One soldier killed and 9 injured as lightning strikes training area at Fort Gordon Army base
In a horrifying incident, lightning struck a group of 10 service members during a training exercise at the Fort Gordon base in Georgia, killing at least one US soldier on Wednesday, July 20. According to Fort Gordon Range Control officials, a bolt of lightning struck the base's training area at around 11 am. At least one soldier died of his wounds.
Fort Gordon’s Department of Emergency Services and Emergency Medical Services rushed to the scene to rescue the soldiers. The name of the victim is yet to be revealed. The extent of injuries the nine other soldiers sustained is unknown at the moment.
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Taking to Facebook, Minnesota National Guard's first female two-star general Johanna Clyborne confirmed the news. "Today Fort Gordon experienced a terrible tragedy. 10 Soldiers sustained injuries associated with a lightning strike at one of our training areas. With a heavy heart, we can confirm one of these Soldiers succumbed to their injuries. No name will be released until NOK is notified," she wrote.
Fort Gordon community member William Scott took to Facebook to claim multiple soldiers had been killed. "I ask everyone to please take this time to pray for the families and Soldiers at Fort Gordon today. Several Soldiers were electrocuted while in training this morning. Unfortunately, this was a fetal [fatal] event and now calls have to be made to the Soldiers loved ones. It’s definitely a traumatic event that has taken hold on the entire community’s emotions, confidence in the Leadership’s mission and trust in the Army’s cohesion to the Soldiers’ left and right," Scott wrote.
"The entire Army community here at Fort Gordon has been touched and moved by this event," he added. "I pray that everyone is able to find peace and healing throughout the closure of this traumatic event." However, reports have confirmed the death of only one soldier. MEAWW could not independently verify Scott's claims.
Speaking of the incident, base spokesperson Anne Bowman said, according to WRDW, “It is with a heavy heart Fort Gordon confirms one of the soldiers injured in the lightning strike this afternoon succumbed to their injuries."
Previously known as Camp Gordon, Fort Gordon is a US installation that was set up in 1941. It serves as the home of the US Army Signal Corps, US Army Cyber Command, and the Cyber Center of Excellence. The base has about 16,000 service members, which include active duty soldiers and members of the National Guard and Reserves. According to Fort Gordon's website, "Camp Gordon, named for Confederate Lieutenant General John Brown Gordon, was activated for infantry and armor training during World War II. During the war, its 55,000 acres served as a divisional training base for the 4th and 26th Infantry Divisions and the 10th Armored Division that fought in Europe in General George S Patton’s Third Army. (The inactivated 10th Armored Division still calls Fort Gordon home)."
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"Due to increases in the need and use of cyber technology the US Army is consolidating the United States Army Cyber Command into one location. Fort Gordon along with Fort Meade was in the running to receive the command. In December 2013, it was announced that Fort Gordon was selected," the website added. "In March 2014, Fort Gordon was designated as the US Army Cyber Center of Excellence."