New Jersey Woman, 21, Among 9 Soldiers Killed At Fort Hood

A New Jersey woman has been identified as one of the nine Fort Hood service members killed during a training exercise last week, according to the U.S. Army.

Pvt. Tysheena James was among those killed while the group was attempting to cross a flooded creek during an exercise in Texas on Thursday. The group’s light medium tactical vehicle flipped over in the flooded creek, according to Fort Hood.

James, of Jersey City, entered active-duty military service in November 2015 as a motor transport operator and has been assigned to 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division in 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.

On her Facebook page, James showed herself as a hard worker who never forgot to wish people happy birthday. Long before she died, friends said they missed having her around.

Besides James, others were killed include: Staff Sgt. Miguel Angel Colonvazquez, 38, of Brooklyn; Spc. Christine Faith Armstrong, 27, Milton, Fla.; Pfc. Zachery Nathaniel Fuller, 23, of Palmetto, Fla.; Pvt. Isaac Lee Deleon, 19, of San Angelo, Texas; Pvt. Eddy Raelaurin Gates, 20, of Dunn, North Carolina; and Cadet Mitchell Alexander Winey, 21, Valparaiso, Ind.

One other person was not identified because that soldier's next-of-kin has yet to be notified.