Army identifies 3 soldiers killed in Bradley rollover at Fort Stewart
"It is hard enough when you lose one soldier, but when you lose three at one time that pain is amplified."
CONNEAUT, Ohio — The U.S. military has identified a man from Conneaut, Ohio was one of three U.S. Army soldiers killed in a training accident early Sunday morning in Georgia.
Cpl. Thomas Cole Walker, 22, was in an armored vehicle when it rolled off a bridge and submerged upside down in a stream at 3:20 a.m. at Fort Stewart, according to Stars and Stripes. Sgt. 1st Class Bryan Andrew Jenkins, 41, of Gainesville, Florida, and Pfc. Antonio Gilbert Garcia, 21, of Phoenix, Arizona, also died in the accident.
Three other soldiers were injured. Two were treated and released at a hospital, while the third was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries and was in stable condition Monday, Stars and Stripes reports.
“It is hard enough when you lose one soldier,” Maj. Gen. Tony Aguto said, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports. “But when you lose three at one time that pain is amplified. And we are really feeling and sharing that pain across the division and across our entire community.”
Cpl. Thomas Cole Walker in an undated Facebook photo(Facebook)
Walker was a graduate of Conneaut High School. He enlisted in 2016, according to Stars and Stripes, and had been awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal and Army Service Ribbon. He leaves behind a wife, Taylor Walker.
The AJC reports the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command is investigating the incident. Military officials tell the AJC an investigation is standard procedure and does not indicate a suspicion of criminal activity.
A memorial service will be held at the base, reports say.
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