DENVER – A Fort Carson soldier enlisted for nearly 20 years drowned Thursday while off-duty in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jose Eduardo Lopez-Cobena, a New York native stationed at Fort Carson since February 2014 who was deployed to Joint Task Force – Guantanamo, died “in a non-combat alleged drowning incident while deployed in support of detainee operations,” according to Fort Carson.
The 40-year-old Lopez-Cobena was stationed with the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. The U.S. Army says he had been serving in a year-long change of station assignment at Guantanamo.
He enlisted in the Army in August 1997, was deployed to Iraq twice – from February 2003 to October 2003, and again from June 2007 to September 2008. He had been at Joint Task Force-Guantanamo Bay since last June.
An ordnance branch warrant officer, Lopez-Cobena arrived at Fort Carson Feb. 10, 2014.
While enlisted, Lopez-Cobena earned numerous awards, including the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal and two Army Commendation medals, among several others.
Fort Carson said a photo of Lopez-Cobena was not immediately available.
---------
Sign up for Denver7 email alerts to stay informed about breaking news and daily headlines.