Special Forces soldier from Elmont dies

A decorated U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran from Elmont has died after collapsing while training in his new role as an Army Special Forces officer, officials said.

Capt. Juan Lightfoot, 34, a detachment commander in the 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, was participating in his unit's pre-scuba training.

The Army released no further details Thursday, citing an ongoing investigation.

Nassau County said that flags in government offices and buildings will be flown at half-staff in Lightfoot's honor.

It was only last month that Lightfoot completed a Special Forces qualification and realized a transfer he had sought since attending an assessment and selection course in 2008, the Army said.

The training took place at a base in Fort Bragg, N.C. Lightfoot died Sunday at Womack Army Medical Center.

Lightfoot is survived by his parents, Denise Carter and Damian Gennino of Elmont. No one answered Thursday at a home listed in their name. A Marine Corps sticker was stuck to the front door.

A graduate of Xavier High School, Lightfoot enlisted as a Marine finance records clerk in 1995. He completed basic training in 2004 and later served multiple deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Army said.

His military awards include the Combat Action Ribbon, Iraq and Afghanistan campaign medals and a parachutist badge.

Information on services was not immediately available. When they do take place, members of the Patriot Guard Riders motorcycle group will be standing in honor.

Members of the Nassau chapter of the national organization said they were requested by contacts at Fort Bragg.

"A lot of our members had no one waiting for them when they came back from Vietnam," said Jim McElroy, the region's senior ride captain. "We wanted to make sure that doesn't happen to anyone else."

With John Valenti