--- title: "US soldier in South Korea pronounced dead after being found unresponsive" description: "Spc. Jaggert Oakes was found unresponsive in his barracks at Camp Humphreys in South Korea on Wednesday. He was 22." date: "2024-05-18" modified: "2024-05-18" authors: - name: "Nicholas Slayton" job_title: "Contributing Editor" link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/nicholas-slayton.md" url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/soldier-jaggert-oakes-south-korea-barracks/" categories: - "Army" - "Around the World" - "Field Guide" - "Korea" - "Military Branches" - "Military Life" - "News" --- # US soldier in South Korea pronounced dead after being found unresponsive ![]() *Jaggert Oakes in Germany in 2021. (photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Hammond/U.S. Army)* A U.S. Army soldier stationed at Camp Humphreys in South Korea died on Wednesday, May 14. Spc. Jaggert Oakes, 22, was found unresponsive in his barracks at the base, according to an Army release. He was taken to a hospital on base and pronounced dead at 10:23 a.m. local time. At the time, Oakes was serving as a human resources specialist assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 11th Engineer Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade. “The 11th Engineer Battalion is deeply saddened by the loss of Spc. Jaggert Z. Oakes,” Lt. Col. Brent Kinney, commander of 11th Engineer Battalion, said in the Army release. “Spc. Oakes leaves behind a profound impact of friendship and camaraderie felt by all who had the privilege of serving alongside him. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends, and fellow Soldiers as we mourn this loss together.” ![]() *Spc. Jaggert Oakes (photo courtesy U.S. Army)* Army Criminal Investigation Division at Camp Humphreys is investigating Oakes’ death. However the Army release noted that no foul play is suspected. [**Subscribe to Task & Purpose Today**]()**. Get the latest military news and culture in your inbox daily.** Oakes joined the Army in 2019. The Barberton, Ohio native had been in South Korea for only a few months before his death. He previously served with 91st Brigade Engineer Battalion, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, training in Germany in 2021. During his time in the Army, Oakes received two Army Achievement Medals, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Global War on Terror Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Defense Medal and Army Service Ribbon. Camp Humphreys is the headquarters and main base for U.S. and United Nations forces in South Korea. The U.S. currently has approximately 28,500 service members in South Korea. ## The latest on Task & Purpose - **Marines want to** [**wear their uniform**]() **for high school graduation, but their school said no** - [**AC-130 gunship crewman**]() **killed in shooting with Florida sheriff deputy** - **The Space Cowboys: Guardians earn their spurs in** [**cavalry tradition**]() - **Soldier** [**detained in Russia**]() **may have been set up by girlfriend, mother says** - **Army debuts new recruiting ads aimed at** [**high-tech civilians**]() **rather than soldiers** ## Author Nicholas Slayton is a contributing editor for Task & Purpose, covering conflict for over 12 years, from the Arab Spring to the war in Ukraine. His previous reporting can be found on the non-profit Aslan Media, The Atlantic, Al Jazeera, The New Republic, The American Prospect, Architectural Digest, The Daily Beast, and the Los Angeles Downtown News. You can reach him at nicholas@taskandpurpose.com or find him on Twitter @NSlayton and Bluesky at @nslayton.bsky.social. ### Author social links [Twitter]()