Ranger killed, two injured in parachute training accident

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A soldier was killed and two others were injured in a parachute training accident Thursday at Fort Lewis, officials said Friday.
The accident occurred during a jump about 2:50 p.m. Thursday, said Diane Grant, spokeswoman with the U.S. Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, N.C. The soldiers were reportedly part of the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.

Grant said she had few other details about the accident, pending notification of family.

The Fort Lewis public affairs office referred all inquiries to the Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg.

The 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment is located at Fort Lewis but is a tenant unit and answers to the Special Operations chain of command.

The incident is the second fatal training accident involving Rangers at Fort Lewis in 10 months. In December, 20-year-old Pfc. Devin Peguero of Chino Hills, Calif., was shot to death in a live-fire training exercise.

Michael Gilbert, The News Tribune

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/l...-4713280c.html

[Curt]

RIP and a speedy recovery to the injured rangers

[Grimmy]

Rest in Peace Soldier.

Prayers for full and speedy recovery for all those Soldiers injured in the accident as well.

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During a training exercise at Fort Lewis last Thursday, two Rangers with the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment got their parachutes entangled.

Falling fast, they hit the parachute of a soldier gliding below them: 24-year-old Pfc. Blake Samodell, a native of Brush Prairie, Clark County.

All three hit the ground hard.

Samodell later died of his injuries at Madigan Army Medical Center. The other soldiers are listed in critical condition.

Yesterday, at a memorial service at Fort Lewis, Samodell's father, William Samodell, met the parents of the two Rangers.

And William Samodell, himself a former Army paratrooper, told them not to feel guilty about what had happened.

"He wanted to tell them boys to make sure they didn't dwell on it," said William's brother, Ted.

Samodell enlisted in the Army last year. After completing airborne school and Ranger training, he was assigned to Fort Lewis in December, and deployed to Afghanistan earlier this year.

His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge and Basic Parachutist Badge.

"Pfc. Samodell was a hard-working and motivated Ranger," said his commander, Capt. Scott Naumann. "He made countless friends whose thoughts and prayers are with him."

Said his aunt, Kathryn: "He was a really good boy, and he was growing into quite a man."

He is survived by his mother, Vicki Samodell of Davenport, Lincoln County; his father, William, and his brother, Bryce, both of Phoenix; and his fiancée, Amy Sandaker of University Place.

Alex Fryer: 206-464-8124 or afryer@seattletimes.com