Flooding Causes Accident that Claims Three Soldiers, Six Still Missing

By Debbie Gregory.

Our sincerest condolences go out to the families and friends of the three soldiers tragically killed on June 2^nd , when their Light Medium Tactical Vehicle was washed from a low-water crossing and overturned. Three soldiers were rescued, but six soldiers remain unaccounted for. Army aircraft, canine search teams, swift-water rescue watercraft and heavy trucks are taking part in the rescue mission.

“The search is ongoing for six soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division,” Fort Hood officials said in a statement.

Fort Hood spokesman John Miller said the low-water crossing of the creek was flooded by two days of heavy rains.

The storm system that moved through the Houston-area Wednesday night and Thursday morning dropped some eight inches of rain, causing flooding

Currently, close to half of the state of Texas is under flood watches or warnings, in some neighborhoods.

The river reached 54.8 feet in Fort Bend County — 4 feet higher than the record set in 1994 — with water spilling into neighborhoods that hadn’t previously flooded. Officials say levels in the Brazos have not dropped much and additional rainfall could make the flooding worse.

Depending on how much rain falls, the Brazos River could even rise to up to 56 feet, said Fort Bend County Judge Robert Hebert.

The names of the deceased soldiers will be withheld pending notification of their next of kin, the military said.

Built in 1942 and named after the Confederate General John Bell Hood, Fort Hood is the largest active-duty Army base in the US. It is located halfway between Austin and Waco, Texas.

Military Connection salutes and proudly serves veterans and service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve,  and their families.