Fort Hood: Two soldiers die in separate training accidents

Training accidents in Germany and California have claimed the lives of two Fort Hood soldiers, the post announced Wednesday.

Spc. Octavious Deshon Lakes Jr., 22, of Buford, Ga., died from injuries sustained in a tactical vehicle accident on Monday at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif.

Spc. Andrew S. Ortega, 32, was killed on Sunday, at the Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, the post said in a press release Wednesday.

Both accidents are investigation, the post said, but no further details were released.

Lakes joined the Army in March 2017 and had been assigned since June 2017 to Fort Hood’s 3rd Brigade Engineer Battalion, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.

He deployed to Kuwait from July 2017 to October 2017.

“On behalf of Greywolf soldiers and families, Command Sgt. Maj. 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 Armored Brigade Combat Team.

“His dedication, professionalism and spirit will be missed, but never forgotten.”

Ortega joined the Army in September 2016 and was assigned in March 2017 to Fort Hood.

He was on his first rotation to Europe in support of Atlantic Resolve.

"On behalf of the soldiers and families of IRONHORSE, I extend my deepest condolences to Spc. Ortega's family. Andrew's service and dedication to the brigade's mission are displays of his true character and professionalism," said Col. Wilson R. Rutherford IV, commander of the 1st ABCT.

"Andrew is a true American hero, who served his country honorably and made many sacrifices in support of our mission. The IRONHORSE soldiers are deeply saddened by our loss."