National Guard member dies in Guatemala

Jul 05, 2012 -- 9:41am

A Missouri National Guard

soldier has been killed while participating in a training

exercise in Guatemala.

Guard officials say 34-year-old Staff Sergeant Robert

Traxel of Union died Monday after being struck in the head by a

tree limb knocked down by wind generated from helicopter rotor

blades.

Traxel was a public affairs broadcast specialist with the

70th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment out of Jefferson City.

Officials say he joined the unit and Missouri National Guard in

April after more than seven years of serving in the Army and

Marines.

Traxel was a highly decorated soldier who served in

Afghanistan in 2008 and in Iraq in 2011 with the Army.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

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