Army Ranger from area dies in parachute accident

McAllister

An Army Ranger from the Richmond Highway area died last month in a parachute training accident in Arizona.

Sgt. Maj. Samuel Morris McAllister, 45, died on Jan. 24 during free-fall training, a U.S. Army Special Operations Command spokesman told Army Times.

McAllister leaves behind a wife, three daughters and a stepson.

Lee District Supervisor Jeff McKay paid tribute to McAllister prior to a moment of silence at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, noting McAllister’s family lived in the Mount Vernon district. 

“He was an outstanding soldier, and died doing what he loved,” McKay said. 

According to Army Times, McAllister was currently serving with the 75th Ranger Regiment. He was a veteran of seven deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, and had been awarded two Bronze Stars, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal and three Army Commendation medals.

McKay’s office said that he had previously been stationed at Fort Belvoir.

McAllister’s funeral was held Monday at the Everly-Wheatley Funeral Home in Alexandria. His memorial page can be viewed here.