honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, August 24, 2005

Cause of soldier's death may not be revealed

Associated Press

spacer

FORT POLK, La. — The Army won't be able to reveal results of a military autopsy on an Army Reserve officer from Hawai'i who died over the weekend during a training exercise, unless his family approves.

A new federal hospital privacy law applies to the dead as well as the living, and only Maj. Marino Gilmete David's family can approve release of the information, Fort Polk spokeswoman Samantha Bingham said yesterday.

A memorial service to honor David, 47, was held yesterday at the Main Post Chapel at Fort Polk.

David, of Mililani, was an ordnance operator with Headquarters Company, 9th Regional Readiness Command of Honolulu. He was married and had an adult son.

Members of his unit found him unresponsive during a land navigation exercise about 5 p.m. Saturday, an Army news release said. Bingham said there was no accident involving equipment or sign of foul play. He was dead on arrival at Bayne Jones Army Community Hospital.

David was attached to the 321st Theater Material Management Center out of Baton Rouge, currently undergoing mobilization training in preparation for an upcoming deployment.

An autopsy was to be performed by the Armed Forces Medical Examiners office out of Rockville, Md.