Army investigating death of NC soldier at Texas military base on New Year’s Eve

Army officials are investigating the death of a 19-year-old soldier from North Carolina who was found unresponsive at a Texas military base on New Year’s Eve.

Pfc. Asia Graham of Cherryville was pronounced dead Thursday after her body was found in her barracks room at Fort Bliss, which is headquartered in El Paso. The circumstances surrounding her death are still under investigation, authorities said in a news release Saturday.

She joined the Army in July 2019 and arrived at Fort Bliss five months later after completing combat training in at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri and Fort Jackson near Columbia, South Carolina, according to the release.

Graham was assigned to the 1st Armored Division Combat Aviation Brigade, where she served as a human resource specialist.

“The Iron Eagle team is deeply saddened by the loss of our friend and teammate,” said Col. Geoffrey Whittenberg, the brigade’s commander.

“Pfc. Graham was a valued member of the Iron Eagle team and did an outstanding job for this Battalion,” he said in a statement. “Her loss is felt not just in our formations but across the Army. We lost a skilled human resource specialist who wanted nothing more than to serve her country and her battle buddies.”

Graham’s awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and an Army Service Ribbon.

The latest incident adds to a string of mysterious disappearances and deaths at or near Army posts in Texas.

Authorities are investigating the death of Drill Sgt. Jessica Mitchell, who was found fatally shot inside a bullet-riddled car on a San Antonio interstate on New Year’s Day, USA Today reported. Mitchell, 30, was on holiday leave from her assignment as a dental specialist at Army Medical Center of Excellence on JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, according to USA Today.

Fort Bliss authorities are still searching for Pfc. Richard Halliday, who disappeared from the base in July and was initially thought to have intentionally fled the post.

But it was another Army base that repeatedly made headlines in 2020. About 25 soldiers enlisted at Fort Hood died from suicide, accidents or homicide in the past year, including Spc. Vanessa Guillen, who was killed and dismembered before her remains were found in early July.

Investigators believe that a fellow soldier, Spc. Aaron Robinson, murdered her and then killed himself as police tried to take him into custody.

Fourteen senior Army officers were later fired or suspended after authorities blamed their leadership failures for the surge of violence at Fort Hood.

This story was originally published January 4, 2021 at 10:24 AM.