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Funeral Held For Tysheena James, Fort Hood Soldier Killed In Texas Floods

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A New Jersey soldier killed in a training exercise at a Texas military base has been laid to rest.

Funeral services for Tysheena James were held Saturday at the Metropolitan A.M.E. Baptist Church in Jersey City., CBS2's Magdalena Doris reported.

"There are not many of us who live to fulfill our lifelong dreams. She completed her cause and then she left," cousin Carolyn Oliver-Fair said.

The 21-year-old city resident was among nine soldiers killed June 2 when the military vehicle they were in was swept away by flood waters at Owl Creek near Fort Hood.

"I hear a lot of people are saying, 'Why do they have them training in such bad weather?' I don't see it like that you have to train in any kind of weather. You're going to be fighting for your country and rain sleet snow and hail," friend Corea Parker said.

James leaves behind her parents and six siblings. She was a private who enlisted in the Army in September and had started her active service in November. She was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.

Also killed was Staff Sergeant Miguel Colon-Vazquez, of Brooklyn, who was honored with more than 20 awards and decorations since going active duty in 2003. He was 38 years old. He leaves behind a wife and four children.

A GoFundMe page was set up to raise contributions to help Colon-Vazquez' family. A funeral for Colon-Vasquez will be held on Thursday, June 16 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Killeen, Texas.

The army is investigating what caused the accident and how the military handles risky situations.

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