Sgt. Lyle Dervin Turnbull, originally of St. Thomas, died Friday at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, as the result of what the U.S. Department of Defense called "a medical emergency."
The cause of death is unknown and is still under investigation, according to the Department of Defense.
The 31-year-old Turnbull, a 2000 graduate of Charlotte Amalie High School, was assigned to the 62nd Expeditionary Signal Battalion, 11th Signal Brigade, in Fort Hood, Texas. The public affairs office at Fort Hood listed his place of residence as Norfolk, Va.
The 11th Signal Brigade, known as the Thunderbirds, provides communications, computers and Internet service to combat units, according to the brigade’s website. Its principal communications capabilities include tactical satellite, tropospheric scatter, high frequency line-of-sight transmission systems, and voice, message and data switches.
According to Staff Sgt. Kelvin Ringold of the Fort Hood public affairs office,
Turnbull entered active-duty service with the U.S. Army on March 19, 2002, as a multichannel transmissions systems operator maintainer.
He arrived at Fort Hood in February 2010 and was assigned to Charlie Company, 62d Expeditionary Signal Battalion, 11th Signal Brigade.
His awards and decorations include three Army commendation medals, two Army achievement medals, three meritorious unit citations, three Army Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the NCO professional development ribbon, the Army service ribbon and five overseas service ribbons.
“Staff Sgt. Turnbull was a highly esteemed noncommissioned officer,” said Col. James C. Parks III, commander of the 11th Signal Brigade. “He was a great American soldier, an exceptional man, father and husband. We know that the soldiers with whom Staff Sgt. Turnbull served respected and loved him. No words can bring Lyle back, but his memory will endure throughout the history of the Messenger Battalion and the Thunderbird Brigade.”
Turnbull was posthumously promoted to the rank of staff sergeant. He will also be posthumously awarded the Army Commendation Medal, his fourth award, and the Gold Order of Mercury.
Turnbull is survived by his wife, NesLihan Turnbull, and daughter, Tuana M. Turnbull.
News of the soldier’s death brought words of condolence from Gov. John deJongh Jr. and Delegate to Congress Donna Christensen.
Christensen said Monday that the young men and women who voluntarily put themselves in harm’s way in service to the country are "our greatest heroes.”
“Their service and their sacrifice, and the sacrifice of their families, are never to be forgotten or taken lightly," she said. "I am certain that the entire Virgin Islands community shares the grief of his family at this sad time, but we are also immensely proud of him for the character and bravery that he has shown.”
DeJongh said, “There is a great sense of loss each time we learn of the death of a Virgin Islands solider. Our prayers are with his wife and children, his parents, his extended family, his fellow soldiers and friends during this time of bereavement.”
“The people of the Virgin Islands join Cecile and me in extending our heartfelt sympathies to Sgt. Turnbull’s family,” the governor said. “We thank his family for his dedication and commitment to protecting our freedom as a member of the United States Armed Forces.”
A unit memorial service will be held on 1 p.m. Friday at the Spirit of Fort Hood Chapel.
