Despite the Army’s recent concerted efforts to prevent suicide, a Hunter Army Airfield soldier killed himself Oct. 13.
The death of Pvt. Fernando Arroyo Ramos Jr. was confirmed by the Fort Stewart Public Affairs Office on Monday. Ramos was 19.
He was reportedly found dead in his barracks room at around 9 a.m. after he missed a morning formation. His cause of death was not released and it is still under investigation.
“Pvt. Ramos was born in New York and listed Quebradillas, Puerto Rico, as his home of record,” said Fort Stewart media chief Kevin Larson. “He was born on Oct. 30, 1989.”  
Ramos was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, Combat Aviation Brigade.
He served as an OH-58D aircraft maintainer for the 3rd Infantry Division since Feb. 26, and had never deployed. He joined the Army on Aug. 13, 2008.
Earlier this year, the Army trained soldiers to recognize the warning signs of suicide among their peers and taught them about suicide intervention.
These efforts are in part because of an increase in the Army’s suicide rates during the past four years. There were 128 confirmed suicides among active duty soldiers in 2008, according to the Department of Defense. The department reported 115 suicides among active duty soldiers in 2007.
3rd Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Tony Cucolo signed a proclamation Aug. 17, making this past September “Suicide Prevention Month.”
Cucolo said, “One loss of one life through suicide is too many.” He called upon all members of the Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield community to join him in fighting suicide, which he called “a preventable public health problem.”
The Team Stewart Web site, www.stewart.army.mil, provides contact information for those seeking help.
Additional resources include the Suicide Prevention Hotline, (800) 273-8255, the Army OneSource Help Line, (800) 342-9647 and www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.