A C-17 pilot accused of dereliction of duty will face a court martial today at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington in connection to last year's death of a Hollidaysburg paratrooper.
West Virginia Army National Guard Special Forces paratrooper Sgt. Francis T. "Frank" Campion III, 31, was parachuting at Fort Harrison near Helena, Mont., when he landed on a building roof instead of a field, officials said.
The weight of the parachute pulled him over the building's edge, and Campion fell about 30 feet to the ground, hitting his head and causing massive internal injuries. He was taken to a nearby hospital and then transferred to Great Falls, Mont., where he died of his injuries.
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Frank Campion
The U.S. Air Force accuses Capt. Jared Foley of reckless conduct for approving an additional airdrop without command approval. Foley serves with McChord's 62nd Airlift Wing. McChord operates 51 of the C-17 transport jets.
The News Tribune of Tacoma, Wash., reported Monday that Campion was the last out of the plane July 10, 2011, in windy conditions. He was supposed to land at Fort Harrison's Marshall Field.
Campion was training with the West Virginia National Guard and had served in Afghanistan.
The 1998 Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School graduate was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group.
West Virginia National Guard Adjutant General James Hoyer told the Charleston Gazette last year that Campion had more than 12 years of military service, including a tour in Afghanistan from 2008-09.
Guard spokesman Lt. Col. David Lester said Campion had performed the jump training many times and was considered an expert by everyone around him.
