Soldier killed in Fort Hood training accident identified

The soldier who died in a fall during nighttime helicopter hoist training at Fort Hood was identified Thursday as Staff Sgt. Sean Devoy, 28, of Baldwin, Mo.

He was a medic with the 1st Infantry Division’s Company C, 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment from Fort Riley, Kan.

The 1st Infantry Division HH-60M Black Hawk helicopter crew was conducting the medical evacuation hoist training exercise at around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday on a range south of Robert Gray Army Airfield when the incident occurred, Fort Hood said earlier.

The cause is under investigation, Fort Riley said in a press release Thursday.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to Staff Sgt. Sean Devoy’s family and friends during this difficult time,” said Lt. Col. Khirsten T. Schwenn, 2nd GSAB, 1st Avn. Regt., commander.

“The unexpected death of a family member is profoundly tragic. Staff Sgt. Devoy touched countless lives as a flight paramedic. We are deeply saddened by the loss of an extraordinary noncommissioned officer and teammate.”

Devoy joined the Army in March 2010 and had been assigned to Fort Riley since December 2012.

He deployed in 2010 to Germany and in 2011, 2013, and 2016 to Afghanistan.

A team from the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center at Fort Rucker, Ala., is leading the investigation of the accident.