Soldier with Brooklyn ties dies of non-combat causes in Middle East

Sgt. 1st Class Maitland Deweever Wilson, who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan during his 18 years in the Army, died of an unspecified medical condition Wednesday at the Army’s Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, an Army spokesman said.

Wilson, 38, was living in Brooklyn when he enlisted in the Army in 2000, according to his unit’s spokesman, Fred Rice.

Wilson had served with the 831st Transportation Battalion of the Kuwait-based 595th Transportation Brigade since last March. The brigade delivers cargo and equipment for the military’s Central Command, which supports U.S. troops in the region, including those in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Wilson was at his battalion’s Persian Gulf headquarters in Bahrain when he became ill, and he was transported to Landstuhl, the U.S. military’s principal medical center for troops serving in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, Rice said.

Wilson had completed several overseas deployments, including two in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. He served with the military’s humanitarian mission to Haiti following the 2010 earthquake there, according to the Army.

An aunt, Sherma Roberts, said Wilson was part of an extensive family of Guianese immigrants.

Roberts said Wilson, who attended City College of New York, was an engaging and industrious soldier, whose frequent assignments kept him on the move. He was stationed in Virginia Beach when he was sent to Bahrain last year, Roberts said.

“He was quiet, but would get you laughing,” said Roberts, who lives in Takoma Park, Maryland.

Roberts said members of Wilson’s family flew to Germany upon learning of his death. Funeral arrangements are incomplete.