PVT Kyle M. Swain died during Air Assault School
Bobo sends us a link to the Army Times which reports that Army Private Kyle M. Swain passed out during the six-mile road march for the Air Assault School due to a heat-related injury;
Air Assault School students are required to complete the six-mile march in 90 minutes while carrying 35 pounds on their backs, DeSantis said. Swain passed out during the march and never regained consciousness, the Times-News reported; he was declared dead that night in a Nashville hospital.
Training is for war and sometimes just as deadly.
Category: Army News
Godspeed young Trooper, and
God bless his family as they struggle with the loss of such a fine young man.
As I read the story above I was thinking – “what in the hell am I missing? An unknown medical condition maybe?”
From the link at Army Times: “The Erie resident had lost more than 130 pounds over five years in order to join the military, a dream he’d had since age 4 that came true when he left his hometown for basic training in January, the Times-News reported.”
What a pity that this young man, who tried so hard to become a part of the US Army could not complete his dream.
Prayers and condolences to his family.
Well, technically, he did complete his dream: he enlisted in the Army, completed initial entry training, and served as an infantryman.
Sad about what happened.
I agree, ‘busa. He did fulfill his dream. He earned the uniform, and it looks like he wore it proudly. He passed with his boots on, pursuing the second stage of his dream. I won’t speculate on the drastic weight loss. I’ll just leave it with Fair Winds, Soldier. You made it.
As sad as it is, he lived his final days as a Soldier and died as a Soldier. Knowing what I know about heat-related illness (including personal experience–common in my line of work), I have to say that his condition indicates that when he probably should have quit the march, he chose to suck it up and keep going instead. Whatever else may or may not be said about this lad, he was clearly not a quitter.
It’s a shame that his body wasn’t as strong as his spirit. God rest this young man.
He enlisted and fell in the line of duty.
You don’t have to be a door kicker or an operator to be my Brother, just do your job and never quit
Losing ALL that weight HAS to have a serious affect on the body, even damaging to the body,no?
Sad to hear his family’s loss.
My thoughts are the same. Prayers and condolences to his family, RIP to this young trooper, and a shame that he was taken at such a young age.
Some of the comments on the Army Times post say the heat/humidity index for Campbell during that period has been off the charts. I spent time at Campbell during the summer months and know it can be brutal at times.
R.I.P. Young Warrior, you were taken from us far too soon.
Sad.
Rest in peace young Infantryman.
My condolences to his family.
Thought I’d posted this earlier, but I must have inadvertently dumped it.
Your did your duty, PVT Swain; that’s more than most can say. Rest now in peace, and may God comfort your surviving family and friends.
God bless him and his family.
Will his wings be awarded posthumously, as a courtesy to the family?
As Jonn so aptly reminds us; training for war is a dangerous business. RIP, trooper, and prayers to your family and friends.
Heat stroke will get you every time. It sneaks up on the victim and flattens him.
Unfortunately, it got a dedicated young man whose life ended far too soon.
Bring peace to this brave young mans family, as God pins his Air Assault wings on him!
RIP
That’s a really sad story. I sometimes think why do the good die young and BERNATH who will be in court in a few hours, is alive making people miserable. If only I had the power, I’d zap him and bring the young man back.
I once read somewhere that God in his wisdom takes the good ones out of the world so they no longer have to deal with trials and temptations, and leaves the bad ones to give them extra time to repent of their sins.
If that’s true, I’ll probably live to be 150.
RIP young trooper.
You were every bit a true soldier.
May God console his family and friends.
Another example with a story and a face of ‘If you didn’t earn it don’t wear it’.
See you on the DZ Pvt. Swain.
His Family should be very proud – he stepped up and volunteered for combat duty and that puts him in the top fraction of the top 1% today.