Land

Reports: Texas National Guard Soldier Missing After Trying To Save Migrants in Rio Grande

April 22, 2022Hannah Ray Lambert
Texas soldier border

A soldier from the 36th Infantry Division, Texas Army National Guard, observes a section of the Rio Grande River at sunset Sept. 11, 2014. US Army photo by Maj. Randall Stillinger.

A Texas Army National Guard soldier disappeared along the Rio Grande during a “mission related incident” Friday, April 22, the Texas Military Department has confirmed.


The soldier, assigned to Operation Lone Star, has not been found, according to a statement from the TMD. Fox News first reported the incident, saying the soldier had drowned while attempting to rescue migrants, but the TMD called reports of a fatality “inaccurate.”


“The Texas Military Department, Texas DPS and Border Patrol are working rapidly to find the Soldier,” the statement from the TMD reads. “More details will be released as they become available.”


The incident happened near Eagle Pass, Texas, which is about 55 miles south of Del Rio.


Lt. Christopher Olivarez of the Texas Department of Public Safety told the Washington Post the Guard soldier was carried away by the current during the rescue attempt. Texas DPS declined to comment on the incident when contacted by Coffee or Die Magazine




This is a breaking news story and will be updated as Coffee or Die Magazine learns more.


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Hannah Ray Lambert
Hannah Ray Lambert

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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