Schofield soldier killed in grenade accident

By William Cole and Mike Gordon
Advertiser Staff Writers

A Schofield Barracks soldier killed Sunday night when a grenade exploded during a training exercise has been identified by the Army as Spc. David G. Rubic, 22, of San Diego.

Three other soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry, 3rd Brigade also were wounded when the fragmentation grenade went off during a trench-clearing exercise at Kole Kole Range Five on Schofield Barracks, the Army said.

Battalion commander Lt. Col. Thomas P. Guthrie, 39, of Annapolis, Md.; Capt. Mark C. Houston, 29, of Delmar, N.Y, the commander of A Company; and Pvt. Adam Newton, 20, of Clayton N.Y., were in stable condition yesterday at Tripler Army Medical Center.

Rubic and Newton were assigned to A Company.

The 11:30 p.m. accident occurred when a M67 fragmentation grenade detonated during a platoon live-fire exercise that involved clearing a trench.

Approximately 2.5 inches in diameter and containing about 6.5 ounces of explosives, the grenades are designed to burst into numerous fragments, officials said.

"Our thoughts and our prayers go out to the families at this time," said Col. John C. Woods, assistant division commander for operations of the 25th Infantry Division (Light). "Our focus right now is to ensure that our soldiers are receiving the best medical care possible."

The victims were among 40 soldiers in a platoon training with live ammunition on the Schofield range, said Capt. Stacy Bathrick, spokeswoman for the 25th Division.

The Army yesterday had few details about what caused the accident or who was holding the grenade.

"We don't know why it happened, but we know that for some reason the grenade went off," Bathrick said. "We honestly don't know if he was holding the grenade or not."

Rubic's brother, Phillip, yesterday said that his parents are in Israel, where his father is doing missionary work. The Army notified them of the accident, said Rubic, who lives in San Diego.

Phillip Rubic said his brother joined the Army about 2 1/2 years ago.

"He joined the Army on his own — we really don't know why," the 18-year-old said. "He was planning on getting out this year in October. He wanted to move back with the family and go back to college."

Rubic called his brother "real outgoing — just fun to be with," a member of the track team in high school and in the church choir. He had decided the Army "just wasn't for him" and planned to study computer engineering when he got out.

"We're still trying to figure it out," he said, "because he never threw the grenade. The grenade was always in his hand."

Family members were gathering in San Diego, he said, adding, "We're good right now. Everyone is coming to talk to each other."

The cause of the accident is under investigation by Schofield Barracks authorities. A team also was en route from the Army Safety Center at Fort Rucker, Ala.

"This tragic accident emphasizes that our soldiers train in realistic yet dangerous circumstances," Woods said.

Bathrick said the platoon was preparing for broader training next month in Makua Valley.

"They were conducting trench clearing using live grenades," Bathrick said. "This is a routine exercise for an infantry unit to conduct. The platoon had been conducting training in the field for six days."

An air ambulance helicopter from the 68th Medical Company flew Rubic to The Queen's Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The three other victims were taken by ambulance to Tripler.

The accident occurred almost two years to the day after a soldier with Schofield's 65th Engineer Battalion was killed and four others injured when a mistake was made rigging two explosive devices during training on the Big Island. Two "bangalore torpedoes" exploded on April 12, 2000, killing Spc. Don Falter, 21.

On Feb. 12, 2001, six soldiers were killed and 11 injured when two Black Hawk helicopters collided during a night training exercise over Kahuku in Hawai'i's worst Army training accident.

Another fatal accident occurred March 5, 1996, when engine failure resulted in the crash of an AH-1 Cobra gunship at Schofield Barracks, killing the pilot and co-pilot.

Reach William Cole at wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-5459.