Officials: Soldier from South Carolina dies in Iraq

FORT DRUM, N.Y. — The Army says a soldier from South Carolina has died during a non-combat incident at a military facility in Iraq.

A spokeswoman for the Army says 19-year-old Pvt. Christopher Castaneda died Thursday at the Al Asad Air Base in Iraq.

Spokeswoman Kathleen Young said in a statement Friday that Castaneda died in a "non-combat related incident," but provided no further details. The Army did not immediately respond to a request for additional information.

Officials said Castaneda was from Fripp Island, South Carolina. He was an infantryman who joined the Army in January.

He was stationed at Fort Drum in New York before his troop deployed to Iraq in August.

The Army says he has been posthumously awarded the Army Achievement Medal.

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