Soldier Dies Following Boxing Match

[SlightlyCatholic]

CAMP RED CLOUD, South Korea -- A 2nd Infantry Division soldier died Saturday night following an on-post boxing tournament at Camp Casey.

Pfc. Jason Price, 21, was pronounced dead at 10:40 p.m. at the 121st Combat Support Hospital at Yongsan Garrison.

Price, of 2nd Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, Company C, fought Saturday at the Area I boxing championship tournament, sponsored by Family Morale, Welfare and Recreation, according to division officials.

Out of "abundant caution," 2nd ID personnel won't be participating in any further boxing tournaments pending the investigation of Price's death, said 2nd ID spokesman Maj. Vince Mitchell.

Typically, winners of Area I sports tournaments move on to 8th Army boxing championships and beyond.

MWR is reviewing its procedures but will wait for a final report before making a decision on whether to host further tournaments, a U.S. Forces Korea spokesman said Monday.

At 8:40 p.m., Price was rushed from the Hanson Field House to the Camp Casey Troop Medical Clinic and then airlifted to the hospital.

"We are deeply saddened by the death of Pfc. Price, and offer our sincere condolences to his family and friends," said Mitchell. "This outstanding warrior and his unselfish service to the 2nd Infantry Division will be truly missed."

Price, a native of Chester, W.Va., was wearing headgear during the fight, Mitchell said.

All boxers participating in the tournament were scheduled to have a medical exam and weigh-in earlier in the day. Mitchell said he could not release further details of the fight pending investigation of Price's death and an autopsy by the Armed Forces Medical Examiner.

A memorial will be held for Price, although details remained pending Monday.


Can you say "court martial?"

Link at: http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,176446,00.html

[ang1sgt]

Why would there be a Court Martial in a case like this? Unless there is proof that something was wrong with the equipment or someone drug the young man, what is there to Court Martial? It was an accidental death during an On Post Boxing match put on by the base MWR.

[SlightlyCatholic]

Why would there be a Court Martial in a case like this? Unless there is proof that something was wrong with the equipment or someone drug the young man, what is there to Court Martial? It was an accidental death during an On Post Boxing match put on by the base MWR.

Most of the time when there's a death like this it seems like the blame always needs to be pinned on someone. The guy who set it up, the referee who let the other guy throw that extra punch, etc. If I've assumed wrongly, fogive my ignorance. Most of the time, these accidents don't go without at least one head rolling.

[PhilK]

Once the cause of death is completed, and if a pre-existing health condition is ruled out, then an investigation will be conducted.

Actually two investigations will be conducted, one will be from the safety side of the house since this was a Class A accident (loss of life), the other will be a command investigation see if all proper procedures were in place and precautions were taken.

Only if there is negligance found during command investigation, will charges (whether it is an Article 15 or Court Martial) be brought. Nothing found in the safety investigation can be used in the command investigation. (I knew that Safety Officer Course I took would come in handy someday.)

[Spider]

I doubt there will be any courts martial. Even in amateur boxing people can end up dead regardless of the rules and regulations being properly observed, it can be a dangerous sport.

[SlightlyCatholic]

Once the cause of death is completed, and if a pre-existing health condition is ruled out, then an investigation will be conducted.

Actually two investigations will be conducted, one will be from the safety side of the house since this was a Class A accident (loss of life), the other will be a command investigation see if all proper procedures were in place and precautions were taken.

Only if there is negligance found during command investigation, will charges (whether it is an Article 15 or Court Martial) be brought. Nothing found in the safety investigation can be used in the command investigation. (I knew that Safety Officer Course I took would come in handy someday.)

Phil, who would do the investigation? Would it be in house, or would someone like the IG send a representative?

[PhilK]

Phil, who would do the investigation? Would it be in house, or would someone like the IG send a representative?

It would most likely be someone within the Division, but not from the Soldier's Battalion. I would expect some unlucky staff officer would get the call.

[SlightlyCatholic]

Price, a native of Chester, W.Va., was wearing headgear during the fight, Mitchell said.

I'm wondering if this guy didn't have some kind of underlying medical condition that he didn't tell anybody about. He'd have to get hit awfully hard in the head to have it go through the headgear and cause trauma. In any case, I'm sure the family will want answers.

[Woody]

Not that hard actually to do damage to brain .Boxing is very dangerous in that respect .Though may well have some underlying condition that made him more vulnerable than the next guy to punches to the head .Gloves and head gear dont actually offer that much protection .There is a train of thought that suggests going back to bare knuckle boxing as an unprotected fist cant do as much damage as a gloved one .
Investigation yes cant see charges being brought unless someone is found to be liable .

[FeelinFroggy]

He'd have to get hit awfully hard in the head to have it go through the headgear and cause trauma. Not necessarily. The accumulation of punches a boxer recieves throughout a match is more than enough to cause the brain to move inside the skull enough to cause serious damage or death(damaged blood vessels, rupturing of veins that lead to cranial pressure, blood clots etc.), with our without headgear. Also, one perfectly placed punch can turn the lights out for good.

[StarLifter]

Not to mention there's also the possibility of a previously undetected aneurism bursting, or a dormant clot coming loose and finding its way to a critical area. There are many ways that even 'soft' blows to the head can be fatal.