A U.S. Army soldier assigned to Fort Wainwright, Alaska, was found dead at his off-base home on Friday, the Army first announced on Thursday.
The soldier, identified as 22-year-old Sgt. Christian Joseph D’Andrea, was found and pronounced dead at his off-base residence in Fairbanks, U.S. Army Alaska told American Military News in an email. The exact cause of D’Andrea’s death was unknown and the Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) is investigating the incident along with the Fairbanks
D’Andrea, an Amarillo, Texas native, was an Army gunner and ammunition team chief with the 2nd Battalion, 8th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division at Fort Wainwright.
D’Andrea joined Army in June 2017 and trained at Fort Sill, Oklahoma before being assigned to duty stations in South Korea and Fort Bliss, Texas. D’Andrea reported to Alaska in May of 2020.
D’Andrea had served as an Army gunner and ammunition team chief with the 2nd Battalion, 8th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, stationed at Fort Wainwright. The artillery regiment is nicknamed the “Automatic 8th.”
“The Automatic Family is deeply hurt by the loss of our teammate Sgt. Christian D’Andrea,” unit commander Lt. Col. Eugene Palka said in a prepared statement on Thursday. “He was a well-liked and respected member of our battalion. During this difficult time, we ask those distressed to seek assistance—and for all teammates to be attuned to Soldiers who may be having a difficult experience. Continue to look out and take care of each other.”
D’Andrea’s awards and decorations include an Army Commendation Medal, two Army Achievement Medals, an Army Good Conduct Medal, a National Defense Service Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, a Korea Defense Service Medal and an Army Service Ribbon.
