A sailor assigned to Naval Health Clinic Charleston was killed after being tossed from the bed of a truck in the early hours of New Year’s Day.

According to local reports, Hospitalman Thomas Adrian Dion Campbell, 20, was thrown from the truck about 1:14 a.m. when the driver left the road and struck a tree.

Campbell’s father, Marti Campbell, called him a “wonderful son." Marti Campbell said he is a former master-at-arms who retired as a senior chief, and he is proud his son followed in his footsteps.

He declined further comment.

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Campbell had been assigned to the Charleston health clinic since Aug. 30, 2019 and enlisted in the sea service in late 2018, according to a Navy biography.

“Our Shipmate will always be remembered as an especially giving person of great character and we’re so fortunate to have witnessed his service," Naval Health Clinic Charleston commanding officer Capt. Kevin T. Prince, said in a statement to Navy Times.

"HN Thomas Campbell was: Strong. Gentle. Generous. Supportive. Helpful. Giving, and so much more. His deep dedication to the Navy was unrivaled and it is with an immense amount of sorrow that his presence will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with the service member’s family and shipmates during this difficult time.”

Naval Criminal Investigative Service spokesperson Jeff Houston told Navy Times Friday that the accident occurred on Naval Support Activity Charleston and no charges have been filed.

“Out of respect for the investigative process, and to protect witnesses, NCIS does not comment on or confirm details related to ongoing investigations,” Houston said.

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Navy Times editor’s note: Although the Navy increasingly is using “Hospital Corpsman Seaman" to designate E-3s in the HN rate — and this was the official listing in the military records we were sent for this sailor by his command — we’re sticking with Hospitalman.

Courtney Mabeus-Brown is the senior reporter at Air Force Times. She is an award-winning journalist who previously covered the military for Navy Times and The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, Va., where she first set foot on an aircraft carrier. Her work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Foreign Policy and more.

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