US Army identifies two soldiers killed in Alaska car crash

The US Military recognized two younger troopers killed in a horrific four-vehicle crash in Anchorage, Alaska final week.

Spc. Wyne Lyndon Jacob Abonita, 22, of Yokosuka, Japan, and Pvt. Valsin David Tate Jr., 23, of New Orleans, are the 2 paratroopers who died within the collision on Might 13, the US Military stated.

Each males have been members of the 2nd Battalion, 377th Parachute Discipline Artillery Regiment, and got here to Alaska from their respective bases in 2019.

“This was a tragic scenario, and the complete battalion is mourning the lack of two of our paratroopers,” Regiment commander, Lt. Col. Dustin Blair stated in a press release.

Each males have been valued members of the U.S. Military and acquired the Nationwide Protection Service Medal, World Struggle on Terrorism Service Medal, Military Service Ribbon, and Parachutist Badge.

Spc. Wyne Lyndon Jacob Abonita was additionally awarded the Military Good Conduct Medal, Stars and Stripes reported.

They have been each stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage.

4 others have been injured within the crash, Anchorage police stated in a assertion. The 2 paratroopers have been pronounced lifeless on the scene moments after the crash, whereas two injured troopers have been rushed to an area hospital with non-life-threatening accidents.

One of many troopers was launched from the hospital on Saturday. No arrests have been made, police stated.

Abonita and Tate have been touring on the freeway when their automotive and a close-by automobile misplaced management and veered onto oncoming site visitors, cops stated. One of many automobiles then crashed right into a tree, injuring two extra troopers.

US Military officers and Anchorage police didn’t instantly reply to The Publish’s request for remark.

The incident comes after a US soldier was tragically killed by a bear in the identical state earlier this month.

Military Workers Sgt. Seth Michael Plant, 30, was recognized because the soldier who died from accidents sustained throughout a bear assault on Might 10 in a distant coaching space at Joint Base Elemendorf-Richardson.

Final month, a 21-year-old paratrooper from New York State died whereas leaping from a helicopter throughout a coaching train.

Spc. Abigail Jenks, of Gansevoort, was doing a static-line soar from a UH-60 Blackhawk chopper at Fort Bragg in North Carolina on Monday, when she was fatally injured, military officials said.