If you would like to be added or dropped from the Michigan ping list, please freepmail me.
How awful. I'll be interested to see autopsy results, if one is performed and the results made public.
Prayers for the family.
Posted on 12/16/2008 4:14:43 AM PST by ET(end tyranny)
FORT HUACHUCA, Ariz. (WOOD) - Pfc. Moneeka Mayo-Vandergeld, 29, of Wyoming, Mich., died Dec. 15 after collapsing while participating in a road march at Fort Huachuca in Arizona, according to base officials. She was qualifying for a German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge.
Emergency personnel responded Sunday morning to the scene near Sierra Vista and tended to Mayo-Vandergeld. She was taken to Sierra Vista Regional Health Center where she died later that morning.
24 Hour News 8 talked to the grandmother of Mayo-Vandergeld's two stepchildren. She said she learned Mayo-Vandergeld was kicked in the ribs and a rib punctured her heart during a combat training session prior to the road march. That injury may have contributed to Mayo-Vandergeld's death.
Base officials are not sure if an autopsy is planned, but it could be part of the investigation.
"On behalf of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Training Battalion, we extend our sincere and cordial sympathy to the family of Pfc. Mayo. Our hearts and prayers are with them," said Lt. Col. Patrick Sullivan, commander of the UASTB.
Mayo-Vandergeld was assigned to Company A, Unmanned Aircraft Systems Training Battalion. This was her first active duty assignment, but she had prior service in the Reserve. She was on schedule to be deployed to Afghanistan in March.
She entered active duty on July 30. Her friend that 24 Hour News 8 spoke with said May-Vandergeld joined the military to help bring home a check after the company she and her husband owned, Expansion Mortgage, went out of business.
Mayo-Vandergeld leaves behind a husband, two biological children and two stepchildren.
A memorial service for Mayo-Vandergeld will take place at 2 p.m. Dec. 18 at Fort Huachuca's Main Post Chapel.
I think the charge is that she had her rib broken doing combat training prior to the march. Those things do happen and it would be completely different from being kicked after passing out.
I spent 8 years in the Navy, 4 of those attached to the Marines. I seen rough training, I’ve seen people yelled at. I’ve seen people yelling things that in other contexts would be considered threats. I’ve never seen a sailor or marine kicked while they were down.
When someone goes down during a march, in every instance I’ve witnessed, fellow marines have rushed to their aid and a corpsman was called for. Aid is given and transport for further care is given if required.
The Marines are very sensitive to the health of their men (gender neutral). I would assume the Army is similar in this regard.
The grandmother “knowing” about a broken rib that punctured her heart is rather suspicious.
My interpretation is that she was involved in some sort of "unarmed combat" class/practice, in which she got the kick/broken-rib, prior to the road march.
If it was hand-to-hand combat, a kick to ribs is in the book.
Throw your opponent, hold the arm to expose the ribs and deliver the kicks.
Could very well have been accidentally harsh.
It’s very common to receive foreign badges on American soil.
German Schutzeneir (sp?), IIRC.
I got mine in Germany in 1989.
According to the article, she was kicked prior to the march. Also, since she is not in basic training (and the DIs aren't allowed to do that anymore), she wouldn't have been kicked by anyone in authority.
ping
Right. I understand that. She's an American citizen according to the story. How does an American soldier earn a foreign badge on American soil?
Forces often offer specific badges to partner nations.
Some are field proficiency.
Some are weapons proficiency.
You sign up and get selected for a two or three day course, where you learn and demonstrate proficiency, and you’re awarded the foreign badge.
If there are Germans stationed in the US (there are), they can offer the course locally. It’s more inter-service/country PR than anything really meaningful.
Most of the badges cannot be worn with the uniform, except on special occcasions. If we earned a German badge and went to a party in Germany, we’d wear the badge on the uniform (permission granted).
There are German soldiers (and others) stationed at Ft Huachuca. When they are offering the badge to their own soldiers, they open it up to the American soldiers at the post as a friendship builder.
Hubby got his (gold) Schützenschnur (marksmanship badge) the first summer we were in Germany. He was just a PFC. They also did a volksmarch with some German soldiers and I belive Dutch.
Also, since she is not in basic training (and the DIs aren’t allowed to do that anymore), she wouldn’t have been kicked by anyone in authority.
Not to imply that she was kicked by someone in authority, but although she was not in basic training any longer, she was in AIT, so she was still under the supervision of Drill SGTs.
Thanks for the clarification.
It is not that hot here this time of year. In fact it is quite cool.
Even though she was a 29 year-old PFC, she was not kicked by any DI's or Drill Sgts. She was kicked in a Combat Training session prior to the march. Again, I reiterate that if procedure had been followed, she should not have been cleared by medical to participate in the march if they KNEW that one of her ribs had punctured her heart. That's an incredibly serious and dangerous injury.
Also, in today's wusified, PC military, NO Drill Sgt., DI, TI (use whatever alphabet you want) should be touching, hitting, kicking, etc. ANY soldier, sailor, airman, marine, whatever!! That is strictly Verboten, today!!
If you would like to be added or dropped from the Michigan ping list, please freepmail me.
How awful. I'll be interested to see autopsy results, if one is performed and the results made public.
Prayers for the family.
Planned? If they haven't done it yet how does she know about the rib into the heart?
This doesn't make sense.
Having survived Marine boot camp (Parris Isalnd) during that era I can relate ... it was called 'thumping' back then.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.