Freak Lightning Hits 23 National Guardsmen

C A M P  R I P L E Y, Minn., July 18, 2001 -- A lightning strike at a MinnesotaNational Guard camp sent nearly two dozen Marine Corps reserviststo hospitals, military officials said.

Col. Terry Dorenbush said he had no immediate word on thesoldiers' conditions and did not know if any were seriouslyinjured. Hospital spokesman Pat Rioux said one of the 23 soldiers broughtthere Tuesday night was in serious but stable condition. He saidseven had been discharged and he expected the others to bereleased. Lightning struck one of the bivouac sites in the training areaof the sprawling Camp Ripley in central Minnesota at about 8:40p.m., Dorenbush said. He said he didn't know which units wereinvolved or where they were from.