Spc. Joseph M. Meitl Jr. was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, based out of Fort Hood, Texas. He died during a training exercise Thursday, March 10, 2022, at Fort Irwin, California. US Army photos. Composite by Coffee or Die Magazine.
A 23-year-old soldier with the 1st Cavalry Division died during a training incident Thursday, March 10, at Fort Irwin, California, according to the Army.
Spc. Joseph M. Meitl Jr. joined the Army in May 2020 and was serving as an armored cannon crew member assigned to 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, based out of Fort Hood, Texas. Meitl was participating in the Brigade’s collective training last week at Fort Irwin’s National Training Center.
The Army did not specify how Meitl died but wrote in a press release that the incident was under investigation.
“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,” wrote Lt. Col. Christopher Carpenter, commander, 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment. “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.”
Fort Irwin is located in the Mojave Desert, midway between Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
There have been other deadly training accidents at the base in recent years. In 2019, a soldier died when his Bradley Fighting Vehicle rolled off a cliff at the National Training Center. And in March 2020, one soldier died and another was hurt in a HMMWV crash at the training center.
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Hannah Ray Lambert is a former staff writer for Coffee or Die who previously covered everything from murder trials to high school trap shooting teams. She spent several months getting tear gassed during the 2020-2021 civil unrest in Portland, Oregon. When she’s not working, Hannah enjoys hiking, reading, and talking about authors and books on her podcast Between Lewis and Lovecraft.
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