Soldier found dead in Italy listed as AWOL

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Soldier found dead in Italy listed as AWOL
By Kent Harris, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Wednesday, February 25, 2009

The U.S. soldier who died of hypothermia earlier this month in Bolzano, Italy, had been absent from his unit in Fort Lewis, Wash., for more than four months, according to Army officials.

Pvt. Matthew K. Jernigan, 22, was assigned to Company B, 402nd Brigade Support Battalion, 5th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, according to Joseph Piek of the Fort Lewis public affairs office.

Jernigan had reportedly been living in Italy since October.

He was declared absent without leave from his unit on Oct. 7.

Servicemembers are only officially considered deserters if it’s determined that they are not going to return to their units or report back for duty.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=60960