Arkansas Soldier Dies At Basic Training
By: Import User
Updated: January 7, 2009
An Arkansas soldier has died
accidentally while going through basic training at Fort Benning,
Georgia.
Private Van Ryan Marcum of Prescott was on a training range
during an exercise Saturday morning when he touched a highly
charged metal structure and was shocked. He was 21 years old.
Base spokeswoman Elsie Jackson said drill sergeants rushed to
Marcum`s aid and tried to revive him, but could not. An ambulance
rushed Marcum to a base hospital and E-M-T`s continued first-aid
without success. He was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at
the hospital, Jackson said.
He had been at Fort Benning with the Infantry Training Brigade
since late April. He was halfway through a 14-week basic training
and could have been deployed to the Middle East this fall.
Base officials are still investigating why the metal structure
was carrying such a powerful electric charge. Jackson said there
are few metal structures on the training range and the area around
Fort Benning and Columbus, Georgia, have experienced electrical
storms almost daily.
