, Calif. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, of the 1st Armored Division, at Fort Bliss, Texas.

Fort Riley Solider's Death Under Investigation

Fort Riley soldier found dead in home

The Mercury

December 19, 2017

A 1st Infantry Division soldier was found dead in his Junction City home Saturday, according to Fort Riley officials.

Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Johnson, 46, an artillery mechanic with Battery F, 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Inf. Div., was found unresponsive in his home by a friend who called 911. He was pronounced dead by first responders.

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Airman Found Dead at Joint Base Lewis-McChord

Air Force investigating death of airman found in dorm

Associated Press

December 14, 2017

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — Authorities are investigating the death of an airman found in his dorm at Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Tacoma.

The Air Force announced that Airman Cody Watt was found dead Tuesday just after noon.

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Several Deaths Under Investigation?

What is going on with non-combat deaths and does any reporter care to put them together?

Army


Fort Bragg 

A Fort Bragg soldier died Tuesday after collapsing during physical training. Sgt. Robert Thornton Jr., 29, of Cairo, Georgia, was assigned to the 528th Sustainment Brigade.

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (WNCN) — Army officials say two soldiers were found dead in their barracks at Fort Bragg in the last few days.One soldier was found dead Thanksgiving while the second soldier died over the weekend.

A paratrooper from Florida died in his barracks on an Army base in North Carolina. The Miami Herald reports 22-year-old Spc. Carlton Butler of North Miami Beach died Saturday evening at the base in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Fort Bliss

The Defense Department on Monday identified Cpl. Todd McGurn as the latest American service member to die in Iraq this month. Cpl. McGurn, a California native, died while conducting support operations for the U.S. coalition, according to a Pentagon statement. His death was tied to a “non-combat related incident” that took place in Baghdad. 

Fort Campbell

Sgt. Justin LaJoie-Grosvenor watched after her kids like he watched after his country. Two weeks after returning from Baghdad, Kaitlin said Justin took his life on November 18.

Marine Corps

Corporal Edwin Estrada, a Marine helicopter mechanic, died early Monday morning following what the Marine Corps called "an incident" in Wilmington. 

Navy 

Sailor found dead on USS John C. Stennis in Washington state Kitsap Sun Julianne Stanford Nov. 28, 2017
A 22-year-old sailor was found dead on the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis on Saturday afternoon with "no obvious and apparent cause of death," according to Stennis spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Frederick Martin.
The Navy has identified the sailor as Akiree Pointer, an engineman fireman recruit from Arlington, Texas.
The command is investigating his cause of death, Martin said.read more here linked from Stars and Stripes

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A 31-year-old sailor was found dead in an Oceanfront hotel room a day before she was scheduled to report aboard the aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush, authorities said Friday.Petty Officer 3rd Class Amanda Simmons’ body was discovered in a room at the Ocean Beach Club Resort at about 3:20 p.m Wednesday, according to Virginia Beach police. 

Fort Bliss Soldier's Death in Iraq Under Investigation

Defense Dept. identifies American casualty in Iraq
The Washington Times
By Carlo Muñoz
November 27, 2017

The Defense Department on Monday identified Cpl. Todd McGurn as the latest American service member to die in Iraq this month.

Cpl. McGurn, a California native, died while conducting support operations for the U.S. coalition, according to a Pentagon statement. His death was tied to a “non-combat related incident” that took place in Baghdad.

Assigned to assigned to 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment in the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team,1st Armored Division out of Fort Bliss, Texas, Cpl. McGurn’s death is currently under investigation by command officials, the statement says.
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Sailor found dead in a Virginia Beach hotel

Sailor found dead in a Virginia Beach hotel day before she was to report for duty

Virginian Pilot

Brook Vergakis

November 4, 2017

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A 31-year-old sailor was found dead in an Oceanfront hotel room a day before she was scheduled to report aboard the aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush, authorities said Friday.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Amanda Simmons’ body was discovered in a room at the Ocean Beach Club Resort at about 3:20 p.m Wednesday, according to Virginia Beach police.

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Family of Jason Simcakoski Gets Justice...Finally

Justice moved slowly. VA was found at fault back in 2015 after an investigation.

$2.3 million settlement filed in veteran's death at Tomah VA

WMTV NBC 15 News

October 28, 2017

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- The government has reached a $2.3 million settlement with survivors of a Marine veteran who died of a drug overdose at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Tomah.

Court papers filed Friday say about $1.65 million would go upfront to the widow and daughter of Jason Simcakoski, of Stevens Point, who was 35 when he died in 2014. 

Another $659,000 would go into annuities for them. The rest would go to attorney fees and expenses.

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Fort Hood Solider Found Dead Identified

Fort Hood: Soldier found dead in off-post residence identified

KWTC News

Staff

October 24, 2017

FORT HOOD, Texas (KWTX) Fort Hood Tuesday identified a soldier who was found dead in his off-post residence on Oct. 18 in Copperas Cove as Spc. Luke Hampton Toomey, 21, of Lakeland, Tenn.

Copperas Cove police and the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command are investigating the circumstances of the death, Fort Hood said.

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Two Fort Jackson Soldiers Killed, Several Injured

2 soldiers killed, Alabama soldier injured at South Carolina's Fort Jackson
AL.com
By Leada Gore
October 7, 2017

An Alabama soldier was injured and two others killed in a deadly accident Friday at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

Pvt. Emmett Foreman of Daleville was injured in what officials are describing as a "tragic accident involving a military vehicle and a troop formation." Two Army personnel, later identified as Pvt. Ethan Shrader of Prospect, Tennessee, and Pvt. Timothy Ashcraft of Cincinnati, Ohio, were killed.

Foreman, Pvt. Hannah New of Cartersville, Georgia; Pvt. Benjamin Key of Livingston, Tennessee; Pvt. Alan Kryszak of Clarksville, Tennessee; Pvt. Cardre Jackson Jr. of Laurel, Maryland; and Pvt. James Foster of Macon, Georgia were injured.

Two of the service members are in critical condition but Fort Jackson public affairs did not identify the conditions of individual service members. The type of vehicle or the exact nature of the accident has not been released.
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Camp Pendleton Marines Death Under Investigation

Officials Investigating Death of Marine at Reconnaissance Course

Military.com
by Hope Hodge Seck
9 Sep 2017

Marine Corps officials have yet to determine the cause of death for a private first class who was found unresponsive during a training event last month at Camp Pendleton, California.

Michael P. Giannattasio (Photo courtesy Modetz Funeral Homes)

Pfc. Michael P. Giannattasio had been attending the Basic Reconnaissance Course at School of Infantry West, a physically demanding training course required for those who want to join the elite ranks of reconnaissance Marines.

He was discovered unconscious during a land navigation training event Aug. 30, according to a spokesman from Marine Corps Training and Education Command, Capt. Joshua Pena.

The San Diego Union-Tribune first reported Giannatasio's death.

Giannatasio, 22, was from Armada, Mich. According to a published obituary, he was the fourth of eight children.
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Patient Found Dead in Stairwell of Oklahoma City VA Hospital

Patient Found Dead in Stairwell of Oklahoma Veterans Affairs Hospital

KFOR News

Bill Miston

August 24, 2017

OKLAHOMA CITY - Officials say a patient at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Oklahoma City was found dead in a stairwell Wednesday evening.

Stacy Rine, the Public Affairs Officer for the Oklahoma City VA Health Care System, confirmed the death Thursday afternoon after News 4 received a tip.

Rine told KFOR that "no foul play" is suspected, but that the VA Police, Office of the Inspector General and the Oklahoma State Medical Examiner are conducting an investigation into the death.

"A veteran was found deceased Wednesday evening in the stairwell of the Oklahoma City VA Medical Center.  We are working with local authorities, Office of Inspector General, VA police and the medical examiner who are all investigating," Rine said in a statement to News 4.

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Bodies of 10 Missing McCain Sailors Recovered

Navy Recovers Remains Of All 10 Missing Sailors Aboard USS John S. McCain

NPR

Mark Katkov

August 28, 2017

The guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain moored pier side at Changi naval base in Singapore. Grady T. Fontana/AP

The U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet announced Sunday that the remains of all 10 missing sailors from the USS John S. McCain have been recovered.

The remains were recovered from the ship's flooded compartments by U.S. Navy and Marine Corps divers. The Navy has released the identities of the sailors.

The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer collided with the Liberian-flagged commercial tanker Alnic MC before dawn local time last Monday, in waters east of the Strait of Malacca and Singapore. The incident is under investigation.

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U.S. Navy recovers remaining USS John S. McCain Sailors aboard ship

By U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs | | August 27, 2017

CHANGI NAVAL BASE, Republic of Singapore – U.S. Navy and Marine Corps divers have now recovered the remains of all 10 USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) Sailors.

The fallen Sailors are:

• Electronics Technician 1st Class Charles Nathan Findley, 31, from Kansas City, Missouri
• Interior Communications Electrician 1st Class Abraham Lopez, 39, from El Paso, Texas
• Electronics Technician 2nd Class Kevin Sayer Bushell, 26, from Gaithersburg, Maryland
• Electronics Technician 2nd Class Jacob Daniel Drake, 21, from Cable, Ohio
• Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Timothy Thomas Eckels Jr., 23, from Manchester, Maryland
• Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Corey George Ingram, 28, from Poughkeepsie, New York
• Electronics Technician 3rd Class Dustin Louis Doyon, 26, from Suffield, Connecticut
• Electronics Technician 3rd Class John Henry Hoagland III, 20, from Killeen, Texas
• Interior Communications Electrician 3rd Class Logan Stephen Palmer, 23, from Decatur, Illinois 
• Electronics Technician 3rd Class, Kenneth Aaron Smith, 22, from Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

Death of Edwards Air Force Airman Under Investigation

U.S. Air Force service member dies on Edwards AFB
By 412th Test Wing Public Affairs 
Published August 24, 2017

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.
The U.S. Air Force is investigating the death of an Airman assigned to Edwards Air Force Base.

The deceased is identified as Senior Airman Joseph Connors of the 812th Civil Engineer Squadron, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight.

The incident occurred at approximately 6:30 p.m., Aug. 23, near the base’s north gate on Edwards AFB property. The north gate entrance was closed for a period of time due to the investigation.

Brig. Gen. Carl Schaefer, 412th Test Wing commander, issued a statement to the base populace today.

“I'm heartbroken to announce the loss of one of our valuable teammates … Senior Airman Connors was one of our "rock star" Airmen — Airman Leadership School distinguished graduate and our 2016 Wing Airman of the Year. 

He is survived by his active duty spouse, who is also a vital member of our wing. Our thoughts and prayers are with her, our EOD team, and all those supporting in the wake of this tragedy.”

For general questions regarding this release, call the Edwards Public Affairs Office at 661-277-3510.

Names Released After USS John S. McCain Goes Into a Recovery Operation

Navy names 10 sailors missing since McCain collision, begins recovery operation
Washington Post
Anna Fifield
August 24, 2017

TOKYO — The U.S. Navy on Thursday turned its search and rescue mission to find 10 missing sailors from the USS John S. McCain into a recovery operation, an acknowledgment that it does not expect to find any of them alive.

It also named the 10 who have been missing since the guided-missile destroyer and an oil tanker collided near Singapore before dawn on Monday.

“After more than 80 hours of multinational search efforts, the U.S. Navy suspended search and rescue efforts for missing USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) Sailors in an approximately 2,100-square mile area east of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore,” the 7th Fleet, to which the McCain belongs, said in a statement Thursday.

The Navy said it has recovered the remains of one sailor, Electronics Technician 3rd Class Kenneth Aaron Smith, 22, from New Jersey. The Navy said it will continue search operations inside flooded compartments in the ship.

Still missing are:

Electronics Technician 1st Class Charles Nathan Findley, 31, from Missouri

Interior Communications Electrician 1st Class Abraham Lopez, 39, from Texas

Electronics Technician 2nd Class Kevin Sayer Bushell, 26, from Maryland

Electronics Technician 2nd Class Jacob Daniel Drake, 21, from Ohio

Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Timothy Thomas Eckels Jr., 23, from Maryland

Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Corey George Ingram, 28, from New York

Electronics Technician 3rd Class Dustin Louis Doyon, 26, from Connecticut

Electronics Technician 3rd Class John Henry Hoagland III, 20, from Texas

Interior Communications Electrician 3rd Class Logan Stephen Palmer, 23, from Illinois.

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Death of Fort Hood Soldier Under Investigation

Fort Hood: Soldier found unresponsive in on-post residence identified

KWTX News 
Sam De Leon 
July 14, 2017

FORT HOOD, Texas (KWTX) Fort Hood officials identified Specialist Justen Glenn Ogden as the soldier found unresponsive at his home on Fort Hood on July 11.

Spc. Justen Glenn Ogden (photo courtesy: Fort Hood Press Center)

Spc. Ogden, 22, is from Humble, Texas and he joined the army in March 2014 as a motor transport operator. In August 2014 he was assigned to 61st Quartermaster Battalion, 13th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, Fort Hood, Texas.

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Air Force Major Died After Physical Training at Buckley

Air Force Major dies after physical training test at Buckley AFB
KUSA
Amanda Kesting
June 19, 2017

BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, COLO. - An Air Force Major has died following after becoming unresponsive during a physical training test at Buckley Air Force Base on Friday.

Major Elgin "Rick" Ross was pronounced dead at 9:22 a.m. on Saturday at the University of Colorado Hospital.

He had been completing a physical training test the day before on base when be became unresponsive and was transported to the hospital.

The cause of his death is still under investigation.
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