I got a phone call 2 nights ago from my youngest brother who just graduated boot camp at Ft. Sill, OK last Monday. Him and the rest of the soldiers had just heard about the story of what happened, and I'd like to share it with y'all.
By Ron Jackson
Staff Writer
FORT SILL — U.S. Army officials said a soldier who was killed during a basic training exercise was handling an M2 machine gun when it discharged.
Officials on Friday identified Pvt. Daniel Patrick Fisher as the soldier who was killed Thursday. Fisher, who was from Bassett, Va., was described as a "dedicated, hard-working, loyal soldier.”
What happened
Fisher, 19, was participating in "familiarization training” on the machine gun with a group of soldiers from A Battery, 1st Battalion, 40th Field Artillery about 3 p.m. Thursday when the weapon discharged and struck him. Soldiers rushed Fisher initially from the East Range to the brigade's Troop Medical Clinic on post.
Fisher was then taken to Comanche County Memorial Hospital in Lawton, where post officials said he was pronounced dead at 3:50 p.m.
The investigation
Maj. Gen. Peter Vangjel, Fort Sill commander, said multiple agencies are investigating Fisher's death — a tragedy that is presently being defined only as a "training-related incident.”
Officials have yet to say whether live rounds were part of the exercise, or whether Fisher was handling the machine gun or was an observer.
"Our heart and prayers go out to Daniel's family,” Vangjel said during a brief news conference. "They entrusted us with Daniel's safety, and we feel a responsibility to them.”
Vangjel said a final investigative report would be first released to Fisher's wife, who was notified of her husband's death late Thursday. The couple had no children. Officials did not say when a final report would be released.
Fisher's death also prompted a "safety stand-down” for all of Fort Sill's 4,000 Basic Combat Training soldiers until otherwise ordered, Baker said. A review of the safety procedures is being conducted by a Combat Readiness Center unit from Fort Rucker, Ala.
Background
Fisher joined the Army Aug. 15, arriving with his unit seven days later. He was in the sixth week of his nine-week training course.
"One soldier who trained with him said he truly epitomized our family values,” said Col. Annie Baker, Fisher's brigade commander.
The last weapons-related death at Fort Sill happened in 1995 when an Air Force bomber misidentified a target, killing four soldiers and wounding more than a dozen more, said Fort Sill spokesman Jon Long.
Long also recalled a tragic incident in 1989 when an artillery round overshot its target, killing a young captain.
http://newsok.com/article/3142021/1191644376?
By Ron Jackson
Staff Writer
FORT SILL — U.S. Army officials said a soldier who was killed during a basic training exercise was handling an M2 machine gun when it discharged.
Officials on Friday identified Pvt. Daniel Patrick Fisher as the soldier who was killed Thursday. Fisher, who was from Bassett, Va., was described as a "dedicated, hard-working, loyal soldier.”
What happened
Fisher, 19, was participating in "familiarization training” on the machine gun with a group of soldiers from A Battery, 1st Battalion, 40th Field Artillery about 3 p.m. Thursday when the weapon discharged and struck him. Soldiers rushed Fisher initially from the East Range to the brigade's Troop Medical Clinic on post.
Fisher was then taken to Comanche County Memorial Hospital in Lawton, where post officials said he was pronounced dead at 3:50 p.m.
The investigation
Maj. Gen. Peter Vangjel, Fort Sill commander, said multiple agencies are investigating Fisher's death — a tragedy that is presently being defined only as a "training-related incident.”
Officials have yet to say whether live rounds were part of the exercise, or whether Fisher was handling the machine gun or was an observer.
"Our heart and prayers go out to Daniel's family,” Vangjel said during a brief news conference. "They entrusted us with Daniel's safety, and we feel a responsibility to them.”
Vangjel said a final investigative report would be first released to Fisher's wife, who was notified of her husband's death late Thursday. The couple had no children. Officials did not say when a final report would be released.
Fisher's death also prompted a "safety stand-down” for all of Fort Sill's 4,000 Basic Combat Training soldiers until otherwise ordered, Baker said. A review of the safety procedures is being conducted by a Combat Readiness Center unit from Fort Rucker, Ala.
Background
Fisher joined the Army Aug. 15, arriving with his unit seven days later. He was in the sixth week of his nine-week training course.
"One soldier who trained with him said he truly epitomized our family values,” said Col. Annie Baker, Fisher's brigade commander.
The last weapons-related death at Fort Sill happened in 1995 when an Air Force bomber misidentified a target, killing four soldiers and wounding more than a dozen more, said Fort Sill spokesman Jon Long.
Long also recalled a tragic incident in 1989 when an artillery round overshot its target, killing a young captain.
http://newsok.com/article/3142021/1191644376?
