By Steve Beck

FORT HOOD, Texas (CBS) – A soldier who was found dead in his barracks at Fort Hood in Texas was from Millville, New Jersey.

Sergeant Jose Joaquin Suarez, 24, was found unresponsive in his barracks room at Fort Hood the day after Christmas. Suarez was pronounced dead at Carl R. Darnall Medical Center the same day.

Suarez, of Millville, entered active-duty service in June 2006 as an information systems operator-analyst.

The circumstances surrounding his exact cause of death remain under investigation.

He was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 720th Military Police Company, 89th Military Police Brigade, Fort Hood since January 2011.

Suarez deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from September 2007 to September 2008 and in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from December 2011 to December 2012.

Suarez’s awards and decorations include two Army Commendation Medals, three Army Achievement Medals, two Army Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal with campaign star, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, two Overseas Service Ribbons, NATO Medal and Combat Action Badge.