Soldier who died had lived 'on the edge of everything'

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The young Fort Lewis soldier who died at the Yakima Training Center on Friday was known for his exuberance and his go-for-it attitude.

Pfc. Jesse Conger, 22, of Rochester, N.H., joined the Army a little more than a year ago, his mother said, because he wanted to see more, do more and try more. He was an infantryman with the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment at Fort Lewis near Tacoma.

"He was an incredibly inquisitive kid, and the Army was something new for him," said Ann Conger yesterday by telephone from her Rochester home.

"When he got off the plane from basic training, he looked like he'd just fought World War II by himself.

"He was so stunning and so proud."

Conger died when a cargo truck he was riding in rolled over. Fellow soldiers who survived the crash told Ann Conger that her son struck his head on a rock when he jumped from the vehicle, along with several others.

Nine others from Conger's division also were injured, though their injuries were not life-threatening.

The group arrived at Yakima, according to the family of one injured soldier, on March 12 and were due home Friday. Their mission had been to fix broken weapons.

The 5-ton, Humvee-like truck was traveling on a dirt road in a remote, rugged section of the Army's Yakima Training Center when it rolled over with 10 soldiers riding on benches in the back and two others in the cab, said Jim Reddick, the center's executive director. The cause of the accident is under investigation.

Relatives of the soldiers involved said they had heard that the truck's front wheels caught in a gully or ditch, causing the truck to roll over twice and land on its tires.

The back of the truck was filled with tools such as sledgehammers and pickaxes, one wife said, and some of the soldiers were injured by the flying implements. It is unknown how fast the truck was traveling, although speed would not likely be a factor because of the rough terrain, Reddick said.

Conger grew up in the small New England town with his older brother, mother and father, a maintenance mechanic.

He was known for his curiosity, his eager enthusiasm and for always running a little late, his mother said.

"Boy oh boy, he was all boy," Ann Conger said. "He lived on the edge of everything. He was always five minutes late and he always said what he thought. His attitude was, 'Let's do it!' "

From an early age, he showed a keen interest in computers and technology. After high school, Conger sold computer systems on commission and made a very good living, his mother said.

"He was such an astronomical salesman, he could talk anyone into buying anything," she said.

He joined the service because he wanted to serve his country and see the world. He also planned to use the Army's college benefits.

Conger entered the Army in August 2000. After attending basic and advanced training at Fort Benning, Ga., he was assigned to Fort Lewis one year ago and arrived just before the Feb. 28 earthquake.

"He was pretty excited about that. He said, 'Mom, I just saw my first earthquake,' " Ann Conger said.

She also said his service commitment was up in July and that he planned to settle in Washington.

"He loved it there," she said.

Three of the injured soldiers spent the night in local hospitals. Spc. Emyll Matos-Ramos, who suffered a head wound, was in satisfactory condition, said a nursing supervisor at Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital. Tests revealed no serious spinal injuries, and he would be discharged if he felt up to walking, she said.

Pvt. Christopher Calimlim, who also suffered a head wound, was discharged yesterday morning, she said.

Pfc. Jeremy Jones remained in satisfactory condition at Kittitas Valley Community Hospital in Ellensburg with a partially collapsed lung, said emergency-room director Linda Graves. He was being checked for broken ribs.

Six soldiers were treated and released Friday night: Pfc. Joselito Villalobos, Pvt. Spencer McKinney, Pvt. John Morgan, Pfc. Jared Day, Pfc. Robert Willet and Sgt. Christopher Wigley. The Army did not release their hometowns or say who was driving the truck.

The Military Police and Criminal Investigation Division concluded the initial accident-site investigation, the Army said, but no findings were disclosed. A team from the Army Safety Office at Fort Rucker, Ala., was expected to arrive at the sprawling desert training ground yesterday.

Christine Clarridge can be reached at 206-464-8983 or cclarridge@seattletimes.com.

Information from The Associated Press was included in this report.