Soldier Dies After Off-duty March
December 16, 2008
The Arizona Daily Star
Grief counselors are on duty at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., after a 29-year-Soldier collapsed during a predawn march on Sunday and died a short time later.
Pfc. Moneeka Mayo, a trainee with Fort Huachuca's Unmanned Aircraft Systems Training Battalion, died during an off-duty competition for a prestigious German military badge, officials said.
Mayo, of Wyoming, Mich., hadn't been a full-time Soldier long. She enlisted in late July and arrived at Fort Huachuca a few months later for her first assignment as a student in the unmanned aircraft training unit.
On Sunday, she was one of nine Soldiers who embarked before sunup on a lengthy road march in hopes of qualifying for a German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency.
Representatives of Germany's army, and those of several other allied militaries, are stationed at Fort Huachuca and it's not unusual for American troops to try to earn foreign military badges such as the one Mayo was competing for, said Tanja Linton, a spokeswoman for the fort.
"It's a friendship-building thing," Linton said.
The German merit badge has rigorous requirements. To earn it, a Soldier must perform a high jump and long jump, sprinting and swimming events and other feats. In Mayo's case, that included marching in uniform for about 10 miles while carrying a backpack that weighs about 22 pounds.
Mayo collapsed during the road march at 6:18 a.m. Sunday. Emergency personnel came to her aid, then took her to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead just after 7:30 a.m.
Linton said Army chaplains were providing grief counseling to members of Mayo's unit.
The Soldier's commander issued a statement of condolence. "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.
Linton said the cause of death is under investigation.
A memorial service for Mayo will be held at Fort Huachuca's main post chapel at 2 p.m. on Thursday.
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I hope the Germans gave her the award posthumously she earned it
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Soldier Dies After Off-duty March
