CHARLESTON, SC — The U.S. 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. 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.
Castaneda joined the Army in January 2015. After basic training and infantry advanced individual training at Fort Benning, Ga., he arrived at Fort Drum in May 2015 and deployed with his unit in August to Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, the Army said in a statement.
Castaneda’s awards and decorations include the Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Army Achievement Medal (Posthumous).
Castaneda is survived by his mother and grandfather.
— The Associated Press contributed to this report
