The mother of a U.S. soldier killed when an army tactical vehicle washed away in the Texas flooding called her daughter “beautiful” and “spirited”.
Essie James held up pictures of her daughter, Tysheena James, at her Jersey City home.
Tysheena was one of nine U.S. soldiers who died when their tactical vehicle overturned and washed away on Thursday.
“She loved the Army,” James said. “She loved it. She started this in high school, she decided this is what she wanted to do.”
U.S. Army officials say the group was attempting to cross the rain-swollen owl creek on the Fort Hood army base as part of a training exercise.
Three other soldiers were hurt but survived.
Tysheena’s mother says her daughter “loved the army” and “loved her military brothers and sisters.”
“You have eight other families that have to go through this, and I want all of them to know I love you all, we are still family, our children were brothers and sisters in battle, and they loved one another,” James said.