A paratrooper assigned to Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson, Alaska, was found dead in his barracks room Thursday night.
Spc. Milik Jaquez Craig was found dead by a fellow soldier just before midnight, Army Alaska officials said in a news release.
The circumstances of his death are under investigation by the Army’s Criminal Investigation Division. However, John Pennell, a spokesman for the command, said COVID-19 is not suspected.
Craig was an infantryman assigned to 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment. The 20-year-old from Columbia, South Carolina, joined the Army in March 2018. He attended training at Fort Benning, Georgia, before arriving in Alaska in August 2018.
Craig’s awards included the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon and the Parachutist Badge.
"Milik Craig was an amazing paratrooper, teammate, and friend to all Geronimos,” said Lt. Col. Matthew Myer, 1st Battalion commander, in a prepared statement. “His personal leadership, commitment, and hard work will be sorely missed by us all.”
Kyle Rempfer was an editor and reporter who has covered combat operations, criminal cases, foreign military assistance and training accidents. Before entering journalism, Kyle served in U.S. Air Force Special Tactics and deployed in 2014 to Paktika Province, Afghanistan, and Baghdad, Iraq.
