Mo. National Guardsman is killed in accident in Guatemala
MIAMI — A decorated Army veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan was killed in an apparent freak accident in Guatemala this week when he was struck by a tree limb while making public affairs videos of SOUTHCOM humanitarian relief operations, the military said Thursday.
Staff Sgt. Robert J. Traxel, 34, of the Missouri National Guard was on activated duty when he was killed Monday in the “Beyond the Horizon” training exercise focusing on health care in Central America.
Traxel was apparently “struck in the head by a tree limb that fell due to wind generated by helicopter rotor blades,” Maj. Tamara Spicer of the Missouri Guard said in a statement.
The account was based on “initial reports,” she said, adding that his death was under investigation.
Traxel, a seven-year veteran of both Marine and Army service, joined the Missouri Guard in April and was working as a public affairs specialist during this week’s mobilization.
Traxel’s last released Defense Department video showed hundreds of Guatemalans lining up in Pocola June 26 to get free health care from the U.S. Army’s 352nd Combat Support Hospital forces collaborating with Canadian and Guatemalan forces.
His Missouri unit said he joined the National Guard after serving with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan in 2008 and Iraq in 2011. He was a Marine between 1998 and 2001.
His service decorations included the Army Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Good Conduct Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Army Service Ribbon and the Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.
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