Posted on: Thursday, April 18, 2002

Service set for grenade fatality; three injured soldiers recovering

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

The last of three soldiers injured when a grenade exploded during a Schofield Barracks training accident was released from the hospital yesterday.

One soldier was killed in the Sunday night accident.

Pvt. Adam Newton, 20, was discharged from Tripler Army Medical Center at about 4 p.m. yesterday. The prognosis for full recovery of the three injured soldiers is excellent, said Maj. Darrel Dodson, 25th Infantry Division (Light) surgeon.

The Army is conducting two investigations into the accident. The U.S. Army Safety Center and Col. Raymond Mason, commander of Division Support Command, are performing the investigations.

"We will work closely with the safety team to do a careful, complete investigation," said Col. John C. Woods, assistant division commander for operations with the 25th Infantry Division (Light) and U.S. Army Hawai'i.

"The purpose of this investigation is to share our experience with the rest of the Army in the hope of preventing future accidents of this nature."

Spc. David G. Rubic, 22, of San Diego, was killed and Capt. Mark C. Houston, 29, Lt. Col. Thomas P. Guthrie, 39, and Newton were injured when a fragmentation grenade detonated during a trench-clearing exercise at Kole Kole Range Five at Schofield Barracks. Rubic died Sunday night at The Queen's Medical Center.

A memorial ceremony for Rubic is scheduled tomorrow at 1 p.m. at the Schofield Barracks main post chapel.