President Obama conveyed his deepest sympathies to Maj. Gen. John Thomson, the commanding general of the Army division in Fort Hood, Texas, over the nine deaths the post suffered in a training tragedy during a flash flood late last week.
Obama spoke with Thomson by phone Monday to thank all the leaders of Fort Hood, especially the soldiers and first responders who coordinated search and recovery operations in the treacherous flood conditions, according to a White House read out of the call.
“The accident reminds us of the tremendous risks associated with military operations in peacetime or at war,” the White House said. “The president expressed to Major General Thomson the great debt our nation owes to all service members for the sacrifices they make to keep us secure.”
Army investigators are still looking into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy that took place during a routine training mission when their vehicle got stuck in a flooded creek in a remote section of the post Thursday. Troops in a following vehicle were able to rescue three service members from the floodwaters.
