Marine survived Afghanistan, died at home

Honoring a 'Marine's Marine' with fundraiser to help with burial and other costs

Lehigh Valley Live
Tony Rhodin
November 2, 2018

A church was created in a tent in Afghanistan and Bambara quickly signed up to volunteer, Alberino said. It was who he was. A gentle giant with a deep faith.

Omar Bambara was a big man with a big heart, his Marine buddy Nicholas Alberino recalled Friday, four days after the onetime corporal died in a household accident in North Carolina.

Omar Bambara, 32, served as a Marine in Afghanistan and later joined the Army Reserves. He died Oct. 29, 2018, during a household accident in North Carolina. (GoFundMe photo)

Alberino, 30, whose wife Karissa was raised in Phillipsburg, was Bambara's supervisor from 2010-11, as the two communications specialists served in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Alberino was a corporal at that point, but also was Bambara's sergeant when they returned stateside.

Bambara leaves behind his wife Tireka and children Akera, Armani, Ava, Omar Jr. and Ace. He was serving in the Army Reserves at the time of his death in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Bambara had joined the Marines in 2009 and the Reserves in 2013, his obituary says.
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SWAT and Police Standoff With Army Veteran

UPDATE: Not Army veteran but Navy SEAL

Police Wound Standoff Suspect Barricaded In Churchill Home
CBS News
By Amy Wadas
February 14, 2018


CHURCHILL (KDKA) — A man is in the hospital following a lengthy standoff and officer-involved shooting in Churchill Wednesday evening.

The incident began around 4:15 p.m. at a home in the 2200 block of Harmain Road.

The sound of gunfire was in the air as SWAT officers tried to get the 50-year-old man inside of the home to surrender.“He is a Navy SEAL war veteran. They said he had high-powered weapons in his home,: said neighbor Tami Warfield. read more here

Police, SWAT Team Surround Army Veteran’s Home In Churchill
CBS Pittsburg
February 14, 2018 at 6:32 pm

CHURCHILL (KDKA) — Police and the SWAT team have surrounded the home of an Army veteran in Churchill.

The incident began around 4:15 p.m. at a home in the 2200 block of Harmain Road.

Officials were reportedly called to the scene by neighbors who claim the man was fighting with his wife. He then refused to come out of the home.

There are numerous police agencies on the scene.

PennDOT was forced to shut down the Parkway East in both directions near the Greensburg Pike exit as a result of the standoff. The highway was closed from Wilkinsburg to Churchill, but has since reopened.

Traffic was expected to be backed up for a while as a result.
Stay with KDKA for the latest on this developing story.

Accident Claimed Life of 20 Year Old Camp Pendleton Marine

Camp Pendleton Marine Killed in Accident On Base

Military.com

August 6, 2017

Camp Pendleton, Calif. - Lance Cpl. Cody J. Haley, assigned to the 1st Marine Division, was gravely injured in an accident Aug. 4 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.

Haley, from Hardin, Iowa, was 20 years old.

Emergency medical personnel pronounced the Marine deceased at the site of the accident. Officials are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident at this time.

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County Fair Freedrop Claims Life of Navy Veteran

NAVY VETERAN DIES AFTER FALLING FROM 'FREEDROP' ATTRACTION AT SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY FAIR
ABC 7 News Los Angeles
Rob McMilan
May 29, 2015

VICTORVILLE, Calif. (KABC) -- A 31-year-old Navy veteran has died after falling from an extreme attraction at the San Bernardino County Fair in Victorville.

Fire department officials said Sabrina Gordon suffered injuries after taking part in the "FreeDrop USA" attraction around 7:15 p.m. Thursday.

She was airlifted to the Victor Valley Global Medical Center in Colton, where she died at 12:20 a.m. Friday

The "FreeDrop USA" attraction involves people jumping off a platform nearly 40-feet high and then land onto a giant inflatable bag.

The attraction was making its debut in California at the San Bernardino County Fair. The ride's owner said the attraction has had over 50,000 successful jumps on a 36-city tour across the nation.

Fair officials said the attraction has been shut down indefinitely.

Gordon was working at a CrossFit booth at the fair when she decided to take the jump.

She was a 10-year veteran with the U.S. Navy, where she worked in cryptology.
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After son died at school, Mom warns others about chocking game

Fort Carson mom believes son died from choking game
FOX 31 Denver
by Stephanie Wolf
March 22, 2014

FORT CARSON, Colo. — A Fort Carson mom spoke out to say that she believes her son did not commit suicide, but that his death was the result of a choking game played in a middle school bathroom.

Kristina Fields lost her son, Luie, on Valentine’s Day, according to Colorado Springs’ KRDO.

Luie was found after lunch unresponsive in the boy’s bathroom at the Carson Middle School.

“They found him with his belt around his neck,” Kristina told KRDO. “They all think he killed himself, so they all jumped to the conclusion that he was bullied.”

Yet, Kristina said it didn’t make sense to her. She didn’t believe Luie was an unhappy child as he showed no signs of depression.

A week after Luie’s death, Kristina recounted checking the messages on her phone and found one from her son that was an accidental call, a “butt dial.”

While the message was difficult to understand, Kristina told KRDO she could hear Luie talking about a friend choking him.
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Fort Carson Middle school student died at school

Veteran-master weapons instructor, died after accidental shooting

Man killed by accidental shot was military veteran
October 12, 2012
By Edward Marshall
Journal Staff Writer

BERKELEY SPRINGS - A 53-year-old man who died Wednesday night after accidentally shooting himself in the head at his residence in Morgan County was a U.S. military veteran who was believed to be a master weapons instructor, police said.

David J. Holiday Jr., 53, who was originally from Gallitzin, Pa., was pronounced dead after the incident that investigators are describing as a tragic accident.

Sgt. Seth Place of the Morgan County Sheriff's Department said that Morgan County 911 received the call reporting the accidental shooting at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday night.

The accident occurred at Holiday's residence, located on Amoretta Lane off Highland Ridge Road in Morgan County. Place said it is believed that Holiday, described as a gun enthusiast, had invited some friends over to his residence for the purpose of either selling or giving away some firearms.
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Town in shock after 4 year old killed by falling tombstone cross

4-year-old girl killed by falling tombstone
June 10, 2012
ASSOCIATED PRESS

DEEP GAP — Officials say a 4-year-old girl has died after part of a tombstone fell on her at a Deep Gap cemetery.

The Rev. Rick Cornejo told WSOC-TV that the girl was one of several children playing in the churchyard and cemetery at Mt. Paran Baptist Church before Bible study classes on Friday night.
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Hunter kills himself after accidentally shooting friend

If you still don't understand what guilt can do to a person, read this and it may help you understand veterans with PTSD along with the recent report that guilt is a huge factor in their suffering.

The report says that after accidentally shooting Birch, Bolgnani killed himself according to another person there.

Two dead in Vermont hunting accident
By WNYT.com
Two hunters from Bennington County, Vt., are dead after an apparent accidental shooting-suicide Saturday afternoon.
Vermont State Police say they were called to a location off of Howe Pond Road just after noon for a call of two men with gunshot wounds.
Upon arrival, troopers found the men, Benjamin Birch, 39, and Timothy Bolgnani, 49, both of Readsboro, dead.
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Autopsy: Mix of pain meds killed Irwin soldier

Autopsy: Mix of pain meds killed Irwin soldier
The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Aug 22, 2008 8:08:04 EDT

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — An autopsy of a soldier who died while training at Fort Irwin has revealed she was killed by a combination of prescription drugs she was taking for pain.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department made the finding about the accidental death of Spc. Emily T. Ort, 24, of Willis, Texas.

“There is no evidence of suicide,” the report said. “The decedent did not have a history of chronic drug abuse.”

On May 3, Ort was discovered unresponsive in her sleeping bag and was rushed to the hospital where she was pronounced dead. An autopsy was performed a few days later, but the report was not released until this week.

Ort had acetaminophen, morphine, hydrocodone and gabapentin as well as anti-anxiety drugs Valium and oxazepam in her system, the report said.

The soldier was apparently taking Vicodin and Valium for injuries she sustained during a 2007 car accident.

The night before she died, Ort told her mother that her medication was stolen and her doctor prescribed morphine and a muscle relaxer as replacements, the report said.
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/08/ap_irwindeath_082208/