Soldiers mourn Fort Benning-based CSM killed in car crash

Soldiers this week mourned the death of a popular, decorated command sergeant major who died after a car accident sent his Jeep careening off a bridge between Columbus, Georgia, and Phenix City, Alabama.

Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Roy Morgan was driving west on U.S. Highway 280 over Oglethorpe Bridge at about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. Another driver — also a soldier — quickly changed lanes to avoid hitting a stalled vehicle, and instead hit the rear end of Morgan’s 1978 Jeep CJ7, causing it to veer off the road, Columbus Police Sgt. Chris Anderson told Army Times.

Morgan's vehicle hit the curb and cleared the guardrail before falling and getting caught in trees next to the Chattahoochee River. It came to rest 50 to 60 feet below the bridge, which crosses more than 100 feet above the banks. Anderson, who is supervising the investigation, said Morgan was thrown from the vehicle and landed on the Phenix City side of the river.

After being transported to a local hospital, Morgan, 50, was pronounced dead from blunt force trauma more than five hours after the accident at 4 p.m., according to the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer.

Morgan was the senior enlisted soldier of 2nd Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment, 194th Armored Brigade, at Fort Benning, Georgia, which trains tankers and cavalry scouts.

Command Sgt. Major Alan Hummel, the senior enlisted soldier for the Armor School, said in an Army news release that Morgan's soldiers regarded the seasoned infantryman as a “father figure.” Hummel called his death a “huge loss for the brigade.”

Lt. Col. Duane Patin, commander of 2nd Battalion, called Morgan a charismatic leader who took pride in his family — he leaves behind a wife, five children and four grandchildren — and his unit.

“He was the type of leader who improved any organization or soldier who was fortunate enough to be led by him. We are at a loss without his friendship and consistent optimism. He will be missed,” Patin said in the release.

Morgan’s military career began in 1984 with four years in the Marine Corps. The Montgomery, Alabama, native would then serve 10 years in his home state’s National Guard before joining the Army in 1998.

As a staff sergeant, he earned a Bronze Star with "V" device during the initial push into Baghdad during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, according to the Army. The citation read, in part, “as a squad leader, his courage under fire and unending enthusiasm inspired his team on the battlefield. His capability to perform multiple skilled tasks while under fire facilitated unparalleled success for the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized) to defeat enemy forces and liberate Iraq.”

His current brigade commander, Col. John Cushing, said Morgan had an enthusiasm for life and strived for excellence daily, and that “everyone wanted to be part of his team."

Maj. Justin Malone, now with 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas, served with Morgan during a different deployment to Iraq with 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. He called Morgan a dynamic personality and remembered him being respected throughout the brigade.

“I loved him like a brother,” Malone said. “He was a senior NCO who got the job done while showing tough love.”

Command Sgt. Major Lawrence Andrews of the 194th Armored Brigade called Morgan a “good friend and amazingly capable leader” who “truly cared about soldiers.” He praised Morgan’s training methods and impact on the quality of the force.

Soldier likely to be charged

Columbus police spoke to witnesses who said Morgan shifted to the right lane of the four-lane bridge (two each direction, separated by a curb) to avoid a stopped red pickup. That driver had exited his vehicle and was trying to signal people to get over.

Pfc. Justin Prohaska, 26, had been driving a white 2014 Jeep Wrangler behind Morgan. He told police he thought Morgan was simply changing lanes, but then saw the driver outside the truck.

He told police he slammed on the brakes and swerved to the right to change lanes and avoid crashing into the pickup. That’s when he struck the left rear end of Morgan’s Jeep, causing it to careen off the bridge. Anderson said he's never heard of a car going off that bridge before.

Police are still investigating, Anderson said. Asked whether charges have been filed, Anderson said "not yet, but that is coming." He didn't elaborate on specifics but said they would likely not be felony charges.