Posted on: Wednesday, April 17, 2002

Two injured soldiers leave hospital

By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer

Two of three soldiers injured in a fatal Schofield Barracks training accident Sunday have been released from the hospital.

Spc. David G. Rubic, 22, of San Diego was killed when a fragmentation grenade detonated during a trench-clearing exercise at Kole Kole Range Five at Schofield Barracks.

Capt. Mark C. Houston, 29, was discharged yesterday from Tripler Army Medical Center, Army officials said.

Lt. Col. Thomas P. Guthrie, 39, was released from Tripler Monday evening. Pvt. Adam Newton, 20, remained in stable condition yesterday.

Rubic died Sunday night at The Queen's Medical Center. Plans for a memorial service are pending.

The cause of the accident is being investigated by Col. Raymond Mason, commander of Division Support Command, and a team from the U.S. Army Safety Center at Fort Rucker, Ala. Safety center officials began their investigation yesterday.

"Our focus now is on ensuring that ... the lessons learned from this accident can prevent such tragedies from happening again," said Col. John C. Woods, assistant division commander for operations with the 25th Infantry Division (Light) and U.S. Army Hawai'i.

Capt. Stacy Bathrick, spokeswoman for the 25th Division, said Houston was serving as the range safety officer for the exercise, and Guthrie was "external evaluator."