Sgt. Aaron Cox was killed in Hungary on June 5, according to the Army.
MABANK, Texas — Sgt. Aaron Cox, a 24-year-old infantryman assigned to the “Strike” 2nd Mobile Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), was killed on June 5 during a military training exercise near Camp Croft, Hungary, the U.S. Army confirmed.
The Army said Cox succumbed to wounds sustained from a vehicle accident during training for the upcoming Exercise Saber Guardian 25 in Hungary.
Col. Duke Reim, commander of Cox’s brigade, called his death “a tragedy for all of us on the Strike team,” praising Cox as a strong soldier and leader. He noted the Army remains in close contact with Cox’s family and expressed gratitude toward Hungarian allies for their support.
Cox enlisted in the Army in 2021. He completed training at Fort Benning, Georgia, and arrived at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, in 2022. A graduate of the Army Basic Leader Course and Combat Lifesaver Course, he was deploying for a second time after serving in Poland earlier in 2020.
His awards included the Army Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Expert Infantryman Badge and the Air Assault Badge.
Cox, a native of Mabank, was known for his unwavering faith in God and dedication to his family. His wife, Emma Sailors, described him as “the most beautiful man” and said he embodied “all the fruits of the spirit.”
“To know him was truly, truly to know God’s goodness,” Sailors said.
In a video message sent from training, Cox began by thanking God for bringing Emma into his life. In another message, recorded while she was pregnant, he addressed their unborn son, saying, “I love you. I haven’t met you yet, but soon to come.”
The couple had recently welcomed their son, Boston. Although Cox only had a few weeks with his newborn before deploying, Emma said she knows Boston will know the kind of man his father was.
“Boston’s gonna know his daddy was a good one—one of the good ones,” she said.
While Cox will be remembered by his unit as a committed soldier, Sailors said his true legacy lives in the love and faith he shared with others.
“Yes, he was a soldier,” she said. “But he was my hero before that—before anything else.”
Through her grief, Sailors said she has drawn strength from the community around her and the deep spirituality that guided her husband’s life.
“I got to witness God’s love in such a profound way,” she said.
A GoFundMe has been started to support Sailors and the couple’s four-month-old son. Those interested in donating can click here.