FORT CAVAZOS, Texas — III Armored Corps officials are heartbroken by the loss of four Soldiers here in the past month. We offer our sincere condolences to their families, friends, and comrades. We grieve with them, and we are committed to supporting them in this difficult time.
“Our commands are committed to caring for our Soldiers and their families,” said Lt. Gen. Sean C. Bernabe, commanding general of III Armored Corps. “In the wake of these losses, our leaders are engaged with the families of the deceased to ensure they have the information and resources they need. Our leaders also work hard to protect the privacy of these families as they mourn the loss of a loved one.”
Based on the initial investigation in each case, there are no discernable demographic trends other than the fact that all four deceased Soldiers were male and assigned to 1st Cavalry Division. Each Soldier was a different race, ethnicity, and age. Each was assigned to a different battalion in 1st Cavalry Division, and each incident happened under different circumstances. Each death is being investigated independently and thoroughly.
The Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) is the lead investigating agency in these four Soldier death cases. Two of the four incidents took place off-post and are being investigated by CID in coordination with local law enforcement agencies. CID is the U.S. Army’s independent investigating agency.
Fort Cavazos is committed to supporting CID and ensuring the integrity of the investigations. In accordance with Army policy, we will not discuss the details of ongoing investigations. We will also take care not to jump to conclusions about cause of death, contributing factors, or other circumstances related to the deaths.
Each of the units of the deceased Soldiers is actively planning unit memorial services. The services are available to all Soldiers and to the family of the Soldiers.
We ask for respect and privacy for the grieving Soldiers and families during this difficult time. We also urge anyone who is struggling with mental health issues or suicidal thoughts to seek help immediately. The Army has a variety of resources available to assist Soldiers and their families, such as the Military Crisis Line, the Army Suicide Prevention Program, the Army Resilience Directorate, and the Army Behavioral Health System.
Out of respect for the privacy of the families involved, the names of the four Soldiers will not be released at this time. Additional details will be provided following coordination with the families.
We are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for our Soldiers and their families. On Aug. 16, in response to the first three of four deaths, the 1st Cavalry Division conducted a Call To Action. For that entire training day, the Soldiers and leaders of the Division facilitated small-group discussions and one-on-one counseling sessions to re-connect leaders with the led, to share personal stories about life’s stressors and coping skills, to discuss decision-making in times of stress, to strengthen the cohesion of teams, and to ensure working knowledge of resources and help. This training was supported by behavioral health professionals, chaplains, and other non-clinical counselors from across the Fort Cavazos installation.
Feedback from participants was extremely positive inspiring leaders at all levels to continue to make such interactions more routine throughout the 1st Cavalry Division. We will continue to work together as a team to prevent further tragedies.
If you, or someone you know needs help, support is available 24/7. You may call Military OneSource at 1-800-342-9647, or chat online for non-crisis concerns, such as relationship, family, or financial challenges. Service members, veterans, and their loved ones can also call the Military Crisis Line/Veterans Crisis Line at 988, chat at veteranscrisisline.net or text to 838255.
This free, confidential lifeline provides individuals in emotional crisis with support and connection to any needed services.
