The Indiana National Guard has released the identity of a soldier who was killed in a training accident at roughly 10 p.m. on Thursday night.
Staff Sgt. Andrew Michael St. John, 29, was on orders as an embedded observer controller and trainer with Army National Guard Operations Group Wolf when he was killed in a tactical vehicle accident at Fort Hood, Texas.
St. John, of Greenwood, Indiana, served as an infantryman with Company B, 1st Battalion, 151st Infantry Regiment, Indiana Army National Guard, the Guard said in a press release.
“For those who knew and worked with Staff Sgt. St. John, he was respected and admired for his great love for his country and family,” battalion commander Lt. Col. Chad Pittman said in a statement.
“He continually sought ways to ensure the success of subordinates, better himself as leader, and contribute to the achievements the organization," Pittman added. "My deepest sympathy for his family at this sad and difficult time.”
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The cause of his death is under investigation and no further details are available at this time, officials said in the release.
The incident will be investigated by the Army Combat Readiness Center at Fort Rucker, Alabama, according to base officials.
The soldiers of the Operations Group Wolf, which St. John was serving with at the time, provide full-spectrum ops training for requesting units. The soldiers with the group assist brigade combat teams in platoon-level training.
St. John previously deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, two Army Achievement Medals, the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the NATO Medal and Indiana Military Volunteer Emblem.
St. John was a proud father and husband.
Kyle Rempfer was an editor and reporter who has covered combat operations, criminal cases, foreign military assistance and training accidents. Before entering journalism, Kyle served in U.S. Air Force Special Tactics and deployed in 2014 to Paktika Province, Afghanistan, and Baghdad, Iraq.
