1 soldier dead, 4 still hospitalized from Fort Bragg training incident

FORT BRAGG, North Carolina (WTVD) -- Staff Sgt. Alexander P. Dalida, 32, of Dunstable, Massachusetts, a soldier enrolled in the Special Forces Qualification Course at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, died during a training exercise at Fort Bragg on Thursday. Seven other people were injured.

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Fort Bragg officials said seven injured "personnel" were taken to Womack Army Medical Center and other area hospitals by air and ground.

On Friday, four of the injured remain hospitalized. Three others were treated and later released.

One of the seven hurt was an observer from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. He sustained minor injuries.

The Army said students and instructors at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School were doing demolition training on a Fort Bragg Range when it happened.

Dalida was a student in the Special Forces Engineer Course, which is the military occupational specialty phase of the Special Forces Qualification Course. He was assigned to 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne), U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School.

"Our primary focus right now is to care for his loved ones. We will honor Staff Sgt. Dalida and help his family in their time of need," said Colonel Michael Kornburger, Commander, 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne).

Lt. Col. Rob Bockholt, a spokesman for the U.S. Army's Special Operations Command, said he didn't know the extent of all the injuries.

"There was an incident that occurred on one of the ranges," Bockholt said, and he added that the command is investigating. "We're looking into exactly what happened."

The soldiers are part of U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC).

"The special operations community is a close-knit family. At the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, we consider every student who enters our institution a part of our SWCS family. Staff Sgt. Dalida's death is a reminder that a soldier's job is inherently dangerous. Our thoughts and prayers are with Staff Sgt. Dalida's family and friends," said Maj. Gen. Kurt Sonntag, Commander of the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School.

Sgt. Alexander Dalida was going to finish his Green Beret training this week, according to his father. He was a husband and father to 14-month-old toddler.

His parents Paul and Diane released a statement Friday morning saying: "Alexander was serving his country proudly for the best of reasons, He was the happiest he'd ever been. Serving his country courageously is my son's legacy."

"This is just tragic," Dalida's neighbor Steve Morrow said. "Nice kid. When he'd walk by, he'd wave at me. It's just a tragic situation."

"He went off to the military and we were very proud," said Vincent Falco, who is a family friend. "There to serve and protect us and the country. This is devastating."

Dalida enlisted in the Army in September 2006 and was assigned to Co. C, 2nd Bn., 60th Infantry Regiment, Fort Jackson, South Carolina, where he attended basic training. Following Advanced Individual Training at Fort Eustis, he served the remainder of his time assigned to Aviation units, prior to attending Special Forces Assessment and Selection.

U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson, R-NC, whose 8th District includes Fort Bragg, released a statement following the incident.

"Renee and I are sorry to hear about today's training accident at Fort Bragg," Hudson said. "We will continue to pray for the soldiers who were injured and their families. As the investigation continues, I'm in touch with the U.S. Army Special Operations Command and I will continue to monitor the situation."

North Carolina's senators, Richard Burr and Thom Tillis, both tweeted thoughts and prayers for the injured soldiers.

The incident comes a day after a U.S. soldier was killed at Fort Hood, Texas, while conducting a medical evacuation hoist training in an HH-60M Black Hawk helicopter.

Also on Wednesday, a Marine Corps amphibious assault vehicle caught on fire during training at Camp Pendleton, California, injuring 15 Marines.

ABC News and The Associated Press contributed to this report.