Soldier Killed In Natick Car Crash: USARIEM Plans Memorial

NATICK, MA—Private 1st Class Roman Centeno Jr.was killed in a car accident on Wednesday, Oct. 10, in Natick. Private Centeno served with the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine at Natick, the institution announced this week in a statement.

"At USARIEM, our organization is hurting today because we lost a wonderful young man—a selfless and dedicated Soldier and a close friend," said Col. Sean O'Neil, the USARIEM commander, in a statement. "Roman made a positive impact on those who worked and lived with him. This is truly a great loss to our USARIEM family and our Army. He will be missed by everyone whose life he touched."

Centeno, 21, was a Chicago native who enlisted in the Army in 2016 as a medical logistics specialist. He completed basic combat training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, advanced individual training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas and previously served with the 563rd Medical Logistics Company at Camp Carroll, Republic Korea before arriving at USARIEM in January of this year, said the announcement.

"Private Centeno was a great soldier and outstanding individual," said 1st Lieutenant Robert Hugenberger, USARIEM chief of logistics, in a statement. "His cheerful attitude always brought a positive energy to the workplace on a daily basis. He was an integral part of USARIEM and the logistics division and we will never forget the contributions he made to our team in his short time here. He will be missed by everyone here and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends."

USARIEM will remember Centeno's life during a Memorial service on Oct. 26.

Services for Centeno are planned for this week in Chicago. His obituary can be found here.

"Our priority is to support Private Centeno's family and to honor his life and service to our Nation," said O'Neil in a statement. "We are working closely with the installation chaplain to make grief counselors available to our Soldiers and workforce. We ask the community to remember his family and our Soldiers during this difficult time."

Photo and information via U.S. Army/USARIEM