Ranger Candidates Have been Killed by Falling Tree Throughout Georgia Storm

Two Army Ranger candidates killed throughout a coaching train on a mountain in north Georgia have been hit by a falling tree whereas sheltering from a storm Tuesday, base officers confirmed Wednesday.

The troopers have been recognized as 2nd Lt. Evan Fitzgibbon, whose hometown and age weren’t launched, and Employees Sgt. George Taber, 30, of Florida, in keeping with information releases from the Maneuver Middle of Excellence and Fort Benning and the seventh Special Forces Group.

“We’re all deeply saddened by the lack of these two excellent troopers and ship our heartfelt condolences to their households,” Maneuver Middle of Excellence and Fort Benning Commanding Common Maj. Gen. Curtis A. Buzzard stated in an announcement. “They’re in our ideas and prayers.”

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The 2 have been taking part in Ranger Faculty’s Mountain Part on Yonah Mountain, about 170 miles northeast of Fort Benning, a base spokesperson confirmed.

The Nationwide Climate Service issued a extreme thunderstorm warning for the world across the mountain from about 3 p.m. to three:45 p.m. Tuesday, warning that winds might attain 60 miles per hour and hail might be as large as 1 / 4.

The coaching was placed on maintain due to the climate however, whereas sheltering, Fitzgibbon, Taber and three different Ranger candidates have been hit by a falling tree at about 3:15 p.m., in keeping with the information launch. All 5 have been taken to a neighborhood hospital, the place Fitzgibbon and Taber have been later pronounced lifeless, the discharge added.

“Those that volunteer to attend Ranger Faculty symbolize the perfect of our army,” Airborne and Ranger Coaching Brigade Commander Col. Christopher C. Hammonds stated in an announcement. “This loss resonates throughout our Army and throughout our nation.”

Fitzgibbon was an infantry officer (11A) assigned to the Infantry Primary Officer Chief Course, 199th Chief Brigade, at Fort Benning. He was commissioned in Might 2021 at West Level.

Taber was a Special Forces medical sergeant (18D) with the seventh Special Forces Group at Eglin Air Power Base, Florida. He enlisted in 2017.

“We’re extraordinarily saddened by the lack of Employees Sgt. George Taber. We prolong our sincerest condolences to his household, associates and teammates,” Col. Kevin Trujillo, seventh Special Forces Group (Airborne) commander, stated in an announcement. “He was an exemplary soldier and Inexperienced Beret and he shall be sorely missed.”

Fitzgibbon and Taber are the Army’s second and third weather-related deaths in Georgia in lower than a month. In late July, Sgt. 1st Class Michael D. Clark, a fight surgeon, was killed by a lightning strike throughout a coaching train at Fort Gordon in Augusta, an incident that additionally injured 9 different troopers.

— Rebecca Kheel may be reached at rebecca.kheel@army.com. Comply with her on Twitter @reporterkheel.

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