An Army Reserve military policeman died during an on-duty incident in Saudi Arabia over the weekend.
Spc. Clayton James Horne, 23, of Atlanta, Louisiana, died Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital, as a result of wounds sustained in a non-combat related incident, the Pentagon said in a press release.
Horne was assigned to the 351st Military Police Company, 160th Military Police Battalion, an Army Reserve unit out of Ocala, Florida.
Maj. Valerie Palacios, a unit spokeswoman, told Army Times that Horne died in an on-duty incident, but could not disclose the manner in which it happened.
“Specialist Horne was a professional and was committed to the mission,” Palacios said in a statement. “We are grateful for his service. A thorough investigation is being conducted into the circumstances, and therefore we are unable to provide any further information at this time.”
Horne also worked as a Louisiana sheriff’s deputy, Stars and Stripes first reported.
Winn Parish Sheriff’s Office stated on their Facebook page that Horne died after he fell off a tower. Horne’s Facebook page states that he was engaged to be married.
The Department of Defense announced the death Monday, stating in a press release that the soldier was supporting Operation Inherent Resolve — the multi-state coalition mission to defeat remnants of the Islamic State.
A photo of the young soldier was not available from his command, Palacios said.
Horne’s awards and decorations included the National Defense Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon. He had been in the Army since May 2015 and the deployment to Saudi Arabia was his first.
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.
