U.S. Soldier Sgt. Aaron Cox Dies in Hungary During Exercise Saber Guardian 25 Preparations

Sgt. Aaron Cox, 24, of Mabank, Texas, died Thursday near Camp Croft, Hungary

Sgt. Aaron Cox, 24, of Mabank, Texas, died Thursday near Camp Croft, Hungary, following a vehicle accident while preparing for Exercise Saber Guardian 25. The U.S. Army confirmed the fatal incident, stating Cox died from injuries sustained in the accident, but no additional details have been released as the investigation remains ongoing.

Cox, an Infantryman assigned to the "Strike" 2nd Mobile Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), joined the Army in 2021. This was his second overseas deployment, having previously served in Poland in 2022.

"The loss of Sgt. Cox is a tragedy for all of us on the Strike team," said Col. Duke Reim, commander of the 2MBCT, 101st Airborne Division. "He was a strong Soldier and leader, who quickly rose through the ranks while serving." Reim also expressed gratitude to Hungarian allies for their support during the incident.

This marks the second recent loss of U.S. soldiers in Europe during training operations. In March, four American service members were killed in Lithuania during a mission to recover a disabled tactical vehicle. The soldiers had gone missing at the General Silvestras Žukauskas training ground near the town of Pabradė. Their submerged M88A2 Hercules armored recovery vehicle was discovered the following day in a peat bog after an extensive search.

Due to the challenging terrain—thick mud and soft ground—recovery efforts took over a week and required specialized equipment to drain water and stabilize the soil. The 63-ton vehicle was eventually pulled to the surface with assistance from hundreds of personnel across the U.S. Army, Navy, and Lithuanian and Polish armed forces.

Sgt. Cox’s death underscores the risks service members face even during training operations abroad. The U.S. Army continues to investigate the incident and has not announced whether any safety changes will be implemented ahead of Exercise Saber Guardian 25.