WASHINGTON, Reuter: Three U.S. soldiers drowned accidentally in a river during military training exercises in South Korea this week, the army said today.
Divers found the bodies of tree members of the second infantry division in the Han Tan River northeast of Seoul on Tuesday afternoon after they were swept under by strong currents late Monday night, according to army officials.
Army colonel Bill Smullen told. Reuters the incident was under investigation but that accidental drowning had been ruled as the cause of the deaths.
Smullen challenged published reports that the cause of the three deaths was unknown.
“This was clearly accidental drowning”, he said, “They were caught up in some turbulent water during a routine exercise.
The United States has nearly 30,000 military personnel stationed in South Korea.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 15, 1986
