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Entrance gate sign at Fort Sill.

A 22-year-old Pennsylvania National Guard soldier died while participating in boot camp at Fort Sill, Okla., according to officials at the Army base. (Fort Sill)

A 22-year-old Pennsylvania National Guard soldier died while participating in boot camp at Fort Sill, Okla., according to officials at the Army base.

Spc. Ruben Noel Rodriguez was training to become a truck driver for the Army and died Jan. 16 receiving medical treatment at a local hospital, according to Fort Sill. Officials did not say why he was receiving treatment or whether it was related to his training.

His death is under investigation.

A picture of Ruben Rodriguez.

Spc. Ruben Noel Rodriguez was training to become a truck driver for the Army and died Jan. 16. (Chomko Funeral Home)

“Spc. Rodriguez was dedicated to serving his country and was just beginning his journey as a soldier. His loss is deeply felt, not only within our Fort Sill community but also in his Pennsylvania National Guard unit,” said Col. Reginald White, commander of the 434th Field Artillery Brigade, which oversees basic training at the base.

Rodriguez was from Olyphant, Pa., and enlisted last month, according to the Pennsylvania National Guard. He was assigned to Headquarters Support Company, 55th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade.

He is survived by his parents, four siblings and two nephews, according to his obituary. 

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Rose L. Thayer is based in Austin, Texas, and she has been covering the western region of the continental U.S. for Stars and Stripes since 2018. Before that she was a reporter for Killeen Daily Herald and a freelance journalist for publications including The Alcalde, Texas Highways and the Austin American-Statesman. She is the spouse of an Army veteran and a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in journalism. Her awards include a 2021 Society of Professional Journalists Washington Dateline Award and an Honorable Mention from the Military Reporters and Editors Association for her coverage of crime at Fort Hood.

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