Family waits for answers on death of Sgt. Franklin D. "J.R." Barnett Jr.

Belleville soldier's death under investigation
BY MARIA BARAN - News-Democrat

A soldier from Belleville died Sunday at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

The Army is investigating the cause of death for Sgt. Franklin D. "J.R." Barnett Jr., 29, of Belleville.

During Barnett's recent tour of Afghanistan, Barnett survived a suicide bombing attack and pulled his lieutenant to safety, despite his own injuries to his lungs.

"We don't believe he died from his war injuries, but the Army is investigating," Brooke Army Medical Center spokesman Dewey Mitchell said.

The father of three sons was found unresponsive in his Fort Sam Houston barracks room Sunday afternoon. He had been assigned to C Company of the Warrior Transition Battalion since Oct. 15 after being injured in Afghanistan, according to a news release.

"I don't exactly know what happened," said his wife, Diane Barnett.

She was not able to contact him late Saturday and into Sunday, so she called and had someone check on him. He was found in his chair with his television and video game on.
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