Yahoo Movies Army Identifies 2 Soldiers Struck and Killed by Falling Tree During 'Weather-Related' Event in Georgia
The 7th Special Forces/Facebook; West Point/The U.S. Military Academy/Facebook Staff Sgt. George Taber and 2nd Lt. Evan Fitzgibbon
Two soldiers were killed and three others were injured Tuesday during a "weather-related" incident in northern Georgia.
In a press release from the the Maneuver Center of Excellence and the Fort Benning Public Affairs Office, the soldiers who died were identified as 2nd Lt. Evan Fitzgibbon and Staff Sgt. George Taber.
The service members "succumbed to injuries sustained during a weather-related incident" that took place at Yonah Mountain near Dahlonega, authorities said on Wednesday.
"Fitzgibbon and Taber, along with three other Ranger candidates, were struck by a fallen tree around 3:15 p.m. while sheltering during a weather-induced training hold," according to the press release. "All injured personnel were transported to a local hospital, where Fitzgibbon and Taber were later pronounced deceased."
"We are all deeply saddened by the loss of these two outstanding Soldiers and send our heartfelt condolences to their families," Maneuver Center of Excellence and Fort Benning Commanding General Maj. Gen. Curtis A.Buzzard said in a statement. "They are in our thoughts and prayers."
Added Airborne and RangerTraining Brigade Commander Col. Christopher C. Hammonds, "This loss resonates across our Army and across our nation."
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Fitzgibbon, a member of the class of 2021 at West Point, was remembered by the military academy in a tribute.
"2nd Lt. Fitzgibbon was an incredible leader of character who exemplified Army values and the West Point ideals of Duty, Honor, and Country," read a statement shared on social media.
Taber, 30, was also mourned by the 7th Special Forces Group.
"Our battalion is devastated by the loss of our teammate. Staff Sgt. Taber was an outstanding Soldier and a model Green Beret," Lt. Col. Brockton Hershberger, 2nd Battalion commander said in a statement. "Our top priority is to support his family in any way we can."
Yonah Mountain is located about 170 miles northeast of Fort Benning and is occasionally used for Army training, according to the New York Times.
The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the area around the mountain just after 3 p.m. on Tuesday.
The agency warned of wind gusts topping 60 mph, hail and frequent lightning, FOX Weather reported.
Strong winds from the storm damaged trees near Yonah Mountain, NWS meteorologist Ty Vaughn told the Times.
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This is the second incident in three weeks in which U.S. service members have died due to a weather-related incident in Georgia.
One soldier died and nine others were injured on July 20 following a lightning strike at the Fort Gordon Army base.
The soldiers were reportedly conducting a training exercise when the incident occurred.
