A 21-year-old Schofield Barracks soldier was found dead Saturday in his room in southern Afghanistan, the Army reported today.

Spc. Alex Hernandez III, from Round Rock, Texas, was a door gunner with the 3rd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, officials said. 

He was found unresponsive in his room Saturday in Kandahar province, and the incident is under investigation, the Army said.

Hernandez joined the Army July 8, 2009 as a test equipment operator and attended basic training at Fort Sill, Okla.  He became part of the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade in October 2010.

Hernandez is survived by his wife, Tyasia Pompy.

About 2,600 Hawaii soldiers with the aviation brigade deployed to southern Afghanistan in January.