U.S. soldier from Texas dies in United Arab Emirates

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 (UPI) — The U.S. Department of Defense on Monday said Warrant Officer Travis R. Tamayo died from a non-combat incident in the United Arab Emirates while supporting the U.S.-led coalition operation against the Islamic State.

Tamayo, 32, was from Brownsville, Texas. He was assigned to the 202nd Military Intelligence Battalion in Fort Gordon, Ga., and died on Friday in Abu Dhabi. The Pentagon said an investigation into his death has been launched.

Since the start of the United States’ Operation Inherent Resolve anti-Islamic State mission, there have been 23 U.S. military casualties and one Defense Department civilian casualty. Three of the military casualties were killed in action, while the remainder died in “non-hostile” incidents.