During a collective exercise on Thursday in California, a distinguished army soldier was killed.
Specialist Joseph Meitl Jr., 23, died Thursday in an incident in Fort Irvine, California, which is still being investigated by army authorities.
Maitle Jr. was a member of the 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, Combat Team, 3rd Armored Brigade, 1st CAV Division at Fort Hood after entering the Army in May 2020.
“Specialist Joseph Meitle Jr. has been a valued member of our Steel Dragon team. We are deeply saddened by the loss of an incredible soldier and teammate,” said Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Carpenter, commander of the 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment.
“We express our deepest condolences to his wife, family and friends. Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this time of mourning and reflection,” Carpenter added.
Specialist Joseph Meitl Jr., 23, died Thursday in an incident in Fort Irvine, California, which is still being investigated by army authorities.
Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Carpenter, commander of the 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment (pictured left), announced the death of Maitle Jr.
Meitl Jr. participated in collective learning at the National Training Center in California.
Maitle was a member of an armored gun crew who worked week-long in training for his brigade at the National Training Center at Fort Hood in California.
During his service, he was awarded the Army Meritorious Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon.
The leadership of his unit will continue to provide support and assistance to his family during this difficult time.
The base has come under additional scrutiny in recent years due to everything from suicides to sexual assaults taking place on the base.
specialist. Vanessa Guillen, then 20, disappeared in April 2020 and was later revealed to have been beaten to death with a hammer at the armory where she worked.
In 2020, the 20-year-old Spc. Vanessa Guillen (pictured) disappeared from Fort Hood and was later found to have been beaten to death with a hammer at the armory where she worked.
Maitle Jr. served in the Army Corps at Fort Hood, Texas.
The prime suspect in her disappearance, Spc. Aaron Robinson, 20, killed himself when investigators confronted him.
The string of deaths led to an independent review of the climate and culture at Fort Hood and the punishment of 14 senior officers.
The army later released a report on their findings, which revealed that Guillén had been sexually harassed and reported it twice.
It stated that Guillén’s leaders failed to take proper action and the charges were not passed on to higher authorities.
Her family continued to push for change, which led federal lawmakers to pass legislation on how to deal with out-of-band sexual assault and turn it over to independent military prosecutors.
U.S. Army Deputy Chiefs of Staff Lt. Gen. Gary Brito (left) and Col. William Zielinski discuss the People First Center, a new training and resource center in Fort Hood, Texas, Thursday, October 7, 2021.
III Corps Headquarters at Fort Hood Military Base in Fort Hood, Texas
Reports of toxic culture and mistreatment at the base received increased attention due to the death of 31 soldiers associated with the fort in 2020.
In October, Army officials opened a new resource and training center at Fort Hood that aims to create a more supportive culture following reports of murders, suicides and sexual harassment at a Texas military facility.
The People First Center will provide resources and support to soldiers who have been victims of sexual assault or have suicidal thoughts and will seek to prevent such problems by training Fort Hood leaders on how to respond appropriately, army officials said during a tour of the facility. .
It was planned that the center will start operating this year.