SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras — A 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment soldier was found unresponsive at approximately 8:30 a.m. Sunday morning, July 17, outside his on-base living quarters.

U.S. Army Spc. Kyle Gantt, 30, was declared deceased at the scene by an authorized medical professional shortly after first responders arrived. The cause of death is currently under investigation.

Gantt was from Piqua, and served as a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crew member and had been deployed to Soto Cano Air Base for approximately two months. He is survived by his wife and two children.

Gantt deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from March-October 2014. His awards and decorations include the Air Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star and the NATO medal. Gantt joined the Army in February of 2012.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends, members of the 1-228th Winged Warriors, and all who are grieving the loss of Specialist Gantt,” said U.S. Army Col. Brian Hughes, Joint Task Force-Bravo commander. “Our leaders, ministry teams and trained counselors are caring for those affected by this loss. We will continue to execute U.S. Southern Command’s mission, the one Spc. Gantt so proudly carried out in service of our great nation.”