Army Spc. Morganne M. McBeth

Remember Our Heroes

Army Spc. Morganne M. McBeth, 19, of Fredericksburg, Va.

Spc. McBeth was assigned to the 1st Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died July 2, 2010 in Asad, Iraq, of wounds sustained July 1 in a non-combat-related incident in Khan Al Baghdadi, Iraq.

Spc. Morganne McBeth was an enthusiastic soldier who loved her work as a paratrooper, her brother said yesterday.

McBeth, 19, died Friday in Iraq, the military announced Saturday.

"She was just an amazing person and all of us miss her greatly," said her brother, Army Sgt. Christopher McBeth, who is stationed at Joint Base Lewis McChord in Washington state with the 47th Combat Support Hospital, 62nd Medical Brigade.

Christopher McBeth said his sister grew up in Spotsylvania County, and attended Salem Elementary School and Faith Baptist School.

Christopher returned from deployment in Iraq in February, and said he kept in touch online with his sister while both were in the country.

"Everybody just loves her," he said.

He said Morganne McBeth was seeking higher qualifications in parachuting that would have made her a sergeant and allowed her to fly more missions.

"She loved jumping from planes," he said.

Morganne McBeth joined the Army in July 2008. She was a combat medic with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, based out of Fort Bragg, N.C.

The 82nd Airborne Division announced Saturday that McBeth died Friday of non-combat-related injuries. No further information was available about the cause of her injuries. Her remains arrived at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware early yesterday morning.

McBeth deployed to Iraq last August, and was due to return next month.

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (WTVD) -- An 82nd Airborne Division Paratrooper died of non-combat related injuries in western Iraq Friday.

Spc. Morganne McBeth, a 19-year-old trooper from Fredericksburg, Va. was a Health Care Specialist (Combat Medic) with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Abn. Div.

"SPC Morganne McBeth had a positive impact on all the Paratroopers within the 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion and will be dearly missed," said Lt. Col. Douglas Stitt, commander of 1st BSTB. "She was always quick with a smile and looked after her fellow Paratroopers with keen diligence and respect".

McBeth joined the Army July 9, 2008 and entered basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C. Upon completion of basic training, she attended Advanced Individual Training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. She arrived at Fort Bragg, N.C. February 25, 2009 where she was assigned to HHC, 1st BSTB and deployed to Iraq with the unit Aug. 17, 2009.

"SPC Morganne McBeth's vivid smile and attitude were contagious," said 1st Lt. Abraham Medina Jr., physician's assistant, 1st BSTB. "Regardless of how rough your day may have been, if Morganne entered the room you were going to smile. Her spunky character and selflessness will be remembered by all who were privileged enough to have met her."

"Morganne treated all of her patients with unsurpassed compassion, regardless of their injury or illness severity," said Medina. "Today, the 1BSTB Medical Platoon mourns the loss of a Paratrooper, combat medic, and a magnificent young lady. Most importantly, we are thankful to have had the opportunity to share life alongside of Morganne Marie McBeth."

McBeth's awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, the Global War on Terror Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Basic Parachutist Badge.

"The 1BSTB Medical Platoon mourns the loss of a paratrooper, combat medic and a magnificent young lady," Medina said. "Most importantly, we are thankful to have had the opportunity to share life alongside Morganne Marie McBeth."

Spc. McBeth is survived by her father and step mother Leonard and Sylvia McBeth and a brother Army Sgt. Christopher McBeth.

A memorial in her honor will be held in Iraq. Funeral services for Spc. McBeth in Fredericksburg, VA have not been finalized yet.

Army Spc. Morganne M. McBeth died of a non-combat related incident on 7/2/10.