Delta Force soldier died after June free-fall training accident the military did not make public

blog

A highly-decorated Delta Force soldier was fatally injured during a June parachute training accident that was not made public by the military.

Sgt. Maj. Christopher Nelms, 46, was injured during a free-fall training jump on June 27 at Laurinburg-Maxton Airport in Maxton, North Carolina, and died on July 1. He was buried at Arlington Cemetery on July 31. 

Nelms' parachute failed to fully deploy during the jump and was 'fighting it the whole way down,' a former Delta Force officer told Yahoo News. 

Sgt. Maj. Christopher Nelms, 46, was injured during a free-fall parachute training jump on June 27 at Laurinburg-Maxton Airport in Maxton, North Carolina, and died on July 1

Sgt. Maj. Christopher Nelms, 46, was injured during a free-fall parachute training jump on June 27 at Laurinburg-Maxton Airport in Maxton, North Carolina, and died on July 1

Nelms spent 10 years as a Washington state firefighter Nelms was married with two children

Nelms spent 10 years as a Washington state firefighter and was married with two children

A spokesperson for the US Army Special Operations Command confirmed Nelms' death to Yahoo News and said that he died at the hospital where he was being treated for his injuries.  

The spokesperson said that not every soldier death during a training incident is made public.

The spokesperson told Army Times that Nelms' incident is being investigated. 

Nelms was said to have served in senior leadership roles including troop sergeant major, assault team leader and operations sergeant major during his 28-year Army career. 

Nelms joined the Army as an infantryman in 1990 and was deployed to the Philippines once and Iraq twice. He then transitioned into the Army National Guard's 19th Special Forces Group.

Nelms returned to active duty in 2008, at which point he was assigned to the US Army Special Operations Command. He was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan six times and once to Niger during that time.

Nelms was a highly-decorated Delta Force soldier who had been deployed multiple times around the world. He is pictured here while competing in the Best Ranger Competition in 2013

Nelms was a highly-decorated Delta Force soldier who had been deployed multiple times around the world. He is pictured here while competing in the Best Ranger Competition in 2013

During Nelms' 28-year Army career, he received multiple valor and service medals including two Silver Stars, the Soldier's Medal and six Bronze Stars, one with the V device

During Nelms' 28-year Army career, he received multiple valor and service medals including two Silver Stars, the Soldier's Medal and six Bronze Stars, one with the V device

RELATED ARTICLES

Share this article

Share

He received multiple high-level awards and decorations, including two Silver Stars, the Soldier’s Medal, six Bronze Star medals — one with the V device — two Defense Meritorious Service Medals, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal with V device, two Army Commendation Medals and the Joint Service Achievement Medal with C device. 

Nelms also received the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two Bronze Service Stars, the Iraq Campaign Medal with two Bronze Service Stars and the Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal with one Bronze Service Star.

A notice of his death posted on July 16 on SOCNET, the Special Operations Community Network, stated that Nelms had participated in the Best Ranger competition, was once a Washington state firefighter and was married with two children. 

On July 11, Eastside Fire & Rescue, in Issaquah, Washington, posted that Nelms joined the department in 1997 and was a firefighter for 10 years before going back to active duty. 

A former Delta operator who was familiar with Nelms told Yahoo News that Nelms 'had a great reputation' and that Nelms, with all of his training and experience, was 'irreplaceable.' 

The military does not traditionally identify members of Delta Force, the Army's elite special missions unit which specializes in hostage rescue and counter-terrorism. 

The military spokesperson only confirmed that Nelms was assigned to the US Army Special Operations Command. However, two former Delta Force operators told Yahoo News that Nelms was a member of the elite unit. 

Laurinburg-Maxton Airport is less than an hour away from North Carolina's Fort Bragg, the home base of Delta Force. 

Nelms is said to be the second soldier from the US Army Special Operations Command who has died during a free-fall training accident in 2018. On January 24, Sgt. Maj. Samuel Morris McAllister of the 75th Ranger Regiment died in Eloy, Arizona, after a jump. 

Military operation free-fall jumps typically involve exiting aircraft at altitudes between 15,000 to 35,000 feet.  

Nelms died after sustaining injuries during a free-fall parachute training jump in North Carolina. Military operation free-fall jumps usually entail jumping out of aircraft at altitudes between 15,000 to 35,000 feet (stock image) 

Nelms died after sustaining injuries during a free-fall parachute training jump in North Carolina. Military operation free-fall jumps usually entail jumping out of aircraft at altitudes between 15,000 to 35,000 feet (stock image) 

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pa3IpbCmmZmhe6S7ja6iaKaVrMBwrdGtoJyklWKDcX6WamluZ3SaubWtjH%2Bmq5uVYsCwuMOinKtllJ6ypXmprqWeZZansqZ5xZqjpWWkp66qusinnmaZk5i2pbHNrWSmoZyewaK%2B2Gabopxdo7y1ecyaop5loKqvrbXCZ5%2BtpZw%3D