A memorial display stands for Spc. Joshua E. Mullinix, who died at Grafenwöhr’s Range 126 on July 11. (Seth Robson / Stars and Stripes)
GRAFENWÖHR, Germany — A 9th Engineer Battalion soldier who died during training here was remembered at a memorial Friday as an avid computer gamer and practical joker.
Spc. Joshua E. Mullinix, 22, who joined Company A, 9th Engineer Battalion in December, died at Grafenwöhr’s Range 126 at about 4 p.m. on Tuesday. An investigation into the death is ongoing, 1st AD officials said in a press release issued Thursday.
Company A commander Capt. Geoffrey McKenzie, 30, of Marianna, Fla., recalled Mullinix as a solid performer and hard worker in the motor pool.
“He was a valued member of our team and he is missed sorely,” McKenzie said.
Staff Sgt. Jonathon Badinger, 30, of Piedmont, Okla., said Mullinix, like many of the young soldiers who served with the unit, was an avid video gamer.
“He was extremely generous,” Badinger, also with Company A, said. “Whenever the opportunity arose for a donation for Army Emergency Relief or anything that would help other soldiers out he was always there.”
One of Mullinix’s closest friends in the unit, Pfc. Daniel Williams, 21, of Rural Retreat, Va., recalled many exciting battles the two fought playing the video game Halo.
“He kicked my butt a few times,” Williams said.
The pair often talked about what they would do when they got out of the Army, he said. “He was going to go home and try to get a bachelor’s degree,” he said.
They also liked to joke with each other, Williams added. “The last time we were at Grafenwöhr we were on motor pool gate guard, and this Humvee came up and I was getting ready to go check it out and he said he’d get it.
“He peeked through the window and said: “Give me all your money,” and I started laughing,” Williams said.
Mullinix was born in Gettysburg, Pa., and enlisted in July 2003, a program for the memorial ceremony said.
After basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., he was assigned to Company C, 91st Engineer Battalion at Fort Hood, Texas. He served in Baghdad for a year during Operation Iraqi Freedom II, the program said.
After returning from Iraq, Mullinix was assigned to Company A, based in Schweinfurt, Germany, where he served as a combat engineer.
His awards include the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Combat Action Badge.
Mullinix is survived by his father and stepmother, Larry and Dorthea Mullinix; his mother, Victoria Schrader; and three sisters, Sara, Shawna and Leah.
