Army Pvt. Paul Varner, 20, was killed during a live-fire training exercise last night in Arkansas while preparing to deploy to Afghanistan. He was eager to serve his country, and his death is a loss for all Americans.
A communications error may have led to the death of a St. Louis area Army soldier during a training exercise in Arkansas, the soldier's mother said today.Pvt. Paul Varner of Wildwood and another soldier in the 4th Brigade, 10th Mountain Division were caught in the middle of live-fire training when Varner was shot, Linda Varner said she was told by the Army. The other soldier was not hit.
Details were still developing as the Army investigated the incident, Linda Varner said. ``Somebody had made a mistake. Communications that should've taken place didn't happen.''
May God have mercy on his friends and family whom he preceded to Heaven.
Update:
Been thinking about Paul all day. The thought of death makes me crave life all the more, and leaves me feeling selfish. Is it fair that he died? Is it right? Did God cause it, or allow it to happen? How is he served by Paul's death? I don't know the answers to these things. I doubt the answers would be satisfying, anyway.
Even talking about death feels unlucky, like I'm going to draw its attention. I've heard of survivors feeling guilty... I'm not a survivor or closely related to what killed Paul, but I don't feel guilty. I feel relieved that it wasn't me or anyone closer to me. Then I feel guilty about that. Is that what survivor's guilt is?
Paul was a Christian, and so I am, but I'm afraid to die. Does that reflect a lack of faith? I'm a coward. I want to live. I want to get married and have babies and gripe about taxes for another hundred years. I'm glad there are men like Paul, better men than me, that make my life possible. And then I feel guilty again, all in a circle. I don't know if it makes sense or not.
Proverbs 103:13-1813 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;14 for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.15 As for man, his days are like grass,
he flourishes like a flower of the field;16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD's love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children's children-18 with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.
Update 2:
Roscoe has a description of combined arms training and why it is both dangerous and important.
Update 3:
Here's some video about Paul with pictures of him and interviews with his brother Adam and some friends.
I am one of Paul's good friends. And let me tell you, you may feel no guilt about wanting to live, and thats probably the way it should be. But, Paul was not afraid of what he was doing. He knew there was that chance, and we all knew too. Paul is safe now, and God had something bigger for him. You may not feel guilt, but you should feel sympathy for Paul's friends and family, you should feel honored to have a man like Paul fighting for you and your freedom and your safety in the army. Paul will be very mich missed, by friends, family, and everyone who has ever met Paul. He is an amazingly great man and loved by many.
I can't even voice my opinion on your website...that's pathetic.
In response to what I said....
Your comment was denied for questionable content.
I'm sorry you had problems commenting... I'm not sure what you were trying to say that got blocked for content. I certainly am not trying to thwart you personally. There are some auto-moderation features on here that help prevent the -- literally -- thousands of spam comments that I get per day. Perhaps you ran afoul of one of those filters. Send your comment to me via email (including whatever URL you posted with) and I'll figure out what happened.
It's not very nice to call me or my site pathetic, just so you know.
I'm just wondering how you know Paul- did you just find this article on him or did you know him? I went to church with Paul for the past 9 years (we were in youth group, youth choir, Bible study, and went on one mission trip to Mexico together)- I was searching for a certain news article and found your site. Anyway, I reading this post was helpful to me- I have really been struggling with why God would let this happen. It was such a stupid accident. It brought up alot of issues that I haven't dealt with before. Trusting in God's providence and goodness is really all you can do. Tonight was the visitation for him- it was much harder than I ever dreamt it would be. Tomorrow morning is the funeral. Paul's family has held up incredibly well and been so strong. The church family has really been strengthened my them and coming together has really helped. Tonight I talked with youth leaders and youth pastors I hadn't seen in years and people from youth group have reconnected. Prayer and falling on each other has given everyone incredible peace and strength. There is joy in knowing Paul is celebrating with Christ, but the pain on this side of heaven is terribly real. Knowing we can grieve with hope is truly a blessing though. Anyway, this is getting long. I would love to further discuss some of your post with you. In Christ, Kara
Kara,
I was a good friend of Paul Varner. We went to school together for several years. I was at the funeral along with the author of this blog.
You left a very good comment. Feel free to email me.
I was Varner's medic I served with the guy and still mourn his death. I was not present the day of his death but I had placed his death on my shoulders, he was in all my responsibility and I had felt as though I had failed him. Feel no guilt for the loss of Varner for that hasnt help but remember how he changed your life for he has forever changed this soldiers
Yes i can appreciate this page because i was there that day at Fort chaffe paul was an inspiration to third platoon he was the platoon clown i guess you could say the only thing i dont get is the fake story the army put out in the papers and the news it was totally diffrent first hand i think of varner every day he was a good friend and an awsome soilder he would never turn down the oppurtunity to train he got excited every time we went top the field and i know that he is wayching ove delta company 2/4 who is over in afganistan right now i recently was honorably discharged right before our company deployed there and if any one wants to know the true story behind what happen the just email me and i will get in contact with you and be more than willing to give the true story of why and whos fault it was that PFC PAUL VARNER was killed in a training exercise it was o accident it was pure stupidity contact me at matthewhouse@yahoo.com
Because this is a site that is dedicated to Varners friends and family, a place to remember who he was and how much he touched everyone he knew, I am not going to get into a long huge thing here....
However, MATTHEW HOUSE-HOW DARE YOU say that you know the TRUE story behind what happened... you were the whiney ass that couldnt think straight when things went terribly wrong that day... YOU are the one who used his death as a way to escape the Army just so you didnt have to go to WAR and be shot at. Pretending to be all messed up just so they would kick you out... HONORABLE MY ASS. You are a compulsive and habitual liar... Leave these people alone and get a real life.
To Varners Friends and Family:
Please do not believe a word he says. He honestly doesnt know the truth himself... He was kicked out of the Army for lies... dont let more of his lies get to you.
Feel free to email me with questions or concerns.