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Army Special Operations Soldier Dies in Nevada Airborne Training Tragedy

Posted By Common Defense On In National Security, News | No Comments

An Army special operations soldier died after suffering injuries during an airborne training event in Nevada, U.S. Army Special Operations Command announced Sunday. The command identified him as Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Frakes, 34, of Savannah, Ga.

Frakes sustained the injuries during the training event on Sept. 22, according to a service news release. The release said he later died from those injuries, linking his death directly to the Nevada airborne training event.

The incident remains under investigation, the command said. No conclusion about the circumstances of the event was announced in the release, leaving the investigation as the official process for examining what occurred.

U.S. Army Special Operations Command disclosed the death and Frakes’ identity in its Sunday announcement. The release focused on his service, the loss felt within the special operations community, and support for those closest to him.

Army Special Operations Soldier Dies in Nevada Airborne Training Tragedy
Image Credit: DoW

Lt. Gen. Lawrence “Gil” Ferguson, commanding general of U.S. Army Special Operations Command, praised Frakes and his military performance. Ferguson described him as a soldier who embodied the strongest qualities associated with the nation’s special operations forces.

“Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Frakes represented the finest qualities of our nation’s special operations forces and performed at the highest echelons of our military,” Ferguson said.

Ferguson also addressed the effect of Frakes’ death across the community and extended condolences to his family, loved ones, and fellow service members. His statement emphasized both the personal loss and the impact felt among special operations personnel.

“The loss of such an exceptional warrior is felt deeply across the Special Operations community,” Ferguson said. “Our deepest condolences, thoughts, and prayers are with his family, loved ones, and teammates during this difficult time.”

The command’s announcement described Frakes as a highly decorated soldier. According to the release, he had received numerous awards and decorations during his Army service, although the source text did not list those honors individually.

The release presented Frakes as a respected member of the special operations community whose performance reached the highest levels of the military. Ferguson’s remarks placed particular emphasis on Frakes’ qualities, service, and standing among those who served alongside him.

Army Special Operations Soldier Dies in Nevada Airborne Training Tragedy
Image Credit: DoW
U.S. Marines with 3d Reconnaissance Battalion, 3d Marine Division and U.S. Army Special Forces Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) provide security for a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System fire mission during Castaway 21.1 on Ie Shima, Okinawa, Japan, March 16, 2021. The exercise demonstrated the Marine Corps’ ability to integrate with the joint force to seize and defend key maritime terrain, provide low-signature sustainment, and execute long-range precision fires in support of naval operations from an expeditionary advanced base. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Scott Aubuchon)

Frakes was from Savannah, Ga., and was 34 at the time of his death. Those details were included as the command publicly identified the soldier lost following the airborne training event in Nevada.

The announcement did not offer a final account of the incident because the matter is currently under investigation. The command’s statement remained limited to Frakes’ identity, the timing and nature of the training event, his injuries, and the tributes offered after his death.

The airborne training event occurred on Sept. 22 in Nevada. The command said Frakes died from injuries sustained during that event, but the release did not announce findings about the precise sequence of events.

Ferguson’s statement served as the command’s formal tribute to Frakes. It highlighted his performance, characterized him as an exceptional warrior, and acknowledged the grief shared by his family, loved ones, teammates, and the broader Special Operations community.

The investigation continues as U.S. Army Special Operations Command mourns a highly decorated soldier it said represented the finest qualities of the nation’s special operations forces. For now, the command’s public account centers on Frakes’ service and the loss carried by those who knew him.

The Sunday announcement closed around the memory of Frakes and the people affected by his death. Its message was clear and solemn: a decorated soldier was lost following a training event, and his family, loved ones, teammates, and community remain in the command’s thoughts and prayers.