Specialist Juan Ortega Jr.

FORT HOOD, Texas – Fort Hood officials have released the name of a Soldier who died Feb. 21 2011 from injuries sustained from a motorcycle accident in Abilene, Texas.

Specialist Juan Ortega Jr., 23, whose home of record is Abilene, entered active duty service in February 2007 as a combat engineer. He was assigned to Company C, 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, since February 2011.

Ortega deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from October 2007 to May 2008 and from October 2009 to September 2010.

Ortega’s awards and decorations include two Army Commendation Medals, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, two Overseas Service Ribbons and Driver and Mechanic Badge.

Circumstances surrounding this accident are under investigation.