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Paratrooper Who Died After Landing In Lake Identified

Soldier Had Jumped To Retain Proficiency

Tampa Fire Rescue photo

Firefighters received a call about 9:30 a.m. Thursday about a paratrooper in distress that landed in a large lake at Gadsden Park in South Tampa.

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By VALERIE KALFRIN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 30, 2009

Updated: 01/30/2009 04:29 pm

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Col. James L. Merchant III

TAMPA - The Special Operations paratrooper who died Thursday afternoon after landing in a lake at Gadsden Park has been identified as Col. James L. Merchant III, 46.

Air Force Col. Larry Martin said Merchant was participating in parachute training.

Merchant began his military career in 1984. He was commissioned in the Army through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at The Citadel, according to a news release.

Merchant, a Charleston, S.C., native, graduated from The Citadel with a bachelor of science degree. He was assigned to U.S. Special Operations Command in September 2005 and served as an information operations planner before becoming chief of the Information Operations Division.

He is survived by his wife, Terri Merchant of Valrico; his father and mother, retired Army Col. James L. and Susan Merchant of St. Augustine, respectively; and a brother, Robert S. Merchant.

Earlier today, Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio issued condolences on the city's behalf to U.S. Special Operations Command regarding Merchant's death.

"We have great respect and affection for our men and women in the military," Iorio said in a prepared statement. "We consider MacDill Air Force Base to be an important part of our community. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family and the larger family at MacDill."

Military officials said the soldier had died at Tampa General Hospital after landing that morning in the lake at Gadsden Park, which abuts the base. The 6th Air Mobility Wing has convened an interim safety board to collect evidence, officials said.

Air Force Capt. Wes Ticer said the soldier was heading to a drop zone on the base. He was not part of the base's parachute-demonstration team but had jumped to keep his proficiency; personnel with his level of skill are required to complete a certain number of jumps per year, Ticer said.

The soldier landed in the lake about 9:30 a.m. Thursday, after lifting his legs to clear power lines, officials said.

Tampa firefighter Matthew Martinez, 29, who was off-duty and fishing with a friend from out of town, were among those who dove in after the paratrooper.

Martinez said the man's parachute was fully open and that he was swimming at first before disappearing below the surface.

Tampa police diver Scotty MacLean found the paratrooper unconscious about 10:10 a.m. Thursday in about 20 feet of water, roughly 20 yards offshore, officials said.

Tampa Fire Rescue Capt. Bill Wade said rescuers at first rushed to haul the parachute from the water, not realizing the paratrooper had detached himself from it.

Wade estimated the water temperature Thursday to be in the upper 50s. The lake is about 10 to 12 acres and about 22 feet deep where the paratrooper landed.

Visibility is poor, roughly about one foot, Wade said.

Reporter Josh Poltilove contributed to this report. Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800.

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