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thedrifter
02-12-09, 07:20 AM
Corpsman death under investigation
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February 11, 2009 - 10:58 AM
JENNIFER HLAD

The Marine Corps is investigating how a Navy corpsman on duty at Stone Bay shooting range was fatally wounded Monday.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Andrew J. King, 29, of Black Forrest, Colo., was injured at Stone Bay and flown to the Camp Lejeune Naval Hospital, where he was declared dead, said Marine spokeswoman Gunnery Sgt. Brenda Varnadore.

Marines initially said the wound appeared to have been caused by a bullet ricochet, but stressed the cause of death had not been determined. A press release from II Marine Expeditionary Force, King's unit, said he died "during training at Camp Lejeune."

"Despite any initial accounts, it is still unclear if this fatality was caused by a ricochet," Varnadore said. "The cause of death is still under investigation."

Marine Corps Installations East has convened a Safety Investigation Board to examine the incident, at the direction of Marine Corps Force Command in Norfolk, Va., Varnadore said.

King was assigned to II MEF Headquarters Group, said II MEF spokesman Master Sgt. Matthew Sewell. King joined the Navy in October 1996.

King's awards include three Armed Forces Expeditionary medals, three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medals with Combat V, the Presidential Unit Citation, National Defense Service Medal, three Good Conduct medals, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, four Sea Service Deployment ribbons and the Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon.



Crime reporter Lindell Kay contributed to this report. Contact interactive content editor and military reporter Jennifer Hlad at jhlad@freedomenc.com or 910-219-8467.

Ellie

thedrifter
02-13-09, 08:20 AM
Springs native's death probed
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February 12, 2009 - 5:26 PM
CARLYN RAY MITCHELL
THE GAZETTE

The Marine Corps is looking into how a Navy medic from Colorado Springs was fatally injured Monday at a shooting range at a Marine base in North Carolina.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Andrew J. King, 30, was injured at Stone Bay and flown to the Camp Lejeune Naval Hospital, where he was declared dead, said Marine spokeswoman Gunnery Sgt. Brenda Varnadore, according to the Jacksonville (N.C.) Daily News.

Marines initially said the death appeared to have been caused by a bullet ricochet, but stressed the cause of death had not been determined. A news release from 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force said he died during training at Camp Lejeune.

"Despite any initial accounts, it is still unclear if this fatality was caused by a ricochet," the Daily News quoted Varnadore as saying. "The cause of death is still under investigation."

King, described in his obituary as a longtime Colorado Springs resident, is survived by his wife, Carrie King, and their son.

The family declined to be contacted, a funeral home representative said.

According to King's obituary, he was born at the Navy hospital in Guam.

After graduating from Hilltop Baptist High School in Colorado Springs, King joined the Navy.

"He was always the first person to help in any situation and used his expertise in the medical field to care for others," reads his obituary. "He was known for giving everything in his life a full, 100 percent, from his pride in serving his county, to his love for Carrie and their son."

According to the Daily News, Marine Corps Installations East has convened a board to examine King's death, at the direction of Marine Corps Forces Command in Norfolk, Va., Varnadore said.

King was assigned to the Marine unit's headquarters, said spokesman Master Sgt. Matthew Sewell.

King's awards include three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medals with Combat V and three Good Conduct medals.

Visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m. Tuesday at Shrine of Remembrance "America the Beautiful" Chapel, 1730 E. Fountain Blvd. The funeral will follow.

Ellie