Guard Member Dies on Border Duty
By Associated Press
3 hours ago

HARRISBURG, Pa. - A Pennsylvania National Guard member died after collapsing during a training mission in the 100-plus degree heat of the Arizona-Mexico border, a guard spokesman said Friday.

Spc. Kirsten Fike was two hours into the first day of a border surveillance mission when she collapsed on Wednesday. She died the next day, guard spokesman Capt. Cory Angell said.

Angell said the guard has not yet determined the cause of death.

Fike, 36, of Warren joined the guard last month after having served on active duty in the Air Force, Angell said. She was a member of the Greensburg-based detachment of the 28th Military Police Co. About 60 members of the company were serving their annual two-week training by working along the border.

President Bush announced plans in May to send 6,000 National Guard troops from across the country to support the Border Patrol. Bush said the mission would free up Border Patrol officers for active patrols while the guard members built fences, conducted routine surveillance and took care of administrative duties.

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