Caleb Smither was found dead in his barracks room at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Military & Crime Editor F.T. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. All rights reserved. The other person was a veteran who previously served at Fort Bragg, the Army wrote. The 50 Worst Decisions in Music History On February 9, 2022, Seth reported the death of 83 soldiers at Fort Bragg in the 18 months ending in June 2021. His death marks the latest in a string of recent deaths of Fort Bragg soldiers on or near the base. In June, two paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division were found dead in their barracks in what Army officials said they suspected were drug overdoses. 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It was raining nonstop, he tells Rolling Stone. Lavigne dedicated himself to the Army for 19 years and deployed multiple times in the defense of our Nation. Investigators said they found the evidence on Anthony's electronic devices. A representative of the Taliban said the group was checking on Ghani's whereabouts. An investigative reporter for Rolling Stone Magazine, Seth Harp, has been Last May, Rolling Stone was the first to report that drugs specifically, LSD might have played some role in whatever went down that Memorial Day weekend. Support local journalism with a subscription to The Fayetteville Observer. ga('ads.send', { A Fort Bragg soldiers alleged plot to "physically remove" racial minorities from eastern North Carolina was uncovered by military officials. Posted at 11:49 PM, Apr 27, 2023. and last updated 8:49 PM, Apr 27, 2023. },false) No more information about the deaths of Lavigne and Dumas will be released while the Army Criminal Investigative Command investigates, USASOC said. }); American diplomats were soon evacuated from their embassy by chopper. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. He was a hippie, Griselda says, into nature and spirituality, a strong believer in womens rights, staunchly supportive of his female friends. Soldier with white nationalist ties pleads guilty to gun charges }); Despite his apparently inconsistent statements, neither he nor any of the other six soldiers who were on the camping trip had any known motive to harm their friend. Noah Edwin Anthony, 23, pleaded guilty Tuesday to possessing an unregistered short-barrel rifle, according to the release. A dog tag commemorating Army Spc. An investigation is underway after a Special Forces soldier fromFort Bragg died after being foundunresponsiveinside a parked car in Fayetteville on Friday, officials said. Master Sgt. Last month, two paratroopers were found dead in their barracks room at Fort Bragg. ga('ads.send', { When we woke up he was not here, and weve been looking for him all day. }); }); Army identifies Special Forces soldier found dead at Fort Bragg Fort Bragg paratrooper who died was found unresponsive in barracks room, Army officials say, Fort Bragg soldier killed in accident, 4 others injured, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 1st Class Mark Leshikar, 33, USASOC confirmed in an email. ga('create', 'UA-67136960-15', 'auto', 'ads'); The next day, around 7 p.m., the group of soldiers reported Roman-Martinez missing. Published Dec 4, 2020 5:17 PM EST. Only 11 of those deaths were from natural causes. Court documents and other evidence revealed that Anthony was attempting to enter Fort Fort Bragg soldier Jimmy was more than just an NCO, he was a mentor, a shoulder to cry on, a comedian at times, but most of all a great friend, Spc. WILMINGTON, N.C. (WTVD) -- A Fort Bragg soldier pleaded guilty on Tuesday to possessing an unregistered short-barrel rifle. In another, a heavily pregnant Army wife named Sarah Lewis was brutally murdered by her steroid-enraged husband, a medic in the 1st Special Forces Command, who then died by suicide. Correction: Officials earlier incorrectly reported Rubinos age as 21. Investigators said they found the evidence on Anthony's electronic devices. We extend our deepest condolences to his loved ones as we mourn his passing alongside his family. 83 soldiers died at Fort Bragg in the 18 months ending June 2021. In May, Fort Bragg Sgt. His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, four Army Commendation Medals, seven Army Achievement Medals, two Navy Achievement Medals, four Army Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one Campaign Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, two NCO Professional Development Ribbons, Army Service Ribbon, four Overseas Service Ribbons, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, and the Army Parachutist Badge. window.adsContainer = {"positionAfterTitle":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle5_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position2":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_After_Title_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position3":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Below_Next_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position4":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position5":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle1_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position6":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle2_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position7":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle3_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position8":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle4_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position9":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle5_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position10":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle6_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position11":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle7_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position12":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle8_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position13":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle9_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position14":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle10_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position15":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle11_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position16":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle12_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"positionTop":{"code":"Article_Desktop_970x250_Header_Rel","isOrganicUserAd":false,"max_width":970,"max_height":250},"positionBottom":{"code":"Article_Desktop_Sidebar_Bottom_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":300,"max_height":600},"positionBottomRight":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_After_Title_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":336,"max_height":280}} Lavigne and Dumas were found shot to death in December 2020 on a training range at Fort Bragg. soldiers },false) Pfc. "The loss of a soldier is always tragic," said Lt. Col. Justin Duvall, the soldier's company commander. This is according to what Romero says he heard from soldiers who were on the camping trip. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Charges Filed in Fort Bragg Beheading Case Rolling There are no obvious suspects. It was truly an honor to be able to learn from him., Staff Sgt. FORT BRAGG, N.C. (WNCN) A Fort Bragg soldier was found dead in a barracks room Friday, officials say. pg.acq.push(function() { Mark Harris. 2023 www.fayobserver.com. Officials stated that during a further search of Anthonys vehicle, military officers found two extended magazines, ammunition, Nazi-type patches and an American flag with a Swastika instead of a blue field and stars. MEAWW brings you the best content from its global team of A Fort Bragg soldier was found dead over the weekend at his family's home in Tucker, Ga., the U.S. Army said Thursday. } His loss will be felt by many in the Army and especially within the All American family. Check out these great suggestions. Zodiac' Letters Tied Suspect to GI All Rights Reserved. Anthony will be sentenced at a later date and faces up to 10 years in prison, according to the release. Tsu Surf Pleads Guilty to RICO, Firearms Charges, Collier says that shortly after calling 911, the group of soldiers alerted their unit, the 37th Brigade Engineer Battalion of the 82nd Airborne Division, but that their battalion commander, Lt. Col. Scotty Autin, waited until Monday morning to inform the CID, which delayed until the following Friday to secure Roman-Martinezs barracks as a crime scene. An investigative reporter for Rolling Stone Magazine, Seth Harp, has been looking into this medical anomaly. 2023 Rolling Stone, LLC. Kids in their early twenties go on camping trips and get drunk and trip on psychedelics all the time. Check out these great suggestions. He had also earned a Combat Infantry Badge and Combat Action Badge. Bragg soldier dies at family home in Georgia - WRAL.com We lost our friend, he said. Michael Zapata, a friend, said in a statement that Smith was the example of what a paratrooper should be and touched the lives of hundreds of other soldiers and paratroopers in the process.. A Fort Bragg soldier pleaded guilty on Tuesday to possessing an unregistered short-barrel rifle. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. "We mourn Mikel's passing alongside his family. Fort Bragg soldier's A Fort Bragg soldiers alleged plot to "physically remove" racial minorities from eastern North Carolina was uncovered by military officials. He deployed several times to Afghanistan and Iraq, the command said, though it did not provide an exact number. Andrew W. Brown, 28, was a This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Get the latest in military news, entertainment and gear in your inbox daily. Friday night it rained heavily. Updated: Apr 22, 2023 / 11:45 AM EDT TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) A soldier from New Port Richey died in a training exercise at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, according to a Friday announcement. Anthony was stopped March 3, 2022 at the entrance of Fort Bragg as part of a random vehicle search, according to the release. Fort Bragg soldier Not long after that, a parachute rigger in the 7th Special Forces Group named Tiara Vinson allegedly walked up to Kelia Horton, her rival for the affections of a third soldier, and shot her in the face. Two men connected to the special operations community were found dead on an Army post in North Carolina where both had served for years one a soldier in an elite unit and the other a veteran. Fort Bragg soldier We might be afraid he might have hurt himself, he told the dispatcher. Mikel Rubino, 29, a 82nd Airborne Division Soldier killed, another detained after altercation at Fort Rucker, Like driving the Batmobile into the future: Air Force uses JLTV in mission for 1st time, Trailblazer: First Marine general to lead Defense Intelligence Agency dies at 64, China denounces US Navy reconnaissance planes trip through Taiwan Strait, Reports of sexual assaults increased in Navy, Air Force and Marines in 2022; Army saw decline, New bill aims to expand mental health care for military families, K-Town Now features the latest news from the Kaiserslautern Military Community. Earlier in the day, park rangers had approached the group to ask them to move their vehicles, which were encroaching on protected sand dunes. It has not been found. These were paratroopers from one of the 82nd Airborne Divisions brigade combat teams. The incident is under investigation, according to officials. } As per a recent report, in order to evacuate US embassy personnel from Kabul from a Taliban onslaught threatening to topple the government, about 3,500 from Fort Bragg were being flown from the United States to the Middle East. Fort Bragg soldier found dead in barracks; mother questions death Meanwhile, Fort Bragg soldiers have been turning up unresponsive in their barracks on a disturbingly regular basis since the beginning of 2020, including Caleb Smither, Terrance Salazar, Jamie Boger, Joshua Diamond, Matthew Disney, Mikel Rubino, Michael Hamilton, and numerous others who have not been named. An Illinois native whos reported for news outlets in Washington, D.C., Arizona, Oregon and California, hes an alumnus of the Defense Language Institute, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Arizona State University. After disappearing during a camping trip, Enrique Roman-Martinez became one of dozens of Fort Bragg soldiers to die recently under unexplained circumstances. Military police located two extended magazines, ammunition, and an American flag with a Swastika on it and other Nazi type patches, according to the release. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. In August 2021, CID increased the reward for information in the case to $50,000, the largest sum the Army has ever offered. He had too many plans., Editors picks No arrests have been made nearly five months after a Special Forces soldier and veteran were found dead Dec. 2, at Fort Bragg, an official said last week. Fort Bragg We want to hear it. Lavigne locked Leshikar out of the house, but his young daughter unlocked the door. Smith joined the Army in 2016 and had previously served in the 2nd Infantry Division at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, and in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, according to a news release from Special Operations Command. In total, a staggering 83 active-duty soldiers stationed at Fort Bragg died in the 18 months ending June 2021, according to data obtained by Rolling Stone. Paratrooper found dead in Fort Bragg barracks: Army - New York Romero says that Roman-Martinez also took LSD, and that Becerra was allegedly known around the barracks as a small-time dealer of acid tabs. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotOnload', function(event) { Staff Sgt. As per reports, Rubinos awards and decorations included the National Defense Service Medal, a decoration presented to recognize all military members who have served in active duty during a declared "national emergency"; the Army Service Ribbon, which is awarded to enlisted personnel after the successful completion of their initial-entry training and Officers after the completion of basic/orientation or higher level course; and the Army Parachutist Badge, which is awarded to soldiers who have previously earned the Basic Parachutist Badge and simultaneously complete one airborne jump into a combat zone. That last part wasnt true, it later emerged. William J. Lavigne II, 37, a Green Beret, and Timothy Dumas, 44, an Army veteran who once served at Fort Bragg. Posted 2:41 p.m. Oct 6, 2021 Updated 5:38 p.m. Oct 6, 2021. Before that she was a reporter for Killeen Daily Herald and a freelance journalist for publications including The Alcalde, Texas Highways and the Austin American-Statesman. By that time, Collier says. As per reports, as the Taliban entered Afghanistan's capital Kabul, and an official in the Afghan Interior Ministry said President Ashraf Ghani left the city for Tajikistan. Our thoughts and prayers are with them all during this difficult time.". The detail might be a red herring. A Fort Bragg soldier who allegedly sought to physically remove as many racial minorities from eastern North Carolina by whatever means need be pleaded WILMINGTON, N.C. (WBTW) A Fort Bragg soldier wanted remove racial minorities from several North Carolina counties, including Scotland and Robeson counties, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice. Bragg }); Soldier assigned to Special Forces shot and killed in Among the soldiers many awards and decorations are the Bronze Star Medal with V device; Bronze Star Medal (second award); Meritorious Service Medal; Joint Service Commendation Medal; Army Commendation Medal (second award); Army Achievement Medal (third award); and Joint Service Achievement Medal. He was assigned to Fort Bragg for nearly all that time, a LinkedIn account showed. Our thoughts and prayers are with them all during this difficult time. Click the "subscribe" link at the top of this article. In addition, no fewer than five Fort Bragg soldiers were charged with or convicted of raping children under the age of 13 over the course of just six months in 2021. "We mourn Mikel's passing alongside his family. According to Collier, whos had multiple briefings with the CID task force investigating the case, one of the seven campers entered Roman-Martinezs room before it was locked down. Her baby brother, whom she always took care of, could barely see without his pair of thick glasses, she says, and never would have left them behind voluntarily. Spc. document.querySelector("#ads").addEventListener('click',function(){ Theyre still happening, but the base has gone dark. Back in January 2022, Seth wrote about this for Rolling Stone. Taliban fighters were reaching the capital "from all sides", a senior Afghan interior ministry official told Reuters. Fort Bragg