A young U.S. Army soldier has died in California during a “training incident.” Spc. Joseph M. Meitl Jr., who was an armored cannon crewmember in the 1st Cavalry Division, died on Thursday, March 10.
Meitl reportedly participated in a “collective training” alongside his brigade at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, located in Southern California’s Mojave Desert, throughout last week before his demise.
Although the Army did not provide information regarding his cause of death, they did note in a news release that “the incident is under investigation.” Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Carpenter released a statement remembering the late Meitl.
“Specialist Joseph Meitl Jr. was a valuable member of our Steel Dragon team. We are deeply saddened by the loss of an incredible Trooper and teammate,” he noted.
“We extend our deepest sympathies to his spouse, family, and friends. Our thoughts and prayers are with them in this time of mourning and reflection,” continued Carpenter. Meitl had been a star member since joining the Army in May 2020. He had been assigned to the Second Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, Third Armored Brigade Combat Team, First Cavalry Division, according to the Fort Hood Press Office.
According to PEOPLE, he won an impressive number of awards in his short tenure in the Army, including an Army Achievement Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, and the National Defense Service Medal. Meanwhile, the Army also noted that they would provide his family “support and assistance” during this difficult time. “The unit leadership will continue to provide support and assistance to his family during this difficult time. The incident is under investigation,” it said according to NY Daily News.
While Meitl’s death unfolded in California, the 1st Cavalry Division is actually based in Fort Hood, Texas. Per its website, it (1st Cavalry Division) “provides scalable combat-ready forces…capable of conducting Unified Land Operations anywhere in the world on short notice to support diverse and fluid mission requirements.”
Back in 2020, more than a dozen officers who were stationed at the central Texas installation were suspended or relieved from their position following an investigation. At the time, the investigative panel found that the officers had fostered an environment that reportedly contributed to rampant sexual assault, violence, and sexual harassment on site. The announcement was made the same year during which at least 25 soldiers, who were assigned to Ford Hood, had died from accidents, suicide, or homicide.