Decorated soldier identified as one of two bodies found at Fort Bragg

Officials at the army’s largest base identified two men whose bodies were found in a training area earlier this week.

Their bodies were found at Fort Bragg in North Carolina on Wednesday. Officials say their deaths were unrelated to the unit’s formal formation.

The US Army Criminal Investigation Command is continuing its investigation. No further information was available.

One of the victims was Timothy Dumas, a 44-year-old military veteran of Pinehurst, North Carolina, according to a statement released by the military on Friday.

The US Army Special Operations Command identified the second corps as 37-year-old Master Sgt. William J. Lavigne II, a decorated soldier who deployed several times to Afghanistan and Iraq while posted to the US Army Special Operations Command.

“The loss of a soldier is always tragic,” said Lt. Col. Justin Duvall of the US Army Special Operations Command. “Master Sgt. Lavigne devoted himself to the military for 19 years and has deployed repeatedly in the defense of our nation. Our condolences to his family during this difficult time.

Fort Bragg, covering nearly 172,000 acres, is one of the largest military complexes in the world, according to its website. Located near Fayetteville, North Carolina, it has approximately 57,000 military personnel, 11,000 civilian employees and 23,000 family members.