Fallen soldier on U.S.-Mexico border ID'd as Menifee man

Army Pfc. Steven Hodges of Menifee was serving on the U.S.-Mexico border when he died. Photo courtesy of Cpt. Casey Jemelka, U.S. Army

An Army soldier who died while providing patrol at the U.S.-Mexico border has been identified as a Menifee man, according to Army officials.

Pfc. Steven Hodges, 20, was found dead near Nogales, Arizona, on Saturday, according to armytimes.com. The Army has not released information about how he died, and an investigation is ongoing.

Hodges served as a grenadier with the 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 1-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, according to Army spokesman Lt. Col. Roger Cabiness. He was deployed as part of the Pentagon's mission to support U.S. border protection.

Hodges, who enlisted in 2017, had been at his current duty station since February 2018.

"Every Soldier in the Tomahawk Battalion is an essential member of our team. The loss of any Soldier is deeply felt. Private First Class Steven Hodges is sorely missed by his teammates and the entire Tomahawk family. Every Soldier is a national treasure.” said Lt. Col. Sean Lyons, Hodges’ battalion commander, in a statement.