A soldier who died while deployed to the southwestern border has been identified as Pfc. Steven Hodges, 20, of Menifee, California, officials announced on Monday.
Hodges was found dead near Nogales, Arizona, on June 1, according to U.S. Northern Command.
No information about how he died was immediately available other than foul play is not suspected, officials said. The cause of death is under investigation
Hodges enlisted in the Army in 2017 and had been assigned as a grenadier with the 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 1-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, said Lt. Col. Roger Cabiness, a spokesman for the 7th Infantry Division.
“Every soldier in the Tomahawk Battalion is an essential member of our team,” his battalion commander Lt. Col. Sean Lyons said in a statement. “The loss of any soldier is deeply felt. Private First Class Steven Hodges is sorely missed by his teammates and the entire Tomahawk family. Every soldier is a national treasure.”
Hodges’ awards include the National Defense Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.
“We are grateful for all the young men and women who volunteer to serve our nation,” Lyons said. “We are humbled at the sacrifices their families continue to make on a daily basis, Steven and his family are in our prayers.”