82nd Airborne Division paratrooper dies during training at Louisiana base

A paratrooper from the 82nd Airborne was killed last week during a training exercise at Fort Johnson, Louisiana, the Fort Johnson Public Affairs Office confirmed in a statement to Task & Purpose.

Pfc. Matthew Perez was killed on Sept. 13, according to a statement from the 82nd Airborne Division. Perez was assigned to Fort Liberty with the division’s 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team.

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“His sudden loss has been felt throughout our formation and we extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends and teammates within the Panther Brigade,” said Col. Jaron Wharton, 3rd Brigade Combat Team commander.

Both the 82nd Airborne Division and Fort Johnson have stated that an investigation is underway.

Perez’s death occurred during his unit’s rotation exercise at the Joint Readiness Training Center in Ft. Johnson. Units often train at Ft. Johnson in large-scale operations in preparation for upcoming deployments.

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