Fort Hood Troops Look for Missing Sergeant

Jun 12, 07:18 AM

Current Headlines: By Bill Hanna, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas

Jun. 12--Fort Hood soldiers combed a rugged section of the massive Central Texas Army post Monday looking for a 25-year-old soldier who was last seen Friday during a training exercise.

Sgt. Lawrence G. Sprader last talked to his commanders by cellphone Friday after he was two hours late from returning on a solo training mission. At the time, he indicated that he was lost but not in trouble. But an intense three-day search that has covered 8,000 acres has failed to turn up any sign of Sprader.

"We're definitely concerned; we have a sense of urgency," said Col. Diane Battaglia, Third Corps spokeswoman.

The search teams are operating under the assumption that Sprader may have gotten lost while searching for water in the 90-degree heat. Fort Hood officials also haven't ruled out the possibility that he was injured.

"We're considering the possibility of a snake bite, heat distress, fatigue or some kind of injury," Battaglia said. "We are speculating that he somehow became disoriented and went to look for a cool place with running water or something like that."

Five hundred soldiers resumed their search on foot late Monday after taking a four-hour break during the heat of the day. Searches by helicopter throughout the 15,000-acre training area south of the Killeen-Fort Hood Regional Airport will continue around the clock.

Sprader started the training mission Friday with two canteens of water and a camouflage box of water.

He was on a solo leadership training mission that included using navigational skills.

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billhanna@star-telegram.com Bill Hanna, 817-390-7698

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