2 Paratroopers Found Dead In Fort Bragg Barracks

FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA — An investigation is underway at Fort Bragg after two paratroopers were found dead in their barracks due to suspected drug use, according to military officials.

Spc. Joshua Diamond, 35 of Plymouth, Massachusetts and PFC Matthew Disney, 20, of Aberdeen, Maryland were pronounced dead Friday, June 11 after they were discovered unresponsive.

Both Diamond and Disney joined the Army in 2019 and were field artillery firefinder radar operators. They were assigned to 2nd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd BCT.

"Our greatest strength is our Paratroopers and these losses are a tragedy," Col. Phillip Kiniery III, commander of 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, said in a statement.

The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command has launched an investigation into their deaths. "At this point in the investigation we do have credible information that the soldiers were involved with illicit drugs, Army CID spokesperson Chris Grey said in a statement.