Army sergeant first class found dead in home near Fort Riley

A soldier assigned to the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, KS was found dead at his off-base home over the weekend.

Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Johnson, 46, was pronounced dead by first responders after he was found by a friend at his home in Junction City on Saturday.

According to Fort Riley officials he was an artillery mechanic with Battery F, 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our great teammate, Sgt. 1st Class Johnson,” said Lt. Col. Richard Ikena Jr., Johnson’s commander. “Our team is rallying to support Sgt. 1st Class Johnson’s family, teammates and friends through these challenging times.”

Johnson had served in the Army for 24 years, completing numerous deployments around the world. He deployed to South Korea in 1998, Kuwait in 2002; Iraq in 2003, 2007 and 2010; and again to South Korea in 2016.

According to The Mercury, he had been at Fort Riley since September 2014.

is awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Presidential Unit Citation Award, Meritoiurs Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Certificate of Achievement, Driver and Mechanic Badge, a Driver and Mechanic with Driver — Wheeled Vehicles and Driver and Mechanic Badge with Driver — Tracked Vehicles.

The Junction City Police Deparment is investigating his death. The Mercury reports Johnson is the ninth soldier to die at or near Fort Riley in the last six months.

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