WIESBADEN, Germany – A Soldier assigned to the 44th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, 2nd Theater Signal Brigade in Baumholder, Germany, died Dec. 9, of COVID-19 complications.
Sgt. Setariki Korovakaturaga, 43, previously tested positive for COVID-19 and was at home on quarantine when he began experiencing increased symptoms. He died en route to the hospital.
A memorial service is scheduled for Korovakaturaga on Thursday. He was posthumously promoted to Staff Sergeant.
“We were shocked and deeply saddened by the sudden and tragic loss of Staff Sergeant Setariki Korovakaturaga last week. He was a tremendous Soldier and teammate in our unit,” said Lt. Col. Jason Kendzierski, 44th Expeditionary Signal Battalion commander.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and children. The outpouring of support from the community has been heartwarming and is indicative of how much he will be missed throughout the formation and community.”
Korovakaturaga is the first Soldier assigned to U.S. Army Europe and Africa to die of COVID-19.