Death of a Fort Hood Soldier

FORT HOOD, Texas – Department of Defense officials have released the name of a Soldier who died Oct. 18 in Kuwait.  The cause of death is unknown and is still under investigation.

Staff Sgt. Lyle D. Turnbull, 31, was born in Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands, but his home of record is listed as Norfolk, Va. He entered active-duty service on March 19, 2002, as a Multichannel Transmissions Systems Operator Maintainer.

He arrived at Fort Hood in February 2010 and was assigned to 62nd Expeditionary Signal Battalion, 11th Signal Brigade.

Turnbull’s awards and decorations include three Army Commendation Medal, two Army Achievement Medals, three Meritorious Unit Citations, three Army Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal (2 Campaign Stars), the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the NCO Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, and five Overseas Service Ribbons.

“Staff Sergeant Turnbull was a highly esteemed non-commissioned officer,” said Col. James C. Parks, III, brigade commander, 11^th Signal Brigade.  “He was a great American Soldier, an exceptional man, father and husband. We know that the Soldiers, with whom Staff Sergeant Turnbull served, respected and loved him. No words can bring Lyle back, but his memory will endure throughout the history of the Messenger Battalion and the Thunderbird Brigade.”

Turnbull was posthumously promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant.  He will also be posthumously awarded the Army Commendation Medal, his fourth award and the Gold Order of Mercury.  

 A unit memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Spirit of Fort Hood Chapel here.