US soldier killed in Afghanistan
Staff Sgt. Matthew V. Thompson, 28, of Irvine, California, is killed during an anti-Taliban operation near Lashkar Gah, the capital of the southern Afghan province of Helmand. The Army Green Beret was on a foot patrol with other American troops advising Afghan special operations forces where the Taliban have engaged in heavy combat. Thompson is killed by a bomb blast that leaves another American service member and six Afghan soldiers injured.
Megan Park dies
Park dies while undergoing initial training at Pirbright army camp. She collapsed while taking part in physical exercise believed to have been a mile-long run or march. The run was against the clock and not what is referred to as “a beasting” which is an informal punishment exercise. The Army has said the incident is being investigated and it has no further comment at this time:
We offer our condolences to the family and ask that you respect their privacy while they come to terms with their sudden loss. She would have been on phase one training.
Family statement:
It is with deepest regret that we must announce that Megan has sadly passed on, doing the thing she loved. Ever since Megan was at school, she always wanted to be in the armed forces. Everybody who knew Megan was aware of this.