texas

Bodies of 4 Remaining Missing Soldiers Recovered: Officials

Nine soldiers now confirmed dead; Three other soldiers were rescued from the water near the vehicle

What to Know

  • Nine soldiers have been confirmed dead after the crash.
  • The victims' identities have not been released pending notification of next of kin.
  • Three soldiers rescued after the crash have been released from the hospital and are with their families.

Fort Hood officials confirmed that the bodies of the four soldiers who remained missing after their truck was swept away in flooding Thursday have been recovered.

"I'm sad to report that we recovered our four missing soldiers,"
Fort Hood Deputy Commanding General Maj. Gen. John Uberti said Friday evening. "Tragically, all four of those soldiers are deceased, and we've lost in this incident nine of our great soldiers. We continue to care for the families and friends of our fallen comrades."

The nine soldiers died after a military vehicle was swept away by fast-moving flood waters Thursday at the Texas fort. Their identities will be released after their families have been notified, Army officials said.

"Our focus now is on notifying the next of kin and caring for our soldiers who have lost one of their teammates," Uberti said.

Maj. Gen. John Uberti, deputy commanding general at Fort Hood, says all four remaining missing soldiers have been found dead after a military vehicle overturned Thursday at a flooded crossing. The death toll is now nine.

Three of the soldiers were found dead shortly after a Light Medium Tactical Vehicle overturned at about 11:30 a.m. at the Owl Creek Tactical low-water crossing and East Range Road during a training exercise.

Two more bodies were found late Thursday night, according to a Fort Hood statement.[[381775161,R]]

Four more bodies were recovered Friday, according to Uberti.

Three soldiers rescued after the crash are in stable condition at Carl R. Darnell Army Medical Center and could be released Friday, according to Uberti.

Fort Hood spokesman John Miller said the low-water crossing of the creek was flooded by two days of intermittent heavy rains when the swift water swept the truck from the road.

U.S. Army officials say five soldiers have now been confirmed dead, while four remain missing and three others were rescued and hospitalized, after their vehicle overturned in floodwaters at Fort Hood.

Aerial and ground crews searched the 20-mile creek that winds through heavily wooded terrain on the northern fringe of the sprawling Army base. Army aircraft, canine search teams, swift-water rescue watercraft and heavy trucks were being used.

Officials said Friday morning that Fort Hood commanders were in the process of closing roads on the sprawling Central Texas Army post when the truck overturned.

In a statement Thursday, Maj. Gen. John C. Thomson III, 1st Cavalry Division Commanding General, said "The 1st Cavalry Division is grieving after a training accident at Fort Hood during flash flooding this morning. We are deeply saddened by the loss of several Troopers and continue search operations."

Friday morning Uberti thanked first responders from both the post and local and state agencies who were continuing the search for the missing soldiers.

The deaths of Fort Hood soldiers after their vehicle overturned in a flooded water crossing Thursday has had an emotional impact on the Central Texas Army post.

"Our priority has been since the first report of this incident, and continues to be, the search for our four missing teammates," Uberti said Friday. "And while that remains our priority ... my command sergeant major, and the entire leadership team, is focused on making sure we're providing the support and counseling for the families, friends and soldiers as we work through the notification and grieving process."

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-TX, expressed his condolences in a tweet Thursday afternoon.

Gov. Greg Abbott released the following statement Thursday: "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the soldiers, their families and the Fort Hood community, and continue to be with those still unaccounted for. Texas stands ready to provide any assistance to Fort Hood as they deal with this tragedy."

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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