Ft. Huachuca releases the name of the soldier found dead in hotel | News

Officials at Ft. Huachuca released the name of the soldier found dead in a Sierra Vista hotel room. Private Christopher J. Perez’s body was discovered Aug. 21.

The Schulenburg, Texas native entered active-duty in May 2004, as a cable systems installer-maintainer. He arrived at Fort Huachuca in September 2004, and was assigned to the 69th Cable Company, 40th Expeditionary Signal Battalion. In 2010 he was assigned to Company A, 40th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, 11th Theater Tactical Signal Brigade. Among his many awards and decorations are:  the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the NCO Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon and the NATO Medal.

"It is never a good day to lose one of your own, and today is no exception," said Lt. Col. Andrew McClelland, 40th ESB commander.  "It is hard to accept and deal with the loss of a Soldier and one that had volunteered to serve his nation in time of war and he did that well.  Our hearts and prayers go out to his family, and we are ready to assist the family with any and all of their needs through this trying time."

"Today, A Company, 40th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, lost one of our own," said Capt. Saphira Ocasio, Company A commander. "It is an unfortunate event; I am at loss for words.  We are keeping him and his family in our thoughts and prayers and we stand ready to assist his family through the healing process."

The unit plans to hold a memorial service at Ft. Huachuca at a later, as yet undetermined, date.

Perez's cause of death is still under investigation by the Sierra Vista Police Department, who is receiving assistance from Fort Huachuca's Criminal Investigation Command.