Army instructor praised for grenade sacrifice

[snoop1130]

Army instructor praised for grenade sacrifice

By Prasit Leelahakhunakorn 
The Nation

 

 

Sergeant Major First Class Somchai Thanabat, 32, has been praised as a hero after he died trying to save a trainee who failed to throw a live grenade at the Thanarat military camp in Prachuap Khiri Khan's Pran Buri district on Tuesday morning.

 

The explosion, which occurred five seconds after Kanokpol (whose last name was withheld) pulled out the grenade's pin, instantly killed Somchai who snatched the explosive. 

 

The blast tore off the trainee's lower arm. Somchai is survived by his wife and their 11-year-old daughter.

 

Somchai's funeral was held at his hometown Chumphon's Tha Sae district. 

 

"He was nice and friendly so he was loved by friends and villagers. He often came to visit relatives and he was helpful to others and never boasted about being a soldier. His dream was to become a commissioned officer, but he passed away first. He died a hero, a responsible instructor who saved his trainee during dangerous training," said childhood friend, a Bangkok-based engineer Naran Daengsakol, 33.

 

After his parents died, Somchai was raised by his foster mother Taem Buchatien, 78, who had a rubber plantation in Tha Sae. He studied at Ban Khanthasap School and completed an advanced vocational certificate at Thasae Industrial and Community College before being drafted to serve at Thanarat Camp. 

 

He later became an army instructor.

 

Defence Ministry spokesman Lt-Gen Kongcheep Tantravanich said Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan offered his condolences to the families of Somchai and the injured trainee. 

 

The army would provide them with aid, including for Somchai's funeral and Kanokpol's medical expenses, Kongcheep said. A probe into the incident would step up safety measures, he added. 

 

Army spokesman Colonel Winthai Suvaree said commander-in-chief Apirat Kongsompong offered his condolences and financial assistance to the two families.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30370610

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-06-05

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[Maverell]

RIP. But I think there should be a rethink of training procedures. This should not have happened.

[DoctorG]

It is scary the first time you handle a live grenade, but it is incumbent upon the instructor to make you relax as much as possible. Of course, some people will never be able to achieve an effective throw and are dangerous to have in the pit.

I really do not know what you do with people who are shaking so much that they are likely to drop the grenade.

[hotchilli]

8 hours ago, Maverell said:

RIP. But I think there should be a rethink of training procedures. This should not have happened.

It only happens when you pull-out the pin and fail to throw the grenade !!!

[Tom89]

That should have been the top story today. An NCO giving his life to protect a fellow soldier, not a story about an ex-general taking power. 

[colinneil]

33 minutes ago, Tom89 said:

That should have been the top story today. An NCO giving his life to protect a fellow soldier, not a story about an ex-general taking power. 

Fully agree with you the NCO was a hero, yet all the news is about a man who initially seized power using the gun.

[Srikcir]

If the training facility had been thoughtfully prepared

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The explosion, which occurred five seconds after Kanokpol (whose last name was withheld) pulled out the grenade's pin

Thailand grenades have no "spoon?"

Pulling the pin shouldn't in itself trigger the grenade.

[justin case]

thailand is at war with which countries that they need a big army, submarines and more millionaire generals than the USA ?

[overherebc]

On 6/6/2019 at 4:09 AM, Srikcir said:

If the training facility had been thoughtfully prepared

Thailand grenades have no "spoon?"

Pulling the pin shouldn't in itself trigger the grenade.

M67 I believe is the standard use grenade. Nervous recruit could if shaking a bit release it with the pin and panic.

[Vacuum]

Don't the train the recruits with 'blanks' before they're allowed to use the real ones?

[KC 71]

R.I.P Fella


Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect

[neeray]

On ‎6‎/‎5‎/‎2019 at 9:39 PM, Tom89 said:

That should have been the top story today. An NCO giving his life to protect a fellow soldier, not a story about an ex-general taking power. 

But we all know that the Ex General or his Deputy would have done exactly what Somchai did. Hmm

 

Condolences to his wife and now fatherless daughter.

[gk10002000]

On ‎6‎/‎8‎/‎2019 at 6:29 PM, Vacuum said:

Don't the train the recruits with 'blanks' before they're allowed to use the real ones?

It sure seems strange.  Heck even when I was qualifying with pistols, they gave us empty guns, dummy ammunition, let us hold, point the weapon, practice loading and unloading it.  I just can't fathom how the trainee wouldn't throw the darn thing.  Maybe he was not holding the grenade properly when he pulled the pin out?   Maybe he was being yelled at and distracted and humiliated as is often done with grunt training and was so flustered he froze?