The man killed Thursday when a pick-up truck he was working on fell from its jack has been identified as Greg Raimondo, public affairs director for the Army Corps of Engineer’s Vicksburg District.

Warren County Deputy Coroner Kelda Bailess, who pronounced him dead at the scene, confirmed Raimondo’s death Friday morning.

“Today is a somber day for the District. Greg was an exemplary man as a warrior and officer in the U.S. Army, as a public affairs officer in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and as a husband, father, son, mentor and a friend to many,” said Col. Michael C. Derosier, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg District. “Our deepest condolences go out to Greg’s family and friends. It was an honor to have served with Greg, and I will miss him greatly and know that he will be missed by many throughout the Corps, the District and the Vicksburg community.”

According to Sheriff Martin Pace, at approximately 5:33 p.m. Thursday, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call that an adult male appeared to have been trapped under a pick-up truck at the Pecan Ridge apartment complex on Culkin Road.

Pace said deputies were on the scene in less than five minutes and found Raimondo under the front end of a late model Chevrolet pick-up truck.

“According to neighbors who had spoken to him earlier as well as what we found, it appeared he was rotating the tires as well as possibly changing the oil,” Pace said. “As another neighbor drove in, they saw the car and realized he was trapped.”

Units from the Culkin Fire Department and Vicksburg Fire Department responded to the scene and removed Raimondo from under the truck, and he was pronounced dead by Bailess, Pace said.

He added that when units arrived on scene, the front wheels were off of the truck and Raimondo was lying under the front of the truck on his back and it appeared the jack had failed causing the truck to tip forward on top of him. No one witnessed the accident occurring, Pace said.

Pace said it appears to be an accident and foul play is not suspected, but the body has been sent for an autopsy.

“I have known and worked with Greg since the Mississippi River flood of 2011,” Pace said. “Greg was always professional and courteous and devoted to the mission of the U.S. Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District. We will miss Greg personally and professionally in this community for years to come.”

Raimondo was a native of St. Louis, Missouri and served in the United States Army for 26 years. Prior to his retirement in 2012 as a lieutenant colonel, Raimondo served as the deputy commander of the Vicksburg District.

“Greg was a great person to work with,” said Kavanaugh Breazeale, public affairs officer for the 412th Theater Engineer Command in Vicksburg. “He was very knowledgeable about the US Army Corps Of Engineers. We worked closely together when he was the Deputy Commander for the Vicksburg District and then we continued to work closely together when he became the Public Affairs Officer. He will be missed by many.”

After his retirement from active duty, Raimondo rejoined the Army Corps of Engineers as a civilian employee serving as a public affairs officer and spokesperson for the Vicksburg District, a position he held until his death Thursday.

“It is absolutely tragic. Greg was not only a professional soldier, he was just a good guy. He was a really good friend of mine,” said Warren County Emergency management director John Elfer. “I have known Greg for many years and he really helped us out in any event we were having with emergency management. He always was available and he always knew how to connect us with the people at the Corps of Engineers we needed to talk to. He is going to be missed and that is going to be a big set of shoes for somebody to fill. It is just absolutely tragic that he is gone and I am going to miss him for the rest of my life.”