19-Year-Old Soldier From North Carolina Found Dead on New Year’s Eve at Fort Bliss

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AP Photo/Juan Carlos Llorca, File

By Araceli Cruz

January 4, 2021

Army officials announced the death of a 19-year-old female soldier from North Carolina. The death is being investigated.

Several soldiers lost their lives while stationed at their base in 2020, and before the year was over, one more soldier died. According to officials at Fort Bliss base in El Paso, Texas, a 19-year-old soldier died on New Year’s Eve. 

Pfc. Asia M. Graham, from Cherryville, North Carolina, was found unresponsive in her barracks room on Dec. 31 and was later pronounced deceased by Fort Bliss Department of Emergency Services personnel. The circumstances surrounding her death are currently under investigation.

RELATED: UPDATED: Fort Hood Soldier Elder Fernandes Died by Suicide, According to Medical Examiner

“The Iron Eagle team is deeply saddened by the loss of our friend and teammate. We send our deepest condolences and prayers to her friends and loved ones,” said Col. Geoffrey Whittenberg, 1st Armored Division Combat Aviation Brigade commander, in a press release. “Pfc. Graham was a valued member of the Iron Eagle team and did an outstanding job for this Battalion. Her loss is felt not just in our formations but across the Army. We lost a skilled human resource specialist who wanted nothing more than to serve her country and her battle buddies.”

The 19-year-old arrived at Fort Bliss station just a year ago in December 2019 as a human resource specialist. She first joined the army in July 2019. During her short period in the military, Graham was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon. 

Last month, after a months-long investigation over questionable deaths at Fort Hood (nine hours east of Fort Bliss), Secretary of the Army Ryan D. McCarthy released a report requesting an overhaul.  

RELATED: 36-Year-Old Fort Hood Soldier Is the Ninth to Die Since March

Aside from reporting that the SHARP Program (the Army’s Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention program) was ineffective, McCarthy also called for the firing of 14 army officials

“Leaders, regardless of rank, are accountable for what happens in their units and must have the courage to speak up and intervene when they recognize actions that bring harm to our soldiers and to the integrity of our institution,” McCarthy said in a statement. 

Fort Bliss had its own share of suspicious deaths, missing soldiers, and murders. In July 2020, Pvt. Richard Halliday went missing. The following month, El Paso police arrested 27-year-old Army Capt. Clevy Muchette Nelson-Royster for the alleged murder of Capt. Malcolm X. Perry

We have reached out to Fort Bliss officials and will update this story when they respond. 

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