Photo: 82nd Airborne Division
Army paratrooper Spc. Abigail Jenks died on Monday after doing a static-line jump training.
At the time of the incident, the 20-year-old native of Gansevoort, New York was parachuting from a UH-60 Blackhawk in Fort Bragg, North Carolina when she suffered fatal injuries, the 82nd Airborne Divisionrevealedon Wednesday.
The native of Gansevoort, New York was a fire support specialist assigned to the 1st Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
“Spc. Abigail Jenks was a creative, hardworking, and confident Paratrooper. Her love for art, animals, and her friends reverberated wherever she worked,” Capt. Brian Norman, Jenks' battery commander, said in a statement. “Her compassion for fellow Paratroopers will be truly missed.”
The 82nd Airborne Division added, “Spc. Jenks will be missed. Remember, #Paratroopers never die, they just slip away.”
Lt. Col. Christopher Walsh said, “SPC Jenks was a dedicated Paratrooper, gifted forward observer, loyal friend, and talented artist who consistently made a tremendous impact on all around her. She will be dearly missed.”
“We are ensuring every resource is available to her family and peers to help them during this difficult time,” Lt. Col. Walsh added. “SPC Jenks will forever be a part of our Loyalty family.”
The Army Combat Readiness Center is conducting an investigation into Jenks' death, according toThe Army Times.
The Army did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request to comment.
“She always saw the good in people, no matter who they were,” her mother told the outlet. “She’s a picture of forgiveness and love and giving. She’s just very positive and happy most of the time.”
Funeral services are expected to occur this week, with Jenks' brother David flying in from Missouri where he serves in the Air Force, the outletreported.
Jenks graduated from Saratoga Springs High School in 2018 and immediately enlisted in the Army. In 2019, she became a paratrooper.
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Throughout her career, the late Gansevoort native earned the Army Achievement Medal, The Good Conduct Medal, The Army Service Ribbon and the Army Parachutist Badge, WNYT reported.
source: people.com
