An Army Ranger based at Hunter Army Airfield died Thursday evening at Fort Stewart during a routine parachute jump.
Rangers already on the ground at Fort Stewart’s Taylor’s Creek Drop Zone discovered Pfc. Christopher P. Dona, 21, unresponsive with risers — cords that connect the parachute’s canopy to its harness — wrapped around his neck, said Lt. Col. Brian DeSantis, a Fort Benning-based spokesman for the elite 75th Ranger Regiment. Ranger medics and Ft. Stewart emergency medical response technicians were unable to revive him.
It was not clear how the cords wound up around the Ranger’s neck, DeSantis said.
“We don’t have evidence that the parachute malfunctioned,” he said. “It’s not a case where the parachute didn’t deploy. We don’t know if the Ranger was knocked unconscious during the decsent or when he landed or if he became entangled on the ground — we’re currently investigating all possibilities.”
DeSantis, a longtime veteran of airborne units, said he’d never heard of a soldier dying under similar circumstances.
“I’ve never seen anything like this,” the lieutenant colonel said. “This was a very routine proficiency jump. It was not part of a training exercise or anything. It was just jumping to practice jumping, something we do routinely. So, this is something that’s out of the ordinary for us.”
The incident is under investigation.
A native of Dudley, Mass., Dona was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment as an automatic rifleman in August 2012. He returned from his first deployment to Afghanistan last month.
“Chris was an excellent Ranger who consistently displayed great courage and strength – a true warrior,” said Lt. Col. Robert J. Harman, Commander of the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. “He was the kind of Ranger everyone wants by their side in a tough situation. Above all, Chris was the epitome of what we expect of our Rangers – a quiet professional with unmatched selfless service. He will forever be part of this unit and an inspiration for the Rangers of today and those yet to come. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Dona Family.”
His awards and decorations include the Expert Infantryman’s Badge, the Parachutist Badge, and the U.S. Army Expert Rifle Marksmanship Qualification Badge.
Dona has also been awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and the NATO Medal.
He will be posthumously awarded the Army Commendation Medal.
Dona is survived by his parents, Paul and Maryann Dona, his sister, Melissa, and his brother, Brian, all from Dudley, Mass.