
The summer is turning deadly in a series of tragic accidents within the military over the last week.
Basic trainee Jacob "JT" Atchison at Fort Moore was participating in a routine five-mile road march when, according to the Army, he slipped, fell, and hit his head on the pavement. Sustaining a severe head injury, he was pronounced dead at Martin Army Community Hospital.
According to family members, Atchison had joined the Army on an Option 40 contract which gives trainees the opportunity to assess for the 75th Ranger Regiment through the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program (RASP).
The Des Moines Register reports that the family intends to dispute the Army's report on Atchison's cause of death.
On Friday, a vehicle accident at Fort Bliss claimed the life of one soldier and injured five others. The Army identified the deceased as Sgt. Joel Sanchez, who perished during a vehicle movement across the base. Sanchez was a Cav Scout assigned to Bravo Troop, 6th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division
On Wednesday, three Marines were found unresponsive in their vehicle outside a Speedway gas station in North Carolina. A coroner determined via an autopsy that the three men died from carbon monoxide poisoning.
The Marine Corps identified the men as Lance Corporals Tanner J. Kaltenberg, Merax C. Dockery, and Ivan R. Garcia each of whom were stationed at Camp Lejeune where they served as motor vehicle operators.
Reach Jack Murphy: jack@connectingvets.com or @JackMurphyRGR.
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