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Army investigates latest death at Fort Hood

FORT HOOD, Texas — Army officials are investigating how a soldier died in his Fort Hood barracks, the latest in a string of deaths at the Central Texas post the past two months.

Cpl. Scott Vickrey, 23, of Fayetteville, Ark., was found unconscious Sunday night by his squad leader and was pronounced dead after medical services personnel arrived, according to Fort Hood officials. His cause of death has not been determined.

A U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division official did not immediately return calls to The Associated Press on Wednesday seeking comment about Vickrey’s death or several others. At least six deaths have been reported since late July at the sprawling post that’s home to about 52,000 troops.

Vickrey was a combat engineer with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. Vickrey served in Iraq in 2004-05. His awards include two Army Commendation medals, the National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal and Global War on Terrorism Medal.

Another soldier found unresponsive in his barracks, Spc. Jared Arnn, died Saturday at a hospital from internal bleeding from an existing medical condition, Fort Hood officials said.

Arnn, 21, of Boonville, Ind., was an avionics repair specialist with the 615th Aviation Support Battalion, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division. Arnn helped in relief flights to the Texas Gulf Coast after Hurricane Ike. He previously served in South Korea and his awards include the Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Medal.

Army officials previously said they were investigating a Sept. 11 fire in a Fort Hood duplex that killed Spc. Aaron Lynn Allmandinger, 22, of Mulberry, Ind.

Also, three soldiers were found dead at Fort Hood in a two-week span, all from different units.

Pfc. Travis Edward Dowd, 22, of Tallahassee, Fla., was found dead Aug. 12 in his room after he failed to report to formation.

Pvt. Eric Jonathan McSherry, 20, of Webster, was found dead of unknown causes Aug. 4, but Fort Hood officials declined to say exactly where or by whom he was found.

The body of Spc. Donald James Scott Jr., 28, from Boyceville, Wis., was found July 29 by a game warden in a training area, although his unit was not doing training exercises at the time, Fort Hood officials said.

At a Killeen apartment near Fort Hood on Sept. 8, a lieutenant who had gone to ask about missing military equipment was killed by a soldier, who then committed suicide.

Spc. Jody Michael Wirawan, 22, of Eagle River, Ala., who was to be discharged soon, fatally shot 1st Lt. Robert Bartlett Fletcher, 24, of Jensen Beach, Fla. Killeen police who arrived fired shots at Wirawan but he turned the gun on himself, Fort Hood officials said.