In this picture taken Sept. 28, 2009, U.S. Army soldiers from 4th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery Regiment, based at Fort Drum, N.Y., patrol in the Jalrez Valley in Afghanistan's Wardak Province. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)
VB soldier injured in Ft. Pickett blast
Updated: Thursday, 19 Nov 2009, 3:52 PM EST
Published : Wednesday, 18 Nov 2009, 11:46 PM EST
BLACKSTONE, Va. (AP) - Thirteen Virginia National Guard soldiers sent to hospitals after a training device exploded at Fort Pickett are back on duty.
Maj. Cotton Puryear says a Virginia Beach-based soldier closest to the blast remains hospitalized with second-degree burns and small lacerations to her hand. The soldier, who wasn't identified, was in stable condition Thursday and is expected to make a full recovery. She is assigned to the Virginia Beach-based 329th Regional Support Group.
Puryear says a small pyrotechnic device used for training exploded Wednesday night in a building while soldiers were inventorying training materials. The device simulates the sound of explosions.
The other soldiers were sent to hospitals in the region as a precaution. They were treated and released.
The 329th Regional Support Group has been at Fort Pickett conducting annual training since Nov. 2. The unit’s scheduled training is mostly complete and is scheduled to conduct preparations for movement back to their home stations on Saturday.
Email This
Print This
View Story on a Single PageAdvertisement
Advertisement