Third reported soldier death near base within past month
A young Filipino U.S. soldier was found dead last week near the Fort Hood Army base in Texas, marking the third soldier death in the area within the past month.
Private Mejhor Morta, 26, was found unresponsive on July 17 in the vicinity of Stillhouse Lake, about 20 miles from the base, officials said on Tuesday, July 21.
“The Black Knight family is truly heartbroken by the tragic loss of Private Mejhor Morta,” said Lt. Col. Neil Armstrong, commander of 1st Bn. 5th Cav. Regt. “I would like to send my heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and loved ones.”
He added, “My thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time. Private Morta was a great Trooper and his loss is felt by every member within our formation.”
Morta lived in Pensacola, Florida before joining the Army in September 2019 where he served as a Bradley Fighting Vehicle mechanic.
Since May, Morta was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.
Morta also received three awards — the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the National Defense Service medal, and the Army Service Ribbon.
A Facebook page appearing to belong to Morta says that he is from Davao City, Philippines.
“I reached out to his sister today and they are currently in the Philippines,” Hunter Proffitt, a friend of Morta, told 25 News. “He literally came over here, he joined the U.S. Army to help move his family over here. He wanted to move his family. He wanted to make a better life for himself and then we find out that this happens.”
Morta’s body was found in the man-made lake by fishermen sometime after midnight last Friday, NPR reported. The sheriff’s department said the fishermen were in a boat near the base of the lake’s dam.
Justice of Peace Garland Potvin ordered an autopsy that had a preliminary result showing the cause of death being “consistent with a drowning,” the sheriff’s department added. The medical examiner’s office in Dallas, Texas was performing a full autopsy report.
Morta’s death marks the third time in a month that a soldier was found dead near the Fort Hood area.
Officials said Tuesday that the incident was currently under investigation by the Bell County Sheriff’s Department.
On June 21, skeletal remains were found in a field in Killeen, Texas, about three miles from the base. The remains were identified to have belonged to 24-year-old soldier Pvt. Gregory Scott Morales, also known as Gregory Wedel, who was missing since August 2019.
On July 1, the body of Fort Hood soldier Pfc. Vanessa Guillen was found dismembered about 20 miles east of the base, after she had been reported missing since April. Another soldier, Aaron Robinson, was a suspect in the case and killed himself as police came to arrest him. Robinson’s girlfriend, Cecily Aguilar, was arrested and charged with conspiracy to tamper with evidence.
Following the death of Wedel and Guillen and before Morta’s, State Senator Carol Alvarado who represents Texas Senate District 6 said that the events could not be “ignored or overlooked.”
“Ft. Hood is broken and it calls into question the competency of their leadership. As such, an independent and thorough investigation into the leadership at Ft. Hood is well within reason,” said Alvarado, adding that her office has been working with Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia’s office in a coordinated investigation effort.
There is no indication that the deaths of Morales, Guillen, and Morta are connected as of press time.
