Army: Fatal boat wreck victim was 3rd ID soldier
The Army says the 27-year-old victim of a fatal boat wreck in the Savannah River on Saturday was a 3rd Infantry Division soldier.
Rangers from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources recovered the body of Sgt. Austin T. Sneed of Pembroke in the Savannah River, South Channel about 1:30 p.m. Monday, according to a department spokesman.
Chatham County Aviation spotted him and directed the rangers to the location, said DNR spokesman Mark McKinnon.
The search began Saturday morning when law enforcement received a call that Sneed’s boat had struck the Fort Pulaski Bridge. He was thrown into the river and did not resurface. Personnel from the U.S. Coast Guard, the Savannah-Chatham police Marine Patrol Unit and the Chatham County Aviation Unit, along with the DNR rangers, participated in the search.
Sneed, a native of Bakersfield, Calif., was an indirect fire infantryman assigned to 3rd ID, who entered active duty in January 2010.
During his career, Sneed deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, said Maj. Matthew Fontaine, 3rd ID spokesman. Sneed’s awards include the Army Commendation Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation, Army Good Conduct Medal, Afghan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, NATO Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
“The 3rd Infantry Division community is very saddened by this news, and our thoughts and prayers are with Sgt. Sneed’s family and friends during this difficult time,” Fontaine said in a news release.
Installation support services, including counseling and chaplain services, have been provided to his family and unit.
Savannah-Chatham police chief promotes four to lieutenant
Savannah-Chatham Police Chief Joseph Lumpkin promoted four sergeants to lieutenant Tuesday morning.
Lt. Michelle Halford has been on the force 15 years and was assigned to internal affairs; her new assignment is Southside Precinct. Lt. David Owens is a 27-year police department veteran who was assigned to Southside Precinct; his new assignment is Downtown Precinct. Lt. Tonya Reid has been a police officer here for 14 years and was most recently assigned to internal affairs; her new assignment is Islands Precinct. Lt. Alex Tobar, a 10-year veteran, was assigned to violent crimes; his new assignment is West Chatham Precinct.