Soldier electrocuted during basic training

AngryPistols · Post by **AngryPistols** » June 22nd, 2004, 6:23 am

Soldier electrocuted during basic training

Accident first training death at Army post since July 2002

BY ANGELIQUE SOENARIE

Staff Writer

Paul Henley hadn't expected to receive the call so soon.

His nephew, Pvt. Van Ryan Marcum, 21, enlisted in the Army three months ago with hopes of becoming a Ranger. He died Saturday after he was electrocuted during infantry basic training at Fort Benning.

"We were concerned with the world conditions at first," Henley said, adding that he expected Marcum to be sent to Iraq when he finished training. "We were prepared to take any bad news. We weren't quite prepared for this, this early."

Marcum, of Prescott, Ark., was halfway through the 14-week infantry basic training course when, just before 11 a.m. Saturday, he touched a metal building at a range in the Malone complex and received an electrical shock, said Elsie Jackson, a Fort Benning public affairs officer. His uniform was wet with sweat, she said.

Drill sergeants administered first aid before he was taken to Martin Army Community Hospital. He was pronounced dead at 11:30 a.m., Jackson said.

Jackson said that, according to an initial report, a damaged light fixture caused an electrical arc that charged the building. The incident remains under investigation by Fort Benning authorities.

A statement from Marcum's unit, the 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry, Infantry Training Brigade, said, "He was a very good soldier. He was doing well in his training and he was well-liked. He was on his way to being an Army Ranger."

Link Here.

http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledg ... 980065.htm

RIP

eltrane · Post by **eltrane** » June 22nd, 2004, 7:13 am

RIP Soldier.

Earthpig · Post by **Earthpig** » June 22nd, 2004, 7:24 am

That really sucks. Rest in Peace.
RLTW
EP

Tay Depp · Post by **Tay Depp** » June 22nd, 2004, 7:46 am

RIP Soldier.

Bugsy · Post by **Bugsy** » June 22nd, 2004, 9:46 am

Damn, thats F*cked up, Rest In Peace Soldier may God bless your enternal soul Brother.

Bell · Post by **Bell** » June 22nd, 2004, 11:05 am

RIP soldier.

RLTW
Bell

Blacksrt4 · Post by **Blacksrt4** » June 22nd, 2004, 9:46 pm

RIP...

BadMuther · Post by **BadMuther** » June 22nd, 2004, 9:51 pm

RIP

1st Battalion, 19th Infantry, Infantry Training Brigade, said,

That's where I did Basic, in C-co.

Oreo · Post by **Oreo** » June 24th, 2004, 7:50 pm

RIP Soldier.

ImportsRsloths · Post by **ImportsRsloths** » July 3rd, 2004, 3:29 pm

RIP. Going out in basic training is not exactly how I would want to finish up. :(