2 dead at Fort Bragg revealed as decorated soldier, veteran

The military has positively identified one of two bodies found earlier this week inside a training area at Fort Bragg.

Master Sgt. William J. Lavigne II, 37, a decorated active-duty Army soldier, was discovered dead Wednesday alongside the body of an unnamed Army veteran who previously served at the North Carolina base, according to numerous reports.

The circumstances of the two deaths remain a mystery.

Authorities have not revealed the name of the veteran, nor the cause of death for either man.

Also unknown was whether the men knew each other. There were no early reports of whether a confrontation had occurred between the two. Fort Bragg revealed the deaths were not related to any training exercises.

“The loss of a Soldier is always tragic,” said Lt. Col. Justin Duvall, in an official statement from the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, where Lavigne was assigned at the time of his death. “Master Sgt. Lavigne dedicated himself to the Army for 19 years and deployed multiple times in the defense of our Nation. Our condolences go out to his family during this difficult time.”

Lavigne enlisted in the Army in 2001, reports said.

He finished Special Forces training in 2007 and deployed numerous times to Afghanistan and Iraq as part of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command forces assigned to the War on Terrorism.

He achieved multiple awards including two Bronze Star medals and a Meritorious Service Medal.

Agents from the Army Criminal Investigation Command were continuing to investigate.

Fort Bragg is one of the world’s largest military complexes, covering nearly 172,000 acres, according to its website. It has about 57,000 military personnel, 11,000 civilian employees and 23,000 family members.