U.S. Army sergeant dies in Iraq, unofficial report suggests it was suicide

The Department of Defense announced the death of a soldier supporting Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq on Tuesday.

Sgt. Christina Marie Schoenecker of Arlington, Kansas, died Monday in Baghdad, Iraq.

The incident is under investigation, but a source, in Baghdad, told Popular Military Schoenecker’s death is believed to be a suicide.

In 2016, suicide became the number one cause of death for troops deployed to the Middle East to fight the Islamic State.

The 26-year-old was in the Army Reserves and assigned to the 89th Sustainment Brigade, which is based out of Wichita, Kansas.

The 89th Sustainment Brigade has a logistical mission to provide support to combat and combat support forces deployed in support of contingency operations within the designated combatant commander’s area of responsibility, according to the unit’s website.

“We express our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Sgt. Christina Marie Schoenecker,” Frankie Murphy, the command executive officer for the 451st Expeditionary Sustainment Command, said in an accompanying statement.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with them as they mourn the loss of a loved one. We’ve lost a valuable member of our team, and she will be sorely missed,” Murphy added.

According to documents obtained by the Military Times, Schoenecker had been in Iraq since June, on her first deployment while in the Army.

She enlisted in May 2009 as a human resources specialist and achieved the rank of sergeant in January 2015.

During her time in service, she earned the Army Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Army Service Ribbon, and the National Defense Service Medal.

© 2018 Bright Mountain Media, Inc.

All rights reserved. The content of this webpage may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written consent of Bright Mountain Media, Inc. which may be contacted at info@brightmountainmedia.com, ticker BMTM.