A Second Female Soldier Dies at Fort Bliss Within 7 Months

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Cars wait to enter Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas.
Cars wait to enter Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, Tuesday Sept. 9, 2014. (AP Photo/Juan Carlos Llorca)

For the second time in a year, a female soldier at Fort Bliss, Texas, has died.

Pvt. Marriah Pouncy, 20, was found unresponsive in her barracks room Monday and later pronounced dead, Army officials announced Thursday.

The specifics surrounding the death are under investigation, but foul play is not suspected, officials said. Pouncy was a human resources specialist assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Armored Division Combat Aviation Brigade.

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"Our deepest condolences go out to the family, friends, and fellow soldiers of Pvt. Marriah Pouncy. Pvt. Pouncy was a committed soldier, friend, and valued member of the Iron Eagle Team. Her loss is not just felt within our formation, but across the Army," said Col. Geoffrey Whittenberg, commander of 1st Armored Division Combat Aviation Brigade.

Pouncy's death has similarities to that of Pfc. Asia Graham, who was found dead in her barracks on Dec. 31, 2020. Graham was also a human resources specialist assigned to the 1st Armored Division Combat Aviation Brigade. Investigators say Graham's death was caused by ingesting a mixture of fentanyl and synthetic cannabinoids.

-- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon.

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