Army Spc. Octavious Deshon Lakes Jr. was identified Wednesday by service officials as the soldier who died from injuries sustained in a tactical vehicle accident Jan. 14 at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif.
Lakes, 22, was killed in a rollover accident in an M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle during an exercise. Three others were injured.
Lakes, whose home of record is listed as Buford, Ga., entered the Army in March 2017 as a combat engineer. He was assigned to 3rd Brigade Engineer Battalion, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, at Fort Hood, Texas, since June 2017.
He deployed in support of Operation Spartan Shield in Kuwait from July to October 2017.
“On behalf of Greywolf soldiers and families, Command Sgt. Maj. (Alfred) Ronneburg and I would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Spc. Octavious Lakes,” said Col. Kevin S. Capra, commander of the 3rd “Greywolf” Brigade at Fort Hood. “His dedication, professionalism and spirit will be missed, but never forgotten.”
Lakes’ awards and decorations include two Army Achievement Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and Overseas Service Ribbon.
The accident is under investigation by the Army’s Combat Readiness Safety Center.
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