Fort Hood names victims swept away in flood

FORT HOOD, TX -- Fort Hood officials have released the names of eight of the nine soldiers from the Central Texas Army post who died when their truck was washed away in a rain-swollen creek during training.

Eight of the dead have been identified as Staff Sgt. Miguel Angel Colonvazquez, Spc. Christine Faith Armstrong, Pfc. Brandon Austin Banner, Pfc. Zachery Nathaniel Fuller, Pvt. Isaac Lee Deleon, Pvt. Eddy Raelaurin Gates, Pvt. Tysheena Lynette James, and Cadet Mitchell Alexander Winey.

Officials with the post say the name of the ninth soldier who died won't be released until family can be notified.

The accident, which remains under investigation, happened Thursday when the 2-ton truck overturned in Owl Creek at Fort Hood. Three more soldiers were injured but survived. They were released from Fort Hood's hospital Friday.

Staff Sgt. Colonvazquez, 38, of Brooklyn, N.Y., entered active-duty military service in July 2003 as a motor transport operator and was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, since May 2011.

Colonvazquez deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from September 2005 to September 2006 and in support of Operation New Dawn from May 2011 to November 2011. He also deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from March 2008 to May 2009 and from July 2013 to March 2014.

He was awarded five Army Commendation Medals, five Army Achievement Medals, three Army Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star, Iraq Campaign Medal with campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, two Korea Defense Service Medals, Army Service Ribbon, three Overseas Service Ribbons, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal, Driver and Mechanic Badge with wheeled vehicle and Marksmanship Qualification Badge-Marksman with Carbine.

Spc. Armstrong, 27, of Twentynine Palms, Calif., entered active-duty military service in February 2014 as a motor transport operator and was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, since September 2014.

Armstrong's awards and decorations include a National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and Overseas Service Ribbon.

Pfc. Banner, 22, of Milton, Fla., entered active-duty military service in March 2014 as a motor transport operator and was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, since July 2014.

Banner's awards and decorations include National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon and the Marksmanship Qualification Badge-Sharpshooter with Carbine.

Pfc. Fuller, 23, of Palmetto, Fla., entered active-duty military service in November 2015 as a motor transport operator and was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, since April 2016.

Fuller's awards and decorations include a National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Army Service Ribbon.

Pvt. Deleon, 19, of San Angelo, Texas, entered active-duty military service in November 2015 as a motor transport operator and was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, since April 2016.

Deleon's awards and decorations include a National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.

Pvt. Gates, 20, of Dunn, N.C., entered active-duty military service in December 2015 as a motor transport operator and was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, since April 2016.

Gates's awards and decorations include a National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal and Army Service Ribbon.

Pvt. James, 21, of Jersey City, N.J., entered active-duty military service in November 2015 as a motor transport operator and was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, since April 2016.

James's awards and decorations include a National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal and Army Service Ribbon.

Cadet Winey, 21, of Valparaiso, Ind., was a member of the United States Military Academy Class of 2018, assigned to Company B, First Regiment. He was a graduate of Chesterton High School in Chesterton, Indiana. He reported to West Point on July 2, 2014.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.