Army News, opinions, editorials, news from Iraq, photos, reports - Army Times

Green Beret killed in paratrooper training

CARRINGTON, N.D. — The older sister of a soldier killed during a training accident in North Carolina said all her brother ever wanted was to be in the military.

Sgt. 1st Class Carlo J. Meth, 35, died Jan. 16 in a parachute accident during high altitude-low opening training at Laurinburg-Maxton Airport in North Carolina, according to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command. The military did not release details.

“His life was pretty much consumed by the military,” said his sister, Jamie Heinley. “That’s all he’s ever done. He made it a career.”

Meth, a Special Forces weapons sergeant, was assigned to Company C, 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group Airborne at Fort Bragg, N.C.

Meth joined the Army in 1990 and served as an Army Ranger until 2005, when he became a Green Beret.

Meth earned six Army commendation medals during his years of service, which took him to Afghanistan, Bosnia and Africa.

Meth was born in Colombia and was adopted by and American couple when he was 5 years old. He grew up on their farm near Carrington, a town about 100 northeast of Bismarck in central North Dakota, where he also went to high school. His parents have since relocated to Guthrie, Okla.

Meth is survived by his parents, several siblings and an 11-year-old daughter, Nikole.