Below are the names of service members who volunteered to serve our country and died at the beginning of their military careers. This list represents all branches of the United States Military, from the time they are interacting with a military recruiter, to recruit training/officer training, to their first military school. Each one of these service members has a story and each one deserves to be heard. For more information, please contact us.
Estanley Cabrera
Branch: Army
Rank: Private
Age: 24
From: New York, New York
D.O.B:
D.O.D: March 3, 2022
Location: Fort Sill
Cause of Death:
He began showing signs of distress following an introductory exercise called “Hellcat 100,”
Initially conscious and semi-responsive but unstable on his feet, Cabrera then lost consciousness while the battery drill sergeants performed heat casualty protocols, the report stated.
Branch: Army (Air Force Veteran: re-enlisted)
Rank: Private
D.O.B: Unknown
D.O.D: September 13, 2020
Location: Columbia, South Carolina
Cause of Death: found dead in barracks
Branch: Marine Corps
Rank: Private First Class
Age: 19
From: Orange, New York
D.O.B:
D.O.D: April 15, 2020
Location: Twentynine Palms, CA
Status: Dead
Cause of Death: died April 15 after collapsing during fitness training aboard the Twentynine Palms, California, Marine base
Branch: Navy
Rank: Midshipman 1st Class, Senior
Age: 22
From: Walkersville, Maryland
D.O.B: May 15, 1997
D.O.D: February 20, 2020
Location: U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis
Status: Dead, would have graduated May 22
Cause of Death: died after being found unresponsive in Bancroft Hall. The cause of death is being investigated
Branch: Navy
Rank: Midshipman 3rd Class, Sophomore
Age: 21
From: Flower Mound Texas
D.O.B:
D.O.D: Feb 8, 2020 Saturday
Location: U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis
Status: Dead
Cause of Death: collapsed during a 1.5-mile physical readiness test that the academy does semiannually, Dilated Cardiomyopathy
One of the represented families
Branch: Army
Rank: Private
Age: 22
From: Jacksonville, Florida
D.O.B: January 14, 1997
D.O.D: January 22, 2019; Fort Benning
Status: Dead
Cause of Death: Multiple heart attacks due to sepsis
Branch: Army
Rank: Private
Age: 22
From: Geneva, Illinois
D.O.B: July 2, 1996
D.O.D: January 13, 2019; Fort Benning
Status: Dead
Cause of Death:
Branch: Navy
Rank: Private/Seaman Recruit
Age: 20
From: Monroe, Louisiana
D.O.B: October 18, 1998
D.O.D: February 22, 2019; Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Illinois
Status: Dead
Enlisted Jan 2, 2019
Cause of Death: Collapsed while running; taken to Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital and resuscitated but died later that night while in intensive care; Sickle Cell Disease; died due to exertional rhabdomyolysis, or the breakdown of muscle brought on by extreme exertion
One of our represented families
Branch: Navy
Rank: Private/ Seaman Recruit
Age: 18
From: Mobile, Alabama
D.O.B: July 30, 2000
D.O.D: April 23, 2019
Status: Dead
Enlisted March 6, 2019
Cause of Death: collapsed while running her final physical test on a track in a Great Lakes gymnasium; sickle cell, an irregular heartbeat caused by an inflamed heart
Branch: Marine
Rank: Recruit/Poole (4 days)
Age: 18 at Incident
From: Michigan
D.O.B: December 17, 1997
D.O.D: August 7, 2019
Location: Detroit Receiving Hospital in Detroit, Michigan
Status: Coma (Oct 28, 2016)
Cause of Death: jumping from the second story of a building at Parris Island on Oct. 28; On Oct. 28, Gashaj was being escorted to a classroom to join the rest of his platoon when he "stopped abruptly, squared himself to the open balcony, grabbed the handrail on top of the balcony's balustrade with both hands … and propelled himself over the railing in one fluid motion
One of our represented families
Branch: Marine Corps
Rank: Poole; Delayed Entry Program
Age: 18
From: Montgomery County, Maryland
D.O.B: April 1, 2001
D.O.D: August 23, 2019
Location: Frederick Memorial Hospital; Frederick Recruit Training Facility
Status: Dead
Cause of Death: medical emergency after a training
Branch: Hawaii National Guard/U.S Army
Rank: Private
Age: 19
From: Waianae, Hawaii
D.O.B:
D.O.D: August 26, 2019;
Location: Fort Sill, Oklahoma
Status: Dead
Cause of Death: Possible Heat Stroke
Branch: North Carolina National Guard/
U.S. Army
Rank: Private
Age: 18
From: Fayetteville, North Carolina
D.O.B: January 6, 2001
D.O.D: September 20, 2019; Fort Jackson (33 days in)
Location: Providence Health Center, South Carolina; Fort Jackson, South Carolina
Status: Dead
Cause of Death: Medical Emergency before outdoor physical training drill
One of our represented families
Branch: Marine Corps
Rank: Private First Class
Age: 18
From: Falmouth, Massachusetts
D.O.B: August 23, 1999
D.O.D: February 5, 2018, Desert Regional Medical Hospital (Palm Springs)
Location: Twentynine Palms
Status: Dead
Cause of Death: Strep A, Flesh Eating bacteria
One of our represented families
Branch: Marine Corps
Rank: Private (Recruit)
Age: 21
From: Oxnard, California
D.O.B: February 15, 1997
D.O.D: March 25, 2018, MCRD San Diego/ Navy Medical Hospital
Location: MCRD San Diego
Status: Dead
Cause of Death: Rhinovirus and Metapneumovirus
Cardiac Arrest; Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome; Cardiogenic Shock; Anoxic Brain Injury; Collapsed during run then was found unresponsive during run; threw up multiple times throughout week
Branch: Navy
Rank: Fire Controlman Seaman (Recruit)
Age: 24
From: Toledo, Ohio
D.O.B: June 2, 1994
D.O.D: October 9, 2018
Location: Naval Station Great Lakes, Illionios
Status: Dead
Cause of Death: TBD/Found unresponsive in bunk
*Captain in charge of Training was relieved; Mark Meiskham
Branch: Marine Corps
Rank: Recruit/ Private
Age: 20
From: Taylor, Michigan
D.O.B:
D.O.D: March 2016 (11 days after arriving)
Location: Parris Island
Status: Dead/ Ruled a suicide by USMC Cause of Death: Fell three stories; On the day he died, Siddiqui had a standoff with a drill instructor over failure to comply with orders; Siddiqui then got to his feet, ran the length of the squad bay, opened a door to the outside and vaulted over a stairwell railing, military investigators said.His foot caught on the railing as he went over, and Siddiqui fell three stories onto the concrete. He later died from his injuries
Branch: Air Force
Rank: Airman 1st Class
Age: 21
From: Livermore, California
D.O.B: February 13, 1995
D.O.D: July 07, 2016
Location: Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Selection School, Camp Bullis
Status: Dead
Cause of Death: Found Unresponsive; heatstroke, hyponatremia, described as "low plasma sodium".
One of our represented families
Branch: Marine Corps
Rank: Recruit/Private
Age: 18
From: Alabama
D.O.B: December 29, 1997
D.O.D: November 4, 2016
Location: Parris Island, South Carolina
Status: Dead
Cause of Death: died of complications from pneumonia.
Branch: Air Force
Rank: Cadet 1st Class
Age: 21
From: Colorado Springs, Colorado
D.O.B: May 24, 1993
D.O.D: April 2, 2015
Location: AF Academy
Status: Dead
Cause of Death: Had wisdom teeth taken out then was found with 28 stabs/cuts later that day (self-inflicted). Pronounced dead at the scene. Coroner ruled suicide
Branch: Navy
Rank: Recruit
Age: 20
From: Sarasota, Florida
D.O.B: October 12, 1994
D.O.D: December 1, 2015, supposed to graduate December 5
Location: Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois
Status: Dead
Cause of Death: severe cardiac arrest, undiagnosed heart condition (dilated cardiomyopathy), CPR was not administered (took 10 min), just been through Battle Stations, heart malady
Branch: North Dakota National Guard/
U.S. Army
Rank: PVT
Age: 19
From: Bismarck, North Dakota
D.O.B: July 7, 1995
D.O.D: September 27, 2014
Location: Fort Lee, VA
Status: Dead
Cause of Death: Found unresponsive in her sleep on Saturday at Fort Lee where she was attending Advanced Individual Training (AIT)
Branch: Navy
Rank: Seaman Recruit
Age: 19
From: Kittanning, Pennsylvania
D.O.B:
D.O.D: January 11, 2012
Location: Great Lakes Naval Station
Status: Dead
Cause of Death: The incident took place during a standard physical fitness assessment at RTC; died during a 1.5 run
Branch: Navy
Rank: Recruit
Age: 19
From: Zimmerman, Minnesota
D.O.B:
D.O.D: January 31, 2012
Location: Great Lakes Naval Base
Status: Dead
Cause of Death: complications due to pneumonia; arrived at the base Jan. 30, and 10 days later went to the nearby Lovell Federal Health Care Center with a fever and a rapid heartbeat
Branch: Marine Corps
Rank: Recruit/ Army Reserve Specialist
Age: 22
From: Sacramento, California
D.O.B: March 6, 1990
D.O.D: June 29, 2012
Location: MCRD San Diego (Arrived June 19)
Status: Dead
Cause of Death: had just completed the run portion of the initial strength test at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot when he collapsed Friday
Branch: Marine Corps
Rank: Private/ Recruit
Age: 19
From: Mobile, Atlanta
D.O.B: June 3, 1991
D.O.D: February 5, 2011
Location: Parris Island, South Carolina; Medical University of South Carolina
Status: Dead
Cause of Death: a suspected case of meningitis
Branch: Air Force
Rank: Airman Basic
Age: 22
From: Carlyle, Illinois
D.O.B: February 25, 1989
D.O.D: June 22, 2011
Location: Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland
Status: Dead (declined autopsy)
Cause of Death: acute respiratory illness; viral encephalitis caused by an adenovirus; Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain
Branch: Navy
Rank: Seaman
Age: 22
From: Hicksville, New York
D.O.B: April 30, 1987
D.O.D: February 1, 2010
Location: Great Lakes Naval Base
Status: Dead
Cause of Death: parents believed it was murder; found hanging by a belt in the closet of his room; cause of death was ruled asphyxia by hanging; had recently been the witness in the rape trial of a friend and fellow seaman
Branch: Army
Rank: Private
Age: 18
From: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
D.O.B: March 29, 1991
D.O.D: August 20, 2009
Location: Fort Jackson; Palmetto Health Richland Memorial Hospital
Status: Dead
Cause of Death: combination of heat and tough military training then he fell out the back of truck that had picked him up; significant injuries and head injuries; body temp was at 106 degree an hour after being admitted to the hospital
Branch: Army
Rank: Private
Age: 19
From: North Carolina
D.O.B: January 20,1989
D.O.D: September 25, 2008
Location: Fort Jackson, South Carolina
Status: Dead
Cause of Death: She suffered a seizure Sept. 25; "As Pvt. Dominique Gibson-Brooks readied for an early morning road march, she collapsed on the barracks floor. By sunrise, she was dead."
Article 1
Branch: Army
Rank: Private
Age: 20
From: Chesapeake, Chesapeake City, Virginia
D.O.B: August 23, 1988
D.O.D: September 27, 2008
Location: Fort Jackson, South Carolina
Status: Dead
Cause of Death: brain hemorrhage. He underwent surgery to relieve pressure, but was taken off life support after his condition declined and he had cardiac arrest
Branch: Army
Rank: Private
Age: 21
From: Raleigh, North Carolina
D.O.B: February 16, 1987
D.O.D: October 25, 2008, supposed to graduate Oct 31
Location: Fort Jackson, South Carolina
Status: Dead
Cause of Death: She died shortly after collapsing while taking the Army's physical fitness test. It was also her son's first birthday
Branch: Air Force
Rank: Airman
Age:19
From: Norton, Ohio
D.O.B: November 3, 1988
D.O.D: August 7, 2007
Location: Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland
Status: Dead
Cause of Death: complications from pneumonia
Branch: Marine Corps
Rank: Recruit/Private First Class
Age: 18
From: Brunswick, Maine
D.O.B: November 12, 1987
D.O.D: September 9, 2006
Location: Parris Island, South Carolina
Status: Dead
Cause of Death: suffered a medical problem during Saturday morning’s test and died on the way to the hospital
Branch: Air Force
Rank: Cadet 4th Class
Age: 18
From: Chatham, New Jersey
D.O.B:
D.O.D: January 31, 2005
Location: Air Force Academy
Status: Dead
Cause of Death: Collapsed after a 600yd run for Physical Fitness Test; Cardiac Arrhythmia; Defibrillator was misconfigured and resulted in confusion
Branch: Navy Academy
Rank: midshipman 2nd class
Age: 21
From: Destrehan, LA
D.O.B:
D.O.D: April 9, 2005
Location: Naval Academy, Bancroft hall
Status: dead
Cause of Death: fell to death from a campus dorm
“Midshipman 2d Class Jay Michael Dixon apparently fell to his death from a campus dormitory at the Naval Academy. 9 April 2005.”
Branch: Marine Corps
Rank: Recruit
Age: 21
From: Aurora, Illinois
D.O.B:
D.O.D: October 21, 2005
Location: MCRD San Diego/Pendleton
Status: Dead
Cause of Death: Collapsed during 1.5 mile run
Branch: Air Force
Rank: Basic Trainee
Age: 19
From: Danville, Ohio
D.O.B: May 22, 1986
D.O.D: October 29, 2005 (four days in)
Location: Lackland Air Force Base, Texas (arrived Oct 25)
Status: Dead
Cause of Death: collapsed during physical training; a rare, pre-existing heart condition known as cardiac arrhythmia secondary to the right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia -- a condition that occurs when the muscle of the right ventricle is replaced by fat and fibrosis; collapsed during the second lap of a scheduled six-lap run designed to assess his physical readiness.
Branch: Marine Corps
Rank: Private
Age: 18
From: Bronx, New York
D.O.B:
D.O.D: November 18, 2004 (57th day)
Location: Parris Island, SC
Status: Dead
Cause of Death: Found dead in his sleeping bag, A microscopic infection that moved to his heart, after being diagnosed and treated for pneumonia the month before.; died in his sleep during the last leg of the grueling Crucible; treated a month before for pneumonia; he suffered a microscopic infection that weakened his heart muscle
Branch: Army
Rank: Private
Age: Unkwn
From: Unkwn
D.O.B:
D.O.D: 2003 (connection is Dale Patterson)
Location: Fort Sill, OK
Status: Dead
Cause of Death: Adenovirus.
While PVT Dale Patterson’s military autopsy was inconclusive, Fitzgerald’s autopsy, overseen by civilian doctors because he died at a hospital off-base, identified what killed him.
Branch: Marine Corps
Rank: Recruit
Age:
From:
D.O.B:
D.O.D: March 8, 2002
Location: Parris Island
Status: TBD
Cause of Death: “Recruit collapsed while marching with his platoon. Three Parris Island drill instructors might have taken training too far, leading to the collapse of a recruit. Recruit was taken to a battalion aid station, where he became unconscious, lapsed into a coma, and was transferred to a local hospital and subsequently moved to Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston”
Branch: Army
Rank: Private
Age: 25
From: Tucson, AZ
D.O.B:
D.O.D: November 4, 2003
Location: Fort Sill, OK
Status: Dead
Cause of Death: Autopsy was inconclusive / lost consciousness less than a mile into a required run and collapsed; an college runner in his third week of boot camp, was declared dead
Branch: Navy
Rank: Seaman Recruit
Age:
From:
D.O.B:
D.O.D: April 16, 2002
Location: Naval Station Great Lakes
Status: Dead
Cause of Death: collapsed and died while performing physical training
“Seaman recruit collapsed and died while performing physical training at Naval Station Great Lakes. 16 April 2002.”
Branch: Air Force
Rank: Airmen
Age:
From:
D.O.B:
D.O.D: May 17 2002 ( possible May 24, 2002)
Location: Lackland AFB pronounced dead at Wilford Hall Medical Center at 10:10 a.m.
Status: pronounced dead at Wilford Hall Medical Center at 10:10 a.m
Cause of Death: died during a training exercise; collapsed during “Warrior Week”
Branch: Marine Corps
Rank: Recruit/Private
Age: 19
From: Kenosha, Wisconsin
D.O.B: September 17, 1983
D.O.D: December 13, 2002
Location: MCRD, San Diego (27th day) (Same company as Neal)
Status: Dead
Cause of Death: died after advanced swimming exercises of pulmonary edema, or fluid in the lungs
Branch: Marine Corps
Rank: Recruit/Private
Age: 18
From: Greenfield, California
D.O.B:
D.O.D: December 15, 2002
Location: MCRD, San Diego (23 days)
Status: Dead
Cause of Death: Strep A; a meningococcal bacteria infection- “complained of an ankle rash and died 3hrs later” Zavala was 23 days into his 63-day training.
“About 3,500 recruits and instructors were inoculated Sunday following an outbreak of Strep A. Forty-nine recruits and one drill instructor were hospitalized over the weekend, said Maj. Kimberly Miller, a base spokeswoman. One recruit was in critical condition.
Branch: Marine Corps
Rank: Recruit/ Private First Class
Age: 18
From: Sterling Heights, Michigan
D.O.B: 1983
D.O.D: December 22, 2001
Location: Parris Island
Status: Dead
Cause of Death: he was suffering from a case of bacterial meningitis; administered penicillin (allergic to it)
Branch: Air Force
Rank: Airmen
Age: 20
From: Yigo, Guam
D.O.B:
D.O.D: June 2001
Location: Lackland AFB
Status: Dead
Cause of Death: Two-mile run ; Physicians learned he had high blood pressure and an enlarged heart when he died. An investigation showed that Logans had
hypertension since childhood and had concealed the condition during a military physical.
Branch: Navy
Rank: Seaman Recruit
Age: 18
From: Ainsworth, Nebraska
D.O.B: March 31, 1982
D.O.D: September 18, 2000 (6th week of training)
Location: Great Lakes Naval Station
Status: Dead
Cause of Death: he died of respiratory collapse, which military researchers think might have been caused or furthered by adenovirus
Branch: Navy
Rank: Recruit
Age: 21
From:
D.O.B:
D.O.D: 2000
Location:Naval Station Great Lakes
Status: Dead
Cause of Death: bootcamp virus
Branch: Air Force
Rank: Airman Basic
Age: 18
From: Bernard, Ohio
D.O.B:
D.O.D: September 12, 1999
Location: Lackland AFB
Status: Dead
Cause of Death: Autopsy found he died of heatstroke. The service asserted that water intoxication, a rare and little-understood illness, played a role in his death. Two days after collapsing at the end of a 5.6 mile march.
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